Whereas the man who found the hidden treasure in a field was not searching for a treasure, the pearl merchant was
actively seeking for a treasure (fine pearls). This parable is found only here in Matthew 13:45-46. This is the second
parable that Jesus told to his disciples privately.
The Story
"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." (Matthew 13:45-46, New International Version.).
Again, Jesus draws from an earthly story in order to teach a spiritual truth. A pearl merchant was looking for fine pearls when he found a very fine, beautiful pearl. The merchant sold everything he had and bought it.
The Interpretation
This parable teaches the same truths as The Hidden Treasure. It is interesting to note that the word, "Pearl" is from a Sanskrit word meaning "Pure." Jesus is The Best Pearl. The merchant is the one who discovers the exceedingly high value of Christ and accepts him as his personal Lord and Savior. By the act of selling all that he had, the merchant represents the believer placing God and his Son above every- one and everything else.
Central Truth
CHRIST (AND HIS SALVATION) IS SUPERIOR TO EVERYTHING ELSE.
Conclusion
A fitting conclusion for so great a truth is to receive Christ as your Savior if you have not done so. Here is how
to receive The Best Pearl:
1. GOD LOVES YOU. Realize that God loves you and desires a life of joy for you:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
Not only did God tell you that he loves you, but he proved his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love
is also expressed by the full and high quality life he has planned for you NOW--in this life as well as in the life to
come. Jesus said,
The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(John 10:10, New International Version).
Why is there so much evil in the world and why do many people not experience the abundant life?
2. SIN HAS SEPARATED YOU FROM GOD. Because people are sinful, they are cut off from God and his blessings. The Bible teaches and human experience confirms that we are sinful:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
We were created for fellowship with God, but that fellowship was broken when we rebelled against God. Sin
brought us spiritual death:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, New International Version).
We continually strive for the abundant life but always fall short. Business success, wealth, education, religion, fame, drugs, pleasure and all human substitutes cannot fill the God-shaped void in the human heart. How do we become
reconciled with God and experience the abundant life?
3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER. Jesus Christ is God's only provision to forgive our sin and give us abundant life. Jesus died for us--he took our penalty of death:
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. [italics mine]. (Romans 5:7-8, New International Version).
God demonstrated that Christ's death was accepted as a sacrifice for us by raising Christ from the dead:
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though
some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, New International Version).
Christ is the only way to God:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6,
New International Version).
It is not enough to know that God loves you, that sin has cut you off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only
way to God.
4. YOU MUST RECEIVE CHRIST PERSONALLY. You must personally receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible states that,
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born
not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13, New International
Version).
You receive Christ by faith:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by
works, so that no one can boast, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-9, New International Version).
If you choose to receive the truth about Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit will give you faith to trust him as your
personal Savior. Then, when you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this
being born again:
You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' (John 3:7, New International Version).
This is the most important experience that you will ever have. God will bring new life into your being. This new life
will make you more like the Lord Jesus. The Prophet Isaiah painted this beautiful word picture concerning the ministry of Christ:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent men to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3) (New International Version)
Isaiah speaks of the joy of deliverance from past guilt and bondage of sin. However, it does not happen auto- matically.
Christ stands at your heart's door, but you must open the door:
Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the
door, I will come in and fellowship with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20, The Living Bible).
You can receive Christ in your heart right now. Pray this prayer from your heart:
Almighty God, I confess that I have sinned against you. I ask you to forgive me. I receive Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tell someone that you have accepted Christ as your Savior. Please write me and tell me the good news also.
(This presentation of the plan of salvation was adapted from Dr. Bill Bright's "Four Spiritual Laws.")
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