44. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field.
45. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who was looking for fine pearls.
46. He found one that was very valuable. So he went away and sold everything he had. And he bought that pearl.
47. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net. It was let down into the lake. It caught all kinds of fish.
48. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and gathered the good fish into baskets. But they threw the bad fish away.
49. This is how it will be on judgment day. The angels will come. They will separate the people who did what is wrong from those who did what is right.
50. They will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace. There the evil ones will sob and grind their teeth.
51. "Do you understand all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52. He said to them, "Every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings new treasures out of his storeroom as well as old ones."
53. Jesus finished telling these stories. Then he moved on from there.
54. He came to his hometown of Nazareth. There he began teaching the people in their synagogue. They were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom? Where did he get this power to do miracles?" they asked.
55. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? Aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
56. Aren't all his sisters with us? Then where did this man get all these things?"