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February 16, 2026

Front-Loading the Gospel: The Antithesis of Grace

by Jason Neill

Scripture reading: Matthew 13:44-46

 

What do the following statements have in common?

  • Act naturally.
  • Deafening silence.
  • Your only choice.
  • The original copy.
  • That’s seriously funny.
  • It’s free, but it will cost you.

All of these statements are contradictory. If you are acting, you aren’t being natural. Silence is the absence of sound, so it cannot be deafening. A choice implies at least two options; the word “only” negates the very idea of a choice. If it’s a copy, it isn’t the original. Something cannot be funny and serious at the same time. And lastly, if something is free, no cost is involved—otherwise, it simply isn't free.

Despite these contradictions, I’ve heard these sayings before. The problem is that I’ve often heard Bible teachers use that last one, specifically in connection with this week’s parables.

In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure and a merchant seeking fine pearls. As we’ve discussed in past blogs, Matthew 13 is a turning point in Jesus' ministry. The offering of the Davidic Kingdom was rejected by the religious leaders (see Matthew 12) and officially postponed. Naturally, the disciples wanted to know what the new form of the kingdom would look like between Jesus' first and second coming. In fact, following his resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days teaching the eleven disciples about the kingdom of God (see Acts 1:4-8), making it very natural for them to ask about its nature.

Since Jesus did not explicitly explain these parables, three primary views have emerged regarding their meaning:

View 1: The Hidden Treasure and Pearl Represent What a Person Must Give Up to Obtain Eternal Life

The phrase “it’s free, but it will cost you everything” is most frequently associated with this view. Here, entering the kingdom is said to carry a high cost: the man in the first parable sells all he possesses to purchase the field, and the man in the second parable sells all he possesses to purchase the pearl.

However, there are a few erroneous assumptions in this view:

  1. It fails to distinguish between salvation and discipleship. While every disciple possesses eternal life, not every believer is necessarily a disciple. It is possible to trust in Jesus alone for eternal life yet fail to follow His teachings. If you doubt this, look at the church in Corinth, a group characterized by unchristian behavior despite being called “saints” by the Apostle Paul (see 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1:10-6:20).
  2. Salvation is always by grace. The Old and New Testament are clear that salvation is a free gift received through faith (see Genesis 15:6; Romans 4; Ephesians 2:8-9).
  3. Contextual Clues. The purpose of these parables is to hide truth from unbelievers while revealing it to believers (Matthew 13:10-17). It wouldn’t make sense for Jesus to hide the message of eternal life from the very people who need it most.
  4. The value of the purchaser. An unbeliever has nothing of value to God with which he can purchase the kingdom of God.
  5. This reflects a “Lordship Salvation” interpretation. This suggests an individual must be willing to make a commitment to obey and persevere before God will give them eternal life. This is referred to as “front-loading the gospel.” This perspective is the antithesis of grace.

View 2: Jesus is the Man Who Sold Everything to Purchase the Hidden Treasure and Pearl

This view identifies the man in the parable as Jesus, who gave everything He had to purchase humanity (see Luke 19:10). In this framework, His substitutionary death is the "price" paid for the world (see Romans 5:8; 1 John 2:1-2). Specifically, this interpretation assigns distinct identities to the two finds:

  • The Treasure represents Israel: This was a common metaphor for the nation in Scripture (see Exodus 19:5; Psalm 135:4). Israel was “hidden” in the sense that the people were dispersed among the nations following the captivities (see 2 Kings 17 & 25).
  • The Pearl represents the Church: In contrast to the hidden treasure, the pearl is not "found" in a field but is sought out and purchased at the highest possible price.

View 3: The Disciples Make Sacrifices, Not to Enter the Kingdom, But Because of the Great Reward the Kingdom Promises (My View)

Zane Hodges once noted that “almost every page of the New Testament speaks of eternal rewards.” This perspective emphasizes that Jesus’ disciples were already believers and thus possessed eternal life; they had placed their faith in Him much earlier in His ministry (see John 1–2).

When Jesus called the twelve to “follow Him” and become “fishers of men,” they were already secure in their eternal destiny. It wouldn’t make sense for Jesus to tell a non-believer he was going to make them fishers of men (a task involving evangelism) if these men weren’t already believers. Nevertheless, Jesus promised additional heavenly rewards to those who would commit to the path of discipleship (see Matthew 10). Since the context shows Jesus was addressing the twelve disciples specifically rather than the general crowd, these parables aren’t about “buying” salvation, but about the joy of sacrificing the temporary to gain the eternal rewards of the kingdom (see Matthew 13:36).

Conclusion: Resolving the Contradiction

Ultimately, the statement "It’s free, but it will cost you everything" is unclear, contradictory, and confuses people. If we try to apply the "cost" to our eternal life, we fall into a theological error that taints the clear grace of the Gospel.

While I hold to view 3, allow me to end this week’s blog by sharing a quote about the freeness of eternal life by theologian Dr. Charles Ryrie:

“We also must keep the direction of the Gospel clear. The good news is that Christ has done something about sin and that He lives today to offer His forgiveness to you and me. The direction is from Christ to me. It is never from me to Him. I do not offer Him anything. How could I? What could I possibly offer that would help meet my need? To offer the years of my life is to offer something very imperfect and something that can do nothing to forgive my sin. To vow my willingness to change is to affirm something I will not consistently keep; and even if I could, it would not remove the guilt of my sin. If I try to donate anything with respect to becoming a Christian, then I have added a work, and salvation is no longer solely and purely of grace. Keep the direction straight, and keep His grace unmixed with any work” (So Great Salvation, p. 39).