The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 13 Part 10 The Parable Of The Pearl Of Great Price

This chapter is full of parables preached by Jesus because He illustrated heavenly truths by comparing them with earthly things.

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed explains why so many people hear the gospel but often, so few respond with repentant faith in Christ.

Jesus used four types of soil to teach us why this is so because only one of the four types of soil produce a  bountiful harvest.

Next is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. This parable teaches us why the church and Christ's kingdom has a mixture of born again souls (the wheat) and tares (children of the Devil).

This is why there is not a perfect church on earth throughout its history. 

Sinners are mixed in with saints and this is why God gave us litmus tests to show who is truly born again versus those who profess faith in Christ, but live like the corrupt culture.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed teaches us something that began in the book of Acts: the birth of the Church.

The church started with only 11 apostles and 109 faithful followers, but on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God came down and more than 3,000 people were born again!

The gospel began taking root in just a few people and then exponentially exploded as thousands were converted to Christ!

The Parable of Leaven pictures the gospel entering a sinner's heart and beginning a life long process of making that person more like Christ.

As the seed of God's Word takes root in my heart and yours, it will produce fruit in our lives. 

The process of leaven permeating flour shows how leaven is hidden in flour but slowly spreads and changes the lump in dough that can be made into useful bread.

The gospel enters our heart hidden away but with power to work the life of God into us, diffusing His grace and changing us to live for His glory.

Then, Jesus gave the Parable of the Treasure that was hidden in a field.

The field is the gospel of Christ and the treasure is Jesus Himself hidden in the  scriptures.

The man who finds this hidden treasure joyfully sells all his worldly goods to buy that field.

This pictures individual Christians digging into the field of God's Word to learn from Christ, learn of Christ and discover the treasures we receive because we are in Christ. 

Parable of the Pearl of Great Price and connection with seeking heavenly treasure.

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. 

The pearl of great price serves the same purpose as the Parable of the Hidden Treasure. 

The emphasis is thus doubled because it highlights the importance of knowing Christ and being conformed to His image.

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream that was doubled, signifying it is certain to happen.

Genesis 41:14-32  Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16  And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 17  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: 18  And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: 19  And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: 20  And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: 21  And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22  And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: 23  And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24  And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. 25  And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26  The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27  And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28  This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 29  Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30  And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31  And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 

Most of us are familiar with the narrative of Joseph's life in Egypt where he faithfully served Potiphar but that man's wife falsely accused Joseph of improper sexual advances.

Joseph was imprisoned but God blessed him in that place and eventually Pharaoh had a disturbing dream that no wise man could interpret.

The keeper of the prison remembered that Joseph could interpret dreams so Joseph was summoned to appear before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh dreamed about seven good ears of corn that were eaten by seven bad ears of corn.

Then he dreamed of seven good, fat cattle eaten by seven scrawny cattle.

Joseph was guided by God to interpret Pharoah's dream and there are two things he said that apply to the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.

First, the two dreams were one dream much like the two parables are teaching the same truth.

Second, the dream was doubled by God to Pharaoh because it was certain to happen and would quickly come to pass.

Christ is the great pearl and the merchant man are Christians who seek Him.

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. 

Therefore the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price are teaching us the same truths about Christ and His Word.

The goodly pearl of high value points to Jesus Christ just as the treasure hidden in a field does.

The merchant man who sells all he has in order to buy this great pearl corresponds to the man who sold all that he had to buy the field containing the treasure.

The great pearl was hidden in a marketplace while the great treasure was hidden in a field.

Both the pearl and the treasure had to be searched out, both were costly items and both brought great joy to their owner.

We see that people are busy seeking to be rich, to be more educated, to have more possessions or status.

One thing is most important in this life: Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Luke 10:41-42  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

Martha was troubled that she was working hard serving a meal as her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet to hear Him speak.

Therefore she complained to Jesus about her sister, but Jesus' reply connects with the men selling all they had to buy the field with treasure or the one prized pearl.

