The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl found in Matthew 13:44-46 are assumed to be so easily understood that arguments in favor of a particular interpretation are rarely given. Jeff Gibbs in his commentary on Matthew in the Concordia series, however, challenges the “traditional discipleship reading” of these parables and argues persuasively for a Christological reading.

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (NIV 2010)

While the traditional discipleship reading quickly equates the object of high value for which one sells everything (the hidden treasure and the pearl) with the kingdom of heaven for which a disciple must give up everything in order to enter, Gibbs’ Christological reading equates things differently: the object of high value is the disciples not the kingdom of heaven and the central figure is Jesus not the disciples. The message of these parables is then similar to the Christology famously hymned in the Philippians 2:6-7 kenosis passage so that “what Jesus is accomplishing in restoring God’s reign in Israel and the world is compared to the action of a man who, because he had found an object of great value, extravagantly sold all that he possessed in order to purchase that valued object and to make it his own. Jesus himself is the man.”[1. Jeffrey A. Gibbs, Matthew 11:2-20:24, Concordia Commentary (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2010), 720.]

In support of his Christological interpretation, Gibbs offers the following arguments:

1. The kingdom of heaven (or the reign of heaven) is about what God is accomplishing in Christ. He’s the central figure.
2. “Whenever a reign parable has a lone human figure acting in the symbolic narrative, that figure always represents (more generally) God or (specifically) Jesus, and when there are multiple characters…[the] central figure always represents God/Jesus.”[2. Gibbs, Matthew, 716.]
3. The refrain common to both parables highlights selling all or “whatever he had.”
4. Nobody is able to give up anything in exchange for his life (cf. Matthew 16:26)
5. Jesus alone is able to give something in exchange (cf. Matthew 20:28)
6. The Old Testament theme of God’s people as segula, his treasure.
7. The discipleship reading does not fit well with the previous parables in Matthew 13.

Gibbs concludes by providing the practical import of this Christological interpretation for Jesus’ disciples: “Though we disciples may often feel buried under the challenges and dangers presented by our own sinful flesh, by the hostile world around us, and by the great enemy and father of lies, there need be no doubt that we belong to Jesus. We have been acquired. Christ has purchased us at the price of everything that he had. In the breathtaking reckoning of grace, we are as a treasure to him. Secure in that confidence, we can continue to follow him.”[3. Gibbs, Matthew, 721.]