Matthew Chapter 13 is a wonderful chapter filled with so many wonderful parables! A parable is a simple story that illustrates a biblical truth, or, as others have said, “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. “
Jesus is known for being the Master Teacher! He would often use these parables to create interest in what He was saying. Teaching like this also made the truth easier for the common person to understand and remember. As one man said years ago, “A parable is a window through which we can look to see divine truth.”
One very short parable tucked away in this chapter is found in verses 45 and 46.
Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
Over the years, some have tried to teach that the pearl is Jesus. However, Christ cannot be purchased! A biblical understanding of this small passage renders many rich truths I believe will bless your heart.
First, we see that Jesus is seeking those who are lost! The words seek and found are both found in this parable. This reminds me of Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Seeking implies leaving one place to go to another. May I encourage you, just as you went Christmas shopping looking and seeking for just the right gift for that special person, please do not forget the One Who left the riches of heaven and came to this sin-cursed world to give us an eternal home in heaven!
2 Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Secondly, we notice that this Merchant (Jesus Christ) sold all to buy one pearl!
We see here the value of one! This merchant was seeking pearls (plural), but when he found one, he sold all! Wow, what love!
Jesus literally gave all He had. He gave His most precious possession – His life!
Ephesians 5:25 “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.”
In Acts 20:28, we see that He purchased the church with His own blood! Jesus paid the ultimate price! I love the song “Jesus Paid it All, All to Him I Owe!” If Jesus gave Himself for you and me, it’s only reasonable that we give ourselves back to Him!
We are the ones who have been bought! 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
If you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, then you belong to Him! He purchased us on the cross of Calvary that He might eternally possess us! Let me ask you this question – “Is Christ getting all He paid for with your life?”
Lastly, it’s interesting to me that a pearl is the product of a living organism.
This is not true of any other precious stone – not a sapphire, a diamond, rubies, or even emeralds! So, what does this teach us? What divine truth can we glean from this?
A pearl forms inside of an oyster when an irritant, like a grain of sand or a small piece of dirt, works its way inside and begins to irritate the mollusk. As a defense mechanism, the oyster will secrete a fluid to coat the irritation. Layer after layer, this coating is deposited onto the irritant until a beautiful lustrous pearl is fashioned!
This means when Jesus left the glory and splendor of Heaven to come and seek after you and me; He wasn’t looking at the dirt and filth of our lost condition. He saw something of great value!
Let’s remember this New Year, while the irritations all around us can be plentiful at times, God desires to fashion us after the image of Jesus Christ. You might not be able to see this right now, but God is using all the difficult circumstances you are facing to create something truly beautiful with your life that’s extremely valuable to Him!
Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
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John Evertson, GSBC Campus Pastor
In June 2000, after graduating from Golden State Baptist College, John Evertson answered the call to pastor West Valley Baptist Church in Woodland, California. After 19 years, God moved Pastor and Mrs. Evertson to Santa Clara. Pastor Evertson is instrumental in the church and serves as the Campus Pastor for Golden State Baptist College to help guide the future servants of God. Pastor & Mrs. Evertson have four children — Josiah, Jeremiah, Joy, and Joshua.
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