"One thing is needful" and that one thing for a sinner is knowing Jesus Christ through repentant faith. 

Those who are regenerated by the Spirit of God long to know all they can about Jesus, just as Mary did by sitting at His feet.

We have a hunger to feast on His Word and a thirst to drink deeply at the well containing the words of eternal life (See Matthew 4:4; John 4:13-14; 6:60-69). 

We find all the treasures of Christ by searching in the scriptures with a longing in our hearts and seeking God's help to open our eyes to His wonderful word (See Psalm 119:18; 2 Timothy 2:15). 

What is our heart's real treasure? The things of God or the things of this world?

Matthew 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Jesus Christ is the pearl of great price, a jewel of inestimable value. 

Those who search the scriptures seeking Christ which will be truly rich toward God. 

Knowing Christ and dwelling in Him through God's Spirit living in us, means that we have enough to make us happy here and for ever.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price connect with Jesus' telling us to lay up heavenly treasures rather than wasting our lives pursuing earthly pleasures.

Where our treasure is will be the place where our heart is focused and what occupies our thoughts.

A true Christian is a spiritual merchant, searching in the scriptures, seeking and finding this pearl of price. 

We long for the things of God and have our affection set on things on high where Christ is enthroned with His Father (See Colossians 3:1-3).

Nothing short of searching the scriptures to learn of Christ and to be taught by Him, will ever satisfy our hungry and thirsty soul.

Those who would have a saving interest in Christ, must be willing to part with all for following Him, leaving all earthly pursuits behind. 

Whatever in life hinders us from coming to Christ, we must cheerfully give it up.

The treasure of knowing God and having a hunger and thirst for His Word.

Psalm 63:1-6  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2  To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4  Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

King David was also the sweet Psalmist of Israel and a man after God's own heart.

He committed himself to seek God early every morning.

His heart yearned for communion with the LORD like a thirsty man in the desert heat longs for a drink of cool water.

David wanted to see God's power and glory and this is found by searching the scriptures.

This is where David's soul found true, lasting satisfaction.

This is where David learned how to live a life filled with blessing from God.

This is where David learned how to rightly worship God.

This is where David found comfort at night, meditating on God's Word during times he was distressed.

Like treasure hid in a field, it must be carefully sought and dug out of the field of scripture.

Like the great and costly pearl, Christ must be sought out by searching the scriptures, and reading, studying and memorizing them.

Seeking the treasure of Christ in His Word with all our heart is the blessed life.

Psalm 119:1-2  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 

The path of a blessed life begins by keeping God's commandments and seeking Him with all of our heart, soul and mind.

The treasure of cleansing from sin and protection from sin found in the Word of Christ.

Psalm 119:9-11  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

There are many treasures of Christ awaiting our discovery.

One treasure is learning how we can be cleansed from sin according to the scriptures.

Another treasure is protection from sinning by hiding or memorizing the scriptures in our heart.

The treasure of finding joy and delighting in the Word of God and Christ.

Psalm 119:14-16  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

When we put in the time and effort to learn of Christ and learn from Him, we will have joyful hearts and we will find the greatest joy when we read and study His Word.

God is showing us where the true riches are in Christ in His Word.

The treasure of the Word of Christ's reviving and strengthening power in us.

Psalm 119:25  DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. 

Psalm 119:28  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 

The scriptures are living truth that minister to our soul and they are able to meet our various spiritual and practical needs.

When we have become weary in well doing and find ourselves cast down, reading about Christ in the scriptures will revive us and bring renewed strength from God so that we can continue loving and serving Him.

Psalm 119:161-162  SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. 

By using these parables, Jesus is teaching us that the more we dig into the scriptures seeking to know the mind of Christ, the more we will hunger and thirst for Him.

We will see more and more the treasures of blessings that we have in Him, our hearts will overflow with awe.

We will see that the scriptures become more valuable to us each day.

Where our heart is there we will also find our treasure.

Will that treasure be Jesus Christ or the corrupt, depraved culture?

Bob