The Pearl Of Great Price

THE CHURCH Matthew 13:44-46

How important is the church? Here is a parable that declares to the value and importance of the church.

Here’s a merchant man. A merchant on a journey. He has but one purpose and that is seeking goodly pearls. One day he sees the most glorious, magnificent, beautiful gem that he’s ever seen. It is perfectly formed and beautifully colored pearl. He recognizes that is what he has been looking for all of my life.

He sells everything that he has. He empties his pockets; he takes everything out of the bank to purchase this one pearl.

The parable is about you and I. In the pearl we see the church. The pearl comes out of the sea, and the sea in Scriptures typifies the masses of the world.

The church is composed of precious souls, redeemed out of every nation, kindred, people and tongue. The pearl is one, and the church is one in Christ.

I. The METICULOUS PERