Matthew 13:45, 46 - The Parable of the Costly Pearl.
Mat 13:45, 46: The Parable of the Costly Pearl.
Mat 13:45, 46 (NIV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he
went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price, a Jewel of inestimable
value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward
God; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and for
ever. A true Christian is a spiritual merchant, that seeks and finds
this pearl of price; that does not take up with any thing short of an
interest in Christ, and, as one that is resolved to be spiritually rich,
trades high: He went and bought that pearl; did not only bid for it,
but purchased it. What will it avail us to know Christ, if we do not
know him as ours, made to us wisdom? <1 Cor. 1:30>. Those who would
have a saving interest in Christ, must be willing to part with all
for him, leave all to follow him. Whatever stands in opposition to
Christ, or in competition with him for our love and service, we must
cheerfully quit it, though ever so dear to us. (Matthew Henry's
Commentary)
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 13:45, 46 (KJV) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a
merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Mat 13:45, 46 (NIV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he
went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Mat 13:45, 46 (CWR) You can also compare the kingdom of God to
a precious pearl. The merchant who finds it sees its worth. He
then sells everything he has to buy this precious pearl. That's how
much God loves you and how much you should love Him.
A parable is a story that makes one central point, and relates
every element in the story to this point. The parables in this chapter
concern Jesus' kingdom, but are not obvious. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus' claim to be LORD of the Sabbath (12:1-14) and the Servant
predicted by Isaiah (vv. 15-21) brought direct conflict with the Pharisees
(vv. 22-37). Christ rejected their demand for a miraculous sign (vv.
36-45), but announced kinship with those who do God's will (vv. 46-50).
In a series of parables told to puzzled crowds (13:1-35), and in
another series told to His disciples (vv. 36-52), Jesus explained the
unexpected aspects of His kingdom. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Chapter Topics
3 The parable of the sower and the seed 18 the exposition of it.
24 The parable of the tares, 31 of the mustard seed, 33 of the
leaven, 44 of the hidden treasure, 45 of the pearl, 47 of the drawnet
cast into the sea: 53 and how Christ is contemned of his own
countrymen. [SDA Commentary]
13:3-52 The parables of this chapter are significant
structurally and theologically. Structurally there is a balance between those
delivered "by the sea" (of which there are four) and those delivered in
the house (also being four in number). Theologically they explain
the development of the kingdom between Christ's first and second
coming, His rejection and future reception. [Believer's SB]
Chapter Summary
As resistance hardens, Jesus begins to speak in parables. The
parables summarize contrasts between the form of God's kingdom the Jews
expect and the form of the kingdom Jesus is about to institute. [Victor
Bible Reader's Companion]
13:1-52 The Third Major Discourse: The Parables concerning the
Spread of the Good News and the Results. The parables are presented to
the crowds, but their meaning is explained only to the inner circle
of the disciples (13:10-17, 34-36). [Cambridge Annotated SB]
Jesus said that He spoke in parables so that those who believed
might understand-- and those who did not believe would not understand
(vv. 11-15). What an illustration of God's grace. [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
Section Headings
Three Parables
Stories About a Treasure, a Merchant, and a Net
Parables of the treasure and of the pearl
Stories of a Treasure and a Pearl
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
Jesus tells the parable of the pearl merchant
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Proverbs 2:4 (NIV) and if you look for it as for silver and
search for it as for hidden treasure,
Isaiah 33:6 (NIV) He will be the sure foundation for your
times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of
the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Ephesians 3:8 (NIV) Although I am less than the least of all
God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ,
Colossians 2:3 (NIV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.
1 John 5:11-12 (NIV) And this is the testimony: God has given
us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son
has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Mark 10:29, 30 (NIV) "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 30 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.
Galatians 6:14 (NIV) May I never boast except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to
me, and I to the world.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart.
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
How can it improve my relationship with Jesus.
The kingdom is of such great value that one should be willing to
give up all he has in order to gain it. [NIV SB]
The kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we can
have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it.
[Life Application SB]
The parables of the treasure and pearl indicate the incomparable
value of the kingdom, which will cause a man to do everything possible
to possess it. Another possible interpretation equates the man with
Christ (as in v. 37) who sacrifices His all to purchase His people.
[Ryrie SB]
The parable of the Priceless Pearl represents those who have
earnestly desired truth... The "merchant man" represents primarily men in
search of a Saviour, though, in addition, he properly represents Christ
in search of men. Nothing is of greater value, or should be sought
more diligently, than Christ Himself... In harmony with the primary
meaning of this parable, the "pearl of great price" is none other than
Jesus Christ, "the chiefest among ten thousand" (S. of Sol. 5:10).... He
who finds in Christ the answer to all the longings of his heart, who
finds in Him the way of life more perfectly, who finds in Him the goal
of life, has found life's greatest treasure.... Although salvation
cannot be purchased, nevertheless it costs all that a man has. Like
Paul he who truly "finds" Christ will "count all things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus," and be willing to
suffer "the loss of all things" in order to "win Christ" (Phil. 3:8).
To know Christ is to fill a void in the life that nothing else can
supply. To know Him is life eternal (John 17:3).... Bought it at the price
of self, at the price of pride and ambition, at the price of evil
habits. Peace with God costs all that a man has, but it is worth
infinitely more. Man purchases salvation at the cost of things that, of
themselves, have no permanent value anyway, and thus loses nothing worth
while in the transaction. [SDA Commentary]
Christ Himself is the pearl of great price... All that can satisfy
the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the
world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so
precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.
The merchantman in the parable represents a class who were
sincerely desiring truth....
In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The
merchantman bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the
meaning of this, since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a
gift. He is a gift, but only to those who give themselves, soul, body,
and spirit, to Him without reserve. We are to give ourselves to
Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to all His requirements. All
that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are the
Lord's, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves
wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives Himself
to us. We obtain the pearl of great price....
The gospel of Christ is a blessing that all may possess. The
poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no
amount of worldly wealth can secure it. It is obtained by willing
obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession....
We cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much
interest and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the
world for it....
There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly
pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits.
They do not die to self that Christ may live in them. Therefore they
do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome unholy
ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the
cross and follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice.
Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom
of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly
saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.
The parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls has a
double significance: it applies not only to men as seeking the kingdom
of heaven, but to Christ as seeking His lost inheritance. Christ,
the heavenly merchantman seeking goodly pearls, saw in lost humanity
the pearl of price. In man, defiled and ruined by sin, He saw the
possibilities of redemption. Hearts that have been the battleground of the
conflict with Satan, and that have been rescued by the power of love, are
more precious to the Redeemer than are those who have never fallen.
God looked upon humanity, not as vile and worthless; He looked upon
it in Christ, saw it as it might become through redeeming love. He
collected all the riches of the universe, and laid them down in order to
buy the pearl....
But Christ as the precious pearl, and our privilege of
possessing this heavenly treasure, is the theme on which we most need to
dwell. COL115-121
Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price, a Jewel of inestimable
value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward
God; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and for
ever. A true Christian is a spiritual merchant, that seeks and finds
this pearl of price; that does not take up with any thing short of an
interest in Christ, and, as one that is resolved to be spiritually rich,
trades high: He went and bought that pearl; did not only bid for it,
but purchased it. What will it avail us to know Christ, if we do not
know him as ours, made to us wisdom? <1 Cor. 1:30>. Those who would
have a saving interest in Christ, must be willing to part with all
for him, leave all to follow him. Whatever stands in opposition to
Christ, or in competition with him for our love and service, we must
cheerfully quit it, though ever so dear to us. (Matthew Henry's
Commentary)
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day
when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny
saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that
necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her
mother said,
"Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of
money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get
home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the
necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give
you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?"
Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.
Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her
grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny
had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore
them everywhere - to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her
mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the
shower - her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he
would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her
favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said,
"Jenny, do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have
Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year
for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too.
Okay?"
"Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek
with a kiss. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story,
"Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy
horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft,
and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have
Ribbons if you want her, "Daddy," the little girl said to her father.
"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again
with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a
story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling.
"Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it
and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her
father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with
the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.
Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had
had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap
stuff so he could give her the real thing.
So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give
up the cheap things in our lives so he can give us beautiful
treasure.
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