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.
[B] THE OWNER OF THE PEARL
Take a good look at the Pearl. Firstly understand that the merchant of the parable already had pearls of the very best quality. They were most perfect, the best obtainable. But there was one, not in his possession yet. So costly was that pearl, so immaculate, so perfect that there was no question of giving up the best he had, to buy that pearl. It was purchased at the greatest price and is his chief possession, the delight of his eyes the occupation of His time and energies for the welfare of that pearl. We know in this parable that the Merchant is Christ; the purchase price was His blood shed, and also the terrible separation from a righteous God who judged the Son for our sins. The pearl is the Church, the chief delight of His eyes, the occupation of His time and energies for the welfare of that pearl that it be sanctified and prepared as His Bride.
[C] THE PEARL OF PERFECTION
Note that the pearl is the picture of perfection. Hold it to the light. There is no imperfection, no flaw, no deficiency. Not one hint of any separation of the atoms that make it up. All parts shine with the lustre of its formation. All parts, so minute, yet they amalgamate to form this Item of perfection, of oneness in purity. There is no denominational aspect here - all redeemed from all ages and nations. With Christ the Pearl holds pride of place.
Note too that its glory is seen when set against the light. When it is held up, the light radiates from it; the light activates it. Christ is the Light and it is with His glory alone that the Pearl shines and reflects His radiance. It exposes the quality of the Light. How wonderful a thought! We expose the quality of Christ, the beauty and purity of the Light. We are all part of Him.
Oh, saints of God, get the Christ perspective of the Body. Leave your earthy perspective! Gain Christ's perspective. Then we may view His saints as He views them Himself. That makes all the difference and may cause our attitudes to all God’s people and to one another to be under constant review.
[4]. THE WRONG TEACHING ABOUT THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
It is INCORRECT to teach that the merchant is the sinner selling all to obtain Christ, that is, obtaining salvation by giving everything up. That interpretation has filtered through from Reformation days. It must be noted all the pearls already owned by the merchant were costly and perfect. Everything we have is corrupt and worthless.
Our unregenerate natures were totally unacceptable to God. {{Romans 3:10-12 “....as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, not even one; there is none who understands, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD. All have turned aside, together they have become useless. THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”}}. There is nothing of value in us that could be sold or exchanged for the gift of God’s salvation. The sinner is morally and spiritually bankrupt. Praise the Lord for the grace of God that redeemed me and made me part of the costly, pure, immaculate Bride.”
The Pearl of Great Price is one of the most misunderstood parables in the Gospels. The general perception of this comes from Martin Luther and the Reformers who explained this parable as being a man finding the greatest of all gifts, which is salvation. I always think that Luther’s position on this explanation must be appreciated in view of the historic times. He had just found the free gift of faith without works and indulgences, and a man’s personal salvation through faith - sola fide - was important. It is easy to see how he would be influenced in this interpretation. Most commentators, especially in the Reformed school, and the Covenant Theology school, and those especially among the a-millennialists, have followed this line. It is the basic theology of the Roman Catholic Church that the Reformers accepted without question.
Here is a comment from BibleAsk - SELLING ALL TO GAIN THE KINGDOM – [[The idea of “selling all” to gain something better is a recurring theme in Jesus’ teachings. It speaks to the idea of complete surrender, where one recognizes the incomparable value of the Kingdom and willingly gives up all lesser things to possess it. In Luke 14:33, Jesus says, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”]]
That quote above follows the line of selling and buying, even if the word “surrendering” is used. It is still connected with obtaining salvation, whether bought or forfeited or whatever. That is not the meaning at all as we should have seen earlier. The Pearl is the Church.
[5]. THE WRONG TEACHING ABOUT THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE - I EXPAND THE MEANING FOR THE CORRECT TEACHING
[A]. THE INTERPRETATION. Firstly in every one of these Matthew 13 parables the INTERPRETATION is not that of being a single person, even though a single person was the operative, so their position is consistent. Seed = the word. Tares = corruption and false teachers. Mustard tree = the monstrosity of a mutant church. Leaven = permeating corruption. Pearl = Church. Treasure = Israel (nation). Dragnet = separation of false from true – the Judgement.
[B]. IDENTIFICATION OF THE MERCHANTMAN. This man had many goodly pearls for that was the way it happened with merchantmen. What he had was of immense value because he traded in the best and owned the best. Now what valuable things does the sinner have? Can he trade his good works for salvation? His reputation? Some inherited goodness? His filthy righteousness? Something valuable to surrender?
No, he can not, because Romans teaches that all have become worthless and filthy. There is no good thing a sinner can trade for salvation, not one thing. This merchantman sold all that he had to purchase the exceptionally perfect pearl. The pearls already possessed would have been of the finest quality. No one will ever convince me the sinner is the merchantman.
Nor do we go selling and buying salvation (Isaiah 55:1-2). We possess not one single thing of value except our soul and that can’t be sold for salvation! This merchant man was honourable. Sinners are not, nor can they be, without the application of the blood of Christ. The merchantman is none other than the Lord, himself. It can be NO OTHER way!
[C]. THE PEARL. (expressing a previous thought again). Consider for a moment how the pearl is formed. Deep down in the water, unseen by human eyes, a process is being undertaken in the very heart of the bivalve that will result in the pearl. Through an injury to the creature (usually in the animal’s side) a grain of sand as an irritant becomes lodged, and layer by layer, a substance is secreted over the years, a substance called nacre, so that in time a pearl is formed. This process has been born out of pain and suffering. When the process has been completed that shell is lifted from the sea bed to the surface and the wonderful pearl is recovered to be on display.
Now consider our Lord. How was the Church formed? Deep away from human eyes, when the waves and billows of God’s wrath were storming, a process (transaction) was being undertaken that went to the very heart of the Lord. Through His injuries, pain and suffering, the formation of something wonderful had happened. The Church had been formed.
Then layer by layer, member by member, the Church is growing over the years until the time of completion will happen. Then the glorious Pearl of the Church will be lifted up from the place of its formation and become the most wonderful possession that Christ owns. It is precious, and is that for which He gave His all. It will be on display as His most precious and chosen Bride.
In that regard there is a wonderful parallel with Adam and Eve. She was formed from an injury to his side while no one but God viewed the matter. Then she was lifted to be by his side as His choice bride/wife. And so man and woman were to be knit one to the other, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. And so shall it be with the Church - it will be knit to Christ, flesh of His flesh.
A.C.Gabelein has written – [[ “This one pearl is still forming out of His side. The one pearl is still in the dark waters of the sea. How many more members will be added to this one pearl we do not know. How long it will be yet, before the Lord takes her unto Himself into the air, to adorn Himself with that precious pearl, none can tell. The church belongs to Him, and will be with Him in the heavenlies. Of what great value must this one pearl be to Him, that He gave all for it? What glories will He receive from the possession of that pearl and what a beautiful object will be the pearl in the possession of the heavenly and eternal merchantman?” ]]
Part 2 will follow this and we look into more lovely thoughts about the Church, the Pearl of the greatest price.
