Seeking a Pearl of Great Price

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Seeking a Pearl of Great Price

8 August 2009 2 Comments

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What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Jesus told us in many different ways what it would take to follow Him, but one of my favorites is His parable of the pearl of great price.

Matthew 13:45-46
“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.”

Jesus told this parable or story about a merchant who was looking for pearls. When he found one that surpassed all other pearls in worth and beauty he sold everything he had to buy that pearl. Today, when we think about valuable jewelry we tend to think of diamonds. But history teaches us that pearls have been held up as very valuable. Pastor John Mac Arthur stated in his sermon, “Entering the Kingdom”:

“A pearl that was perfect and beautiful was priceless. The Talmud said that “pearls are beyond price.” The Egyptians actually worshiped the pearl, and the Romans copied that practice. When women wanted to show their wealth, they put pearls in their hair (1 Tim. 2:9). The wife of the Roman emperor Caligula, Lollia Paulina, once went to a dinner party with pearls on her hair, ears, neck, and fingers that would be worth $36 million today. The historian Pliny said that Cleopatra had two pearls that were each worth half a million dollars at that time (and money had twenty times more buying power then than it does now!). When Roman emperors wanted to show how rich they were, they dissolved pearls in vinegar and drank them in their wine.”

You can listen to his sermon or read the transcript at Grace to You.

Jesus is the pearl of great price in this parable. Jesus is telling us in this story that following Him means that you must be willing to let go of everything else in order to gain Him.

Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary on Matthew 13

“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. A man may buy gold too dear, but not this pearl of price.”
Is there anything in this world that is more valuable than a relationship with Jesus Christ? Absolutely not. People fail us, possessions break, fame and fortune fade away, but Jesus will never fail us. He offers salvation for those who put their faith in Him.

If you would like to understand salvation, read the Path of Salvation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amboo213/2438930791/

2 Comments »

Kethy said:

Pearls grow from a grain of sand within the shell of an unclean creature. So this is not representing Jesus.

Rather it represents a member of the Gentiles, as the treasure in the field represents the Jews.

so… you are the pearl of great price in the parable

regards

Keith

# 13 November 2009 at 9:37 pm

walk (author) said:

Thanks for your response Keith. I would disagree with you for a couple of reasons. First, if you look at Matthew 13 it is filled with parables. All of the parables speak to salvation and the parable of the pearl of great price is no exception. The only players in the story of salvation are God, Jesus, and man. God gave up his son, but he didn’t give up everything. Christ is still heir of all things (Romans 8:17)and everything in the world and universe belong to God. I also wouldn’t compare God to a merchant. Also, the bible never compares us to costly jewels or pearls. While Christ gave up his very blood for us, which is more valuable than gold or any material thing, the bible describes us as sinners to be redeemed, not pearls to be sought after.

# 15 November 2009 at 10:49 pm