THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!
We talk very little about Pearls these days. Wilma and I ministered in Hyderabad in India, called the
City of Pearls. This was due to its booming pearl processing and trading
industry which has been supplying the finest pearl jewelry to India and the
rest of the world for more than 400 years. The former Indian Rajas (kings) knew
the value of Pearls, as once they were the proud owners of the world's richest diamond
called the Kohinoor Diamond.
The British (stole), wrongfully
acquired it, and placed it among the crown jewels of Queen Victoria on the
annexation of Punjab in 1849. Even if the Kohinoor
diamond's value is unknown, it is part of the Crown Jewels, valued between $10
and $12 billion. Kohinoor Diamond was mined at Kollur
Mine in Andhra Pradesh, operated during the mid-19th century, and was one of
the largest and most productive diamond mines on the Indian subcontinent.
The
reason for my sharing about pearls and diamonds is that some people value them
and are often proud to own them. Today we will learn about a pearl of a
different kind and value. Our Kingdom Life series taught us how God's eternal Kingdom
operates worldwide through Kingdom citizens. God's workers are spreading God's
Kingdom as they go out and scatter the seeds of the Gospel. Last week we
learned when God's Kingdom message is presented to various people how they
produce a rich harvest or lack thereof.
When
they receive the message, the good-hearted people will hold on to it, apply it,
and produce a rich harvest, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, through perseverance.
In today's reading, we read about Jesus using two similar parables, one after
the other, to emphasize the absolute and infinite worth of God's Kingdom and
how people might obtain it.
These
two parables are about more than pursuing earthly treasure and pearls but
about seeking and receiving the one and only one who is worth pursuing and the
cost involved in doing so. I title this message "The Pearl of Great
Price." Matthew 13:44-46.
I. THE PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE (Vs.
44)
Vs. 44. "The
Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field.
In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough
money to buy the field. Just imagine this scene: A man went to a field to work
in the morning.
While he was digging
the field, he accidentally stumbled upon a treasure. It looked substantial, but
he needed to know how much it was valued. He was excited about his fortune. But
there was a problem; it was not his field. So he hid it, went home, sold
everything he owned, and bought the field. If you were that man, would you risk
losing everything to buy that field if you thought the hidden treasure was not
worth more than all you owned?
Under
rabbinic law, if a workman came on a treasure in a field and lifted it out, it
would belong to his master, the field's owner; but here, the man is careful not
to lift the treasure out until he has bought the field. The parable's focus,
therefore, is on the value of the treasure, which is worth every sacrifice.
When the man buys the field at such sacrifice, he possesses far more than the
price paid. The Kingdom of Heaven is worth infinitely more than any earthly
treasure. Those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything
else to secure it.
To
stress the importance of saving our souls from eternal destruction and the cost
of discipleship, Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you
must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to
hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my
sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you
benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" Mark 8:34-36
The
human soul is more precious than all the fleeting treasures of this earth. It
has an eternal destiny. It is worth losing everything to ensure that we will live
with Jesus in his eternal Kingdom forever if only we believe in Him. We already
get to enjoy its blessings here and now.
II THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL
(45-46)
Vs.
45-46, "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for
choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he
owned and bought it!" The
word "again" ties this parable closely to the preceding one. The
connection is the supreme worth of the Kingdom. The parables of the hidden
treasure and the Pearl are a pair, and pairing is not uncommon in Matthew, an
excellent way of reinforcing a point.
The
merchant in the parable went out searching for "choice pearls," the
rarest natural pearls. Unlike the farmer, the merchant was intentionally
looking for a pearl of great value. When he found one, he knew this single
Pearl surpassed any other pearl he had ever seen or owned. He sold everything
he had and bought that Pearl of great value. A man or a woman might own several
pearls (possessions), but nothing can be compared with the Pearl of Great
Price.
III. THE PEARL OF GREAT
PRICE
What
is the Pearl of Great Price in this parable? It refers to the Kingdom of God
even more, so Jesus, the King of God's Kingdom. Let me show you how Jesus is
indeed the Pearl of Great Price. In the Bible, pearls were often referred to as
knowledge, wisdom, and something of great value. Jesus said, "Don't throw
your pearls (something valuable) before to pigs." Matt 7:6. In a way,
Jesus was saying don't give away your valuable wisdom to those who may not
value it.
Listen to Job, who showed us where wisdom and
understanding are found. Job 28:12-28, "But do people know where to find
wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it. It
cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver. It's worth more
than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or bluestone. Wisdom is
more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted
in fine gold. Coral and Jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of
wisdom is far above rubies.
It's
worth more than the purest gold. "But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. "God
alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, 'The fear
of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding." This
is how one can acquire wisdom and understanding.
If
you search for wisdom and understanding, you will end up in Jesus Christ. This
is what Isaiah prophesied of Jesus. Isaiah 11:2, "And the Spirit of the
Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of
counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." Here
is the fatherly advice of the great King Solomon. Proverbs 2:1-6,
"My
child, listen to what I say and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then
you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge
of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
Paul
encourages Colossian Church to go after Jesus because "In him lie hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col 2:3. He unashamedly went
after Jesus. "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I
consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else
is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, my
Lord. For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as
garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him." Phil 3:7-8
Paul
considered everything he owned as garbage when it came to gaining Christ. What
garbage do you need to let go of to gain Jesus Christ, the Pearl of Great Price?
When you put your faith in Jesus, your sins will be forgiven; and you will
receive His Kingdom. Having Jesus in your life is far more worthy than silver,
gold, diamonds, or any earthly possessions.
