THE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE MATTHEW 13: 45-46.

THE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE 
 MATTHEW 13: 45-46.
Jesus had just finished explaining to His disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and these two short parables are a continuance of His discussion of the “kingdom of heaven.” 
He expressed truths about the kingdom in these parables in Matthew 13: 
a. the seed and the sower (vv. 3-23) and 
b. the weeds in the field (vv. 24-30); 
c. the mustard seed (vv. 31-32) and 
d. the leaven (v. 33); and 
e. the hidden treasure (v. 44) 
f. and the pearl of great price (vv. 45-46).

Jesus taught these parables to emphasize how men should treasure and value the kingdom of heaven. "The whole point of the parable is the joy with which the man finds the treasure, and his abandonment of everything else in order to secure it" (B.T.D. Smith, Cambridge Greek Testament: The Gospel According to Matthew, p. 141). 
There are several lessons in this parable which deserve our careful study.
The man found his pearl of great price at the end of a diligent search for valuable pearls. There are men who find the gospel in this manner as well. 
a. Lydia learned the gospel while assembled by the banks of a river in the worship of God (Acts 16:14-15). 
b. Cornelius was taught the gospel after diligently pursuing prayer, good works, and other acts of devotion to the Lord (Acts 10:1-2). 
c. The Bereans sought and searched diligently to be sure that the things which they were taught were so (Acts 17:11). 
These men were searching for the truth and they recognized it when they found it.

There are men who find the gospel today, after they have wandered in and out of several denominations. Some of them put us to shame in their dedication, lives and good deeds which they have found it. In their searching for the truth, they come into contact with the gospel of Jesus Christ, recognize it for what it is, and give up everything necessary in order to obtain it.

In order to obtain the gospel truth, the pearl of great price, men have had to be willing to pay the price. 
1. Moses gave up all of the riches, political power, and fame of Egypt in order to be identified with the Christ (Heb. 11:24-25). 
2. Paul had to give up his position in the Jewish religion in order to become a Christian (Phil. 3:4-11). 
3. The rich young ruler was called upon to sell all that he had and give it to the poor in order to be Christ's disciple (Matt. 19:16-22). 
4. Some men have had to sacrifice their families in order to be faithful to Jesus (Lk. 14:26). 
5. Other men have had to sacrifice life itself for Christ (Acts 7:54-8: 1; Acts 12:1-3; Rev. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). 
These men gave their lives joyfully because they valued the kingdom of heaven as being of more value than life itself.
"We are inclined to say that a person who discovers treasure anywhere or in any form and then walks away from it is a fool. But many do that with the gospel" (James Montgomery Boice, The Parables of Jesus, p. 32).

In the parable, the treasure was hidden, the spiritual truth is missed by many because it could not be found by intelligence, power or worldly wisdom. 
Matthew 13:11-17 and 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 make it clear that the mysteries of the kingdom are hidden from some who are unable to hear, see, and comprehend these truths. 
The disobedient reap the natural consequences of their unbelief—spiritual blindness. Those who are docile, careless, proud, unbelieving cannot discern spiritual truth, reserved for those who are hungry and thirsty for it. These alone are they, like in the parable, who can understand its great value.

Notice that the merchant stopped seeking pearls when he found the pearl of great price. Eternal life, the incorruptible inheritance, and the love of God through Christ constitute the pearl which, once found, makes further searching unnecessary. 
Christ fulfills our greatest needs, satisfies our longings, makes us whole and clean before God, calms and quiets our hearts, and gives us hope for the future. The “great price,” of course, is that which was paid by Christ for our redemption. He emptied Himself of His glory, came to earth in the form of a lowly man and shed His precious blood on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins! Surely, it is a Pearl of a great price!

Lastly, a quote from the Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book To The Gospel Of Matthew, p. 262, by H.A.W. Meyer:
"The idea embodied in the parable is to this effect: the Messianic Kingdom, as being the most valuable of all possessions, can become ours only on condition that we are prepared joyfully to surrender for its sake every other earthly treasure" 
Therefore, to adorn the body with pearls, but to forget the pearl of great price will bring one to shame in the day of judgment. What is your disposition toward the kingdom of heaven? Do you truly consider it to be a treasure, a pearl of great price for which you are willing to surrender everything else in the world?

Thanks so much for reading.

Benson Omole.
+2348060066660; +2347070020042
omolebenson@gmail.com.

(This work is under the oversight of the Elders of The Church of Christ, Ekute Quarters Ado-Ekiti. P O Box 1656 Ado Ekiti).

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