The Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45-47
“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.”
In the 13th chapter of Matthew, Jesus is speaking in parables to explain to the world how that the Kingdom of God would come.
Parables of chapter 13:
1)Parable of the Sower
2)Parable of the Harvest of the wheat and the tares
3)Parable of the Grain of Mustard Seed
4)Parable of the Little Leaven that leavens the whole lump
5)Parable of the Harvest of both good and bad fish.
6)Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
The first question that comes to mind is this: Why did Jesus use parables?
Verses 11-13 Because you have received the revelation of the mysteries of Heaven and are able to understand the things of the spirit but those that don’t know God cannot understand the things of the spirit and must hear the principles of God spoken in stories or circumstances that will teach the truth. The carnal man hears the stories, understands their natural meaning and learns their truths for this life but still does not understand what they mean in realm of the spirit.
Parables are Jesus’ way of trying to reach the un-regenerated heart.
The Holy Spirit does not dwell within fallen man and therefore cannot reveal unto him the deep things of God.
When we receive the Holy Spirit we are instantly given the ability to understand and perceive the things of the spirit through his power.
So what about the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE?
We must begin by looking back to the time of Creation.
God desired a creation that would serve Him, worship Him and love Him of its own free will.
God created angels to serve him and worship him but they did not have his image.
God created the universe, the sun, moon and stars and said that it was good but they had no real life or ability to worship god in the way that God desired. Neither could they really appreciate His love and grace.
God created the earth, the mountains, animals and plants and said they were good, but they could not worship and love him as He desired.
Then God created Adam and Eve.
In this creation God took great care. He did not just speak them into existence as he had done all of the other creation.
God personally formed their bodies, He breathed His own breath into them, He made them in His own image.
Your body, your soul and your spirit are exact replicas of the body, soul and spirit of Almighty God.
HE CREATED YOU WILL A FREE WILL TO CHOOSE WHETHER WE WILL WORSHIP HIM, LOVE HIM AND SERVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US AND DESIRED US.
Satan hates God and because of our special relationship with God, he also hates us.
In the fall in the garden, both man and God lost the greatest of all treasures.
Man lost his perfect state, the powers of thought and reason were greatly reduced, his body which was created to live forever began to die, his heart no longer felt the love for God and he experienced the fear of God for the first time.
All of creation was affected because the perfect bond between creation and its holy creator was crushed.
Now, the God of love was suddenly looked upon as the God of Judgment.
What Did God Lose?
God lost everything at that moment.
God knew all along what price would have to paid to have the praise, love and worship of His creation.
God wasn’t surprised by the sequence of events in the garden.
From before creation began, God had laid out the plan of salvation.
In the parable of the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE we see just exactly what God lost.
God had all of the riches of heaven with its streets of gold that are so pure that they are as transparent as glass.
God had all of the glory and praise of the angels around the throne who sing His praises day and night without ceasing.
God had all of the power of his majesty as Almighty God the all seeing, all knowing, all hearing, all powerful God of eternity where there is no past or future, only the present.
THESE WERE BUT A FEW OF THE MANY PEARLS THAT GOD HAD ALREADY – BUT HE HAD LOST THE GREATEST PEARL OF ALL – THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
That Pearl of Great Price was his own children!
How much would you give in return for one of your children?
There isn’t one of us who would not give every penny, every possession, everything including our very life to save the life of our children.
THE GOD OF HEAVEN WAS AND IS NO DIFFERENT!
He knew the price that had to be paid.
GOD KNEW THAT ONLY HIS OWN DEATH COULD BE THE PRICE FOR OUR REDEMPTION.
GOD CAME DOWN, TOOK ON THE FORM OF A MAN CALLED JESUS, WENT TO THE CROSS, GAVE UP ALL THE OTHER PEARLS OF HEAVEN AS A SACRIFICE TO GAIN THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE – HIS CHILDREN.
God died for me.
God died for you.
God died for every man.
God died to give us the freedom to choose.
No devil of hell can keep you from choosing God.
No devil of hell can force you away from God.
No temptation has the power to force you to sin.
BECAUSE GOD DIED ON THAT CROSS AND SHED HIS OWN BLOOD – WE HAVE A CHOICE!
But what will we choose?
GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE UP THE PEARLS OF HEAVEN, BECAME MAN, EXPERIENCED THE WORST REJECTION THAT A MAN COULD EXPERIENCE AND TOOK UPON HIMSELF YOUR SIN AND GUILT.
GOD EXPERIENCED THE HOPELESSNESS OF ETERNAL DAMNATION FOR A FEW MOMENTS ON THE CROSS.
GOD FELT THE PAIN AND AGONY OF SEPARATION FROM ALL THIS IS GOOD AND HOLY.
GOD FELT THE CONDEMNATION AND EXPERIENCED THE FLAMES OF HELL FOR A MOMENT ON THE CROSS.
AND HE DID IT ALL FOR YOU!
HE DID IT ALL SO YOU COULD HAVE A CHOICE!
HE DID IT ALL BECAUSE HE CONSIDERED YOU TO BE THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.
JESUS PAID THE PRICE TO BUY BACK HIS GREATEST PRIZE.
Have you accepted Jesus’ offer?
Will you give him your love, your life, your all in return for His love for you?
You have the ability to choose because He purchased that ability on the cross.
YOU ARE THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!
