February 7, 2025 - Matthew 13:45,46 - The Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:45,46

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Our Lord spoke in parables so that He could reveal the truth of His kingdom to the children of His kingdom and hide it from those who are not of His spiritual kingdom: "And He said unto them, 'Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them" (Mark 4:11-12). How precious this truth is when He opens it up to us by His Spirit.

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a MERCHANT MAN." This can be a reference to none other than the LORD Jesus Christ, who came into the world as a man to purchase a people unto God the Father and would most certainly redeem (purchase) and bring them to God. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18). He paid their sin debt by paying their ransom, and God, once and for all, approved, accepted, and declared righteous each one upon completion of payment, declaring them to be forever His inheritance. "And they sung a new song, saying, 'Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation'" (Revelation 5:9).

In Middle Eastern culture, a merchant was more than a traveling salesman. They represented very wealthy individuals and were entrusted with the charge of increasing their wealth and caring for their goods on behalf of the one who appointed them to the work. An example is Joseph, who was given charge of Pharaoh's kingdom (Genesis 47:31-44). The LORD Jesus is the Merchant Man who came to earth, having been given the charge of His wealthy Father's business—to redeem and save them from utter loss and make them heirs of the Kingdom. Not only did the LORD Jesus come to purchase them, but also to keep and manage them as members of the Father's kingdom, ensuring their eternal salvation.

"Seeking GOODLY PEARLS." The "goodly" (well-pleasing) pearls are the people that God chose from eternity and created to be His precious jewels (vessels of honor), according to God’s good pleasure and what He purposed to make them through the blood and righteousness of the LORD Jesus. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).

The word 'good' in 'goodly' derives from the character of God, who is GOOD (James 1:17). "No one is good—except God alone" (Luke 18:19). To say that these were goodly pearls is not because of any inherent goodness in themselves, representing sinners Christ came to save, but because God saw them as those He would declare good through the work of the GOOD Shepherd. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

"When he had found one pearl of GREAT PRICE, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it." The pearl (God’s elect sinners in Christ) of great price (paid for by the precious blood of the Lamb) could not have been purchased with any greater price. He sold all He had and bought it. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).