45. “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a man looking for fine pearls.
46. One day he found a very valuable pearl. The man went and sold everything he had to buy that pearl.
47. “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake. The net caught many different kinds of fish.
48. When it was full, the fishermen pulled the net to the shore. They sat down and put all the good fish in baskets. Then they threw away the bad fish.
49. It will be this way at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people.
50. The angels will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace. In that place the people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.”
51. Jesus asked his followers, “Do you understand all these things?”They answered, “Yes, we understand.”
52. Then Jesus said to them, “So every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He has both new things and old things saved in his house. And he brings out both those new things and old things.”
53. When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left there.
54. He went to the town where he grew up. He taught the people in the synagogue, and they were amazed. They said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and this power to do miracles?
55. He is only the son of the carpenter. And his mother is Mary. His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Judas.
56. And all his sisters are here with us. So where does this man get all these things?”
57. And the people refused to accept Jesus.But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own town or in his own home.”