21. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl Of Greatest Price – Part 1 Of 4 Series

21. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl of Greatest Price – Part 1 of 4

We are working through the Kingdom Parables of Matthew 13, seven of them, and today we start the sixth one, which is about a pearl of the greatest value and perfection. In this study we look at the Parable itself, the Meaning of the Parable, the city of Philadelphia, and the place this Parable has in Church History.

{{Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”}}

At first glance the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl are superficially alike but they are very vastly different. We did the Hidden Treasure last time and now we do the Pearl.

[1]. INTRODUCTION

We can but admire the eye of a skilled gem merchant or jewel buyer as he surveys a quantity of uncut gems and from them selects those of most value. His choice is always almost influenced by the realisation of the finished product, even though the raw material, to the untrained eye, is not that promising. Even David was passed over by his own family – {{1 Samuel 16:11 “And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are these all the children?’ and he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”}}

But it was the Lord who knew the raw material: {{1 Samuel 16:12 “So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance, and the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”}}

[2]. THE FORMATION OF THE PEARL AND THE CHURCH

The sixth of the Kingdom Parables is distinctively different from the fifth, which deals with a treasure in the ground. The sixth, often termed “The Pearl of Great Price”, recounts the sole dedication of a merchant in obtaining the best possible pearl. THE PEARL IS SUPREME because it is incomparable for value, beauty and texture.

A pearl’s formation is an interesting consideration. Deep on the sea floor (especially before the days of cultured pearls) the irritation of a sand grain or shell particle in the flesh of the mollusc, caused it to secrete nacre around the irritant, and as it continued to do so, a pearl was formed. That was always away from the view of the world. Out of suffering and in a climate of isolation, comes this object of beauty. It resulted form suffering.

A special example is this of the Church’s formation. In those hours on the cross, away from the eyes of the world, when the Lamb in isolation was forsaken by God and suffered for man’s sins, a marvellous formation had been set in place. Out of bitterness came sweetness; out of suffering came joy, and that joy was the collection of the redeemed into one Body that He would make His own special Bride. {{Ephesians 2:13-16 “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.” “and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”}}

The Lamb’s suffering resulted in the Lamb’s Bride. That Body is still being formed but its time will come. As the pearl is raised from the murky depths when its time is completed and put on show for all to behold its beauty, so too will the Church be raised (raptured) from the depths of the earth and its beauty revealed to the universe as the brilliant Bride of the Lamb. Indeed, how precious is the Bride to the Son. {{Ephesians 5:27-29 “.... that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.”}}

There are some important lessons flowing from the intimate relationship between the Lamb and His Bride (The Pearl of Incalculable Price)

[3]. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE CHURCH, THE PEARL OF GREATEST PRICE

[A]. WHAT THE BODY MEANS TO CHRIST

We need to appreciate Christ’s very own perspective of the Body. What does Christ see when He views the Pearl? Does He see flaws in it? Does he see divisions? Does He see some parts of the Pearl not as worthy as others, not shining with the same brightness as others? Yes and No! He sees no such thing! He cleans it, He purifies it so that no dullness or mould might take hold, so no imperfection is evident. “ ....that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). He does not criticise His own saints who perhaps don't meet with more elite groups. Each saint is precious. His whole work is for the nurturing of the whole body.