经文：然而，若有人用金、银、宝石，木、草、禾秸，在这根基上建造，（林前三12，另译）
前四个比喻都与耕地有关。在林前三章九节保罗说，“你们是神的耕地，神的建筑。”在这章里，我们看见神的耕地最终产生了金、银、宝石。神的耕地出产生命的东西，这些生命的东西成了神建造的材料。因此，神的耕地是为着神的建造。
前四个比喻有生命的长大，下一个比喻有藏在田地里的宝贝。宝贝必是由金、银、宝石，可能主要是由宝石构成的。再下一个比喻中，我们看见珠子。新耶路撒冷是用金子、宝石和珍珠建造的。金是城本身的材料，宝石和珍珠是为着神的城其他两种建造的材料。
在前四个比喻中，主启示出将基督长成国度的生命。在以下两个比喻中，祂启示出为着建造而有的变化。这把我们带回到圣经的基本思想－生命和建造。马太十三章的比喻启示生命和建造的事。生命就是基督自己那撒在我们人性里的种子。这生命在我们里面长大，将基督长成国度。这生命的长大最终产生宝石和珍珠。
请享受生命诗歌147首 (点击诗歌名）
Growing in Life for the Building-up – 1 Cor. 3:12
The first four parables are all related to the farm. In 1 Corinthians 3:9 Paul says, “You are God’s farm, you are God’s building”. In this chapter we see that God’s farm eventually produces gold, silver and precious stones. The produce of God’s farm becomes the materials for God’s building. God’s farm produces the things of life, and these things of life become the materials for God’s building. Thus, God’s farm is for God’s building.
In the first four parables in Matthew we have the life-growing, and in the next parable we have the treasure hidden in the field. The treasure must be made up of gold, silver and precious stones. In the following parable we find the pearl. The New Jerusalem is built with gold, precious stones and pearl. Gold is the material of the city proper, and precious stones and pearl are the two other building materials for the city of God.
In the first four parables the Lord revealed the life that grows Christ into the kingdom. In the next two parables he revealed the matter of transformation for building. This brings us back to the basic thought of the Bible – life and building. The parables in Matthew 13 reveal the matters of life and building. Life is Christ himself as the seed sown into our humanity. This life grows within us, growing Christ into the kingdom. The growing of this life eventually produces precious stones and pearls.