Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Matthew 13:36, 44–52
Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
“Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:46
Alone with His disciples, Jesus told of a treasure found in a field, a pearl worth everything, and a net that gathers every kind. His kingdom is worth all we have.
After teaching the crowds, Jesus went into the house, and His disciples came to Him. There He told them that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man finds it, hides it again, and for joy sells all he has to buy that field. It is also like a merchant seeking fine pearls, who finds one pearl of great price and sells all he has to buy it.
Then Jesus said the kingdom is like a net cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. When it is full, the fishermen draw it to shore and gather the good into vessels, and at the end of the world the angels will separate the wicked from the just. Jesus asked, “Have ye understood all these things?” and they said, “Yea, Lord.” Every instructed scribe, He said, brings out of his treasure things new and old.
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: whose kingdom is worth everything
His disciples: who came to Him in the house
The farmer: who found treasure in a field
The merchant: who sought and found one pearl
Where and when
A house near the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus taught His disciples privately.
Watch for the Savior
Watch how each man finds his treasure, and what he is willing to give for it.
Eight stops from a quiet house to a full net on the shore. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
Part 2 of 7
The story, plainly
Four scenes: the house, the field, the market and the shore. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Matthew 13:45“a Meaning: a trader who buys and sells.”
Matthew 13:45“seeking Meaning: fine; beautiful. pearls”
Matthew 13:48“gathered the good into Meaning: baskets or containers.”
Matthew 13:49“and Meaning: separate. the wicked from among the just”
Matthew 13:52“every Meaning: a teacher of the scriptures.”
Matthew 13:52“a Meaning: the head of a home.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The plow, the chest, the joy, the goods, the scale, the pearl, the net, the basket and the scrolls. Matthew 13:44–52
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Where are you?
Found by surprise, still searching, letting go, or holding on. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Treasure or pearl?
Two men found something worth everything. Sort each detail into the right story.
One found it by surprise. One was searching. Both gave all.
Part 5 of 7
Their world, their words
A little background on buried treasure, pearls, nets and the Prophet Joseph Smith’s insights helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Student manual
Back to back
“In each instance the valued item represents the gospel of Jesus Christ. Placing these parables back to back gives emphasis to the great value of the gospel.”2
Two stories, one message.
Church resource · Student manual
Two ways to find it
“The treasure in the field appears to be found accidentally, while the merchant man was actively seeking for pearls.”2
Either way, worth it all.
Outside source · Bible Hub
A dragnet
Bible Hub calls this net a “seine”: a large net drawn through the water to sweep up fish.6
Labeled outside source.
Prophet · Joseph Smith
The gospel net
He saw “the Gospel net upon the face of the earth, gathering of every kind, that the good may be saved in vessels prepared for that purpose.”3
Jesus didn’t say many pearls. He said one. The merchant gave everything for one thing of great worth.1
Word study · Greek
sagéné σαγήνη · “net” (Matthew 13:47)
Bible Hub: a “seine” for fishing.6Outside · lexicon
A big net that sweeps up whatever is in its path. His invitation goes out to everyone.1
What the text does not say
Jesus doesn’t say the kingdom is cheap or easy to get. He says it costs everything, and that it is worth it. He doesn’t ask us to do the final sorting, either. That belongs to Him.1
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Look to Him
He is the treasure and the pearl. Finding Him is worth everything, and His gospel net gathers every kind.
“If we only realized its worth, we would give all that we have to obtain it.”
“See men traveling to find places for Zion and her stakes or remnants, who, when they find the place for Zion, or the pearl of great price, straightway sell that they have, and buy it.”
Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price and the Net, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price and the Net is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for March 15–21, 2027 (Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Matthew 13:36, 44–52; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
