"The Pearl of Great Price"

 

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 13:45-46

TITLE/SUBJECT: PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

PURPOSE: THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM

 

 

THE PARABLES OF JESUS:

"THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE"

INTRODUCTION:

In "The Parable of the Hidden Treasure" it was suggested:

  1. That Jesus was depicting the "value" of the kingdom to one who accidentally finds it…
  2. That Paul’s conversion was an example of how one is willing to give up all in order to lay hold of the "treasure" of the kingdom…
  3. That the value of the kingdom can be seen when we consider that it is a refuge from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13), a domain of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17), and destined for eternal glory (Matthew 13:41-43).

Jesus followed His parable with another short parable which is commonly known as "The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price," as seen in Matthew 13:45-46, where we read, "45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.""

Its similarity to the previous parable is obvious and yet there is a difference. The difference and some related thoughts will serve as the basis for our study as we take a closer look at "The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price." We begin with…

  1. THE PARABLE EXPLAINED:

The basic details of the parable are this:
    1. A merchant is seeking beautiful pearls, whereas "hidden treasures" were found accidentally.
    2. He finds one special pearl of great value!
    3. Undeterred by its price, he sells all that he has and buys it.

In considering the meaning of the parable:
    1. The use of the word "again" ties this parable to the preceding one – where the value and preciousness of the kingdom was being described… and where we saw the value of the one who accidentally find it.
    2. However in this parable of "The Pearl of Great Price" the person is on a mission to find that which is of great value. He believes there is something out there worth looking for. This is true or we wouldn’t see him searching so intently, as he obviously is. When he finds it he immediately recognizes its value and is willing to sell all to obtain it.
    3. Neither this parable nor the preceding one is suggesting we can "buy" or otherwise "earn" our salvation. For salvation is a gift. We read in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."

We can "buy" salvation only in the sense of gaining rightful possession of it, which we do by grace through faith. For as the Bible says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We also gain salvation as we submit to the working of God and the renewing of the Holy Spirit which takes place as we are baptized into Christ. In Colossians 2:11-13,the Bible says, "In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins."

In Titus 3:4-7, the Bible says, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

This parable, then, describes how some people react to the kingdom of heaven, when they know there must be something out there worthy of great value and have been searching for it.

Some Biblical examples:
    1. The Ethiopian eunuch – Acts 8:26-38. His journey to Jerusalem to worship, his reading of Scripture while returning, indicate that he was spiritually searching. His immediate desire to be baptized shows his estimation of the value of the salvation offered in Christ.
    2. Cornelius is another Biblical example – Acts 10:1-8, 30-33. Cornelius’ prayers and alms (offerings) were indicative of his search for righteousness. As promised by Jesus (Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled") God took note of his spiritual hunger and thirst and sent Peter to tell him the gospel of Christ.
    3. Lydia is another Biblical example – Acts 16:11-15. Her meeting with other women to pray illustrates her spiritual searching. Upon hearing the things spoken by Paul, she and her household were baptized.

Each of these examples should remind us that there are many people who know there is some "thing" or "purpose," some "meaning," that is worthy of diligent search, and who have spent their lives trying to find it. When by the grace and providence of God they come to learn of Christ and His kingdom, there are willing to give up all to obtain it!

These examples and the parable itself confirm the truthfulness of Jesus’ teaching about those "who hunger and thirst for righteousness." That those who "hunger," – those who search, will indeed find what God has for them!

It might be that we might stumble across the blessings God has in Christ and His kingdom (as in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure). But do we want to risk our salvation by waiting to possibly stumbling across it?

What can we do to ensure that we will find what God has for us? Well, we need to be like that merchant, searching for that pearl of great price. How does one do that in regards to spiritual matters…? As we consider:
  1. SEARCHING FOR THE "PEARL OF GREAT PRICE"

Follow the example of the Ethiopian eunuch – Acts 8:27-28. Be a student of the Scriptures. Apply the Scriptures to the best of your understanding. Be open to what others may have to share concerning the Scriptures.

Follow the example of the Bereans – Acts 17:10-11: "As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Again, be open to what others may have to share. But apply it with diligence (i.e., "readiness of mind") to understand what others are saying. And in the end, let the Scriptures be your final authority. Demonstrate it by searching the Scriptures daily. In my years of ministry I’ve always appreciated those who have been eager to listen and learn. As such, I constantly admonished people to search God’s Word. What does the Word say about whatever topic that we are discussing? The Word of God, the Holy Scripture, is the final authority as His spirit teaches and guides us daily. We need to ask [1] what does the Bible say? [2] What does the Bible say to me? And [3] what am I going to do with what I discover (Personal application)?

 

CONCLUSION:

Like the Ethiopian eunuch, the Bereans, Cornelius, Lydia and many other truly born-again, Spirit-filled, dedicated and committed people,

  1. We may be lost in our present state of understanding of God’s will
  2. But if we will search like that merchant did, and have the desire to understand and please God like these people did…
  3. Then we can trust God’s providence to lead us to the truth, and to that "pearl of great price!"

Is the "pearl of great price" worth it?

  1. Again, I wish I could invite those who have passed on to give us their perspective…
  2. Who though they may have suffered greatly in this life, have come to experience the ultimate blessings of the kingdom of heaven. I am confident that they would say, "It is worth it all!"
  3. And the blessings of the kingdom are not limited to the life hereafter; as Jesus reassured Peter, there are hundredfold blessings even in this time. In Mark, 10:28-30, we read: "Peter said to Him, ‘We have left everything to follow You!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.’"

As we close today, do you truly desire this "pearl of great price?" Are you even searching for greater spiritual treasure? It’s worth it all!

 

 

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Please note:

You are welcome to share this sermon in your local churches, but I suggest that you personalize it. You do not have permission to publicize it or to make money from it in any form. May God richly bless you as you minister for Him with rich spiritual rewards of seeing many souls saved and sanctified for all eternity! Please let me know whatever helpful results you may get from this!

With Warm Sincerity in Jesus’ Love,

Rev. Don Schink, Pastor-Evangelist

Sonlight Ministries

Tijeras, NM

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Scripture quoted is from the: New International Version (NIV)
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