The Friday after the Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord
Posted on January 30, 2026 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 13:44-52 (NKJV)
13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Devotion
Observe in the first parable that the man, having found the treasure, does not simply take it. First he puts it back, then he sells all he has to buy the field. In other words, he is no thief; he wants the treasure to be his legitimately. The parable of the dragnet teaches that the wicked and the just are mixed together in this world. The just are the ones who pay the legitimate price, whereas the wicked want to be members of the kingdom by theft.
What is that “legitimate price”? We certainly cannot purchase our salvation, but the cost of entering the kingdom of heaven is faithful repentance. Repentance, taken in its entirety, is a sacrificing of all things for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ’s righteousness. Repentance leaves no room for “pet sins” or “side idols”; it is all or nothing. You are either a member of the kingdom legitimately in Christ, or you are a thief who wants to look Christian, but without repentance.
No man can purchase membership into the kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ set aside His heavenly glory and humbled Himself for a time, in the flesh, to purchase us for His kingdom. Those who repent are His pearl of great price.
Collect: O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine Only-begotten Son, hast confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the fathers, and Who, in the Voice that came from the bright cloud, didst in a wonderful manner foreshow the adoption of sons: Mercifully vouchsafe to make us coheirs with the King of His glory, and bring us to the enjoyment of the same; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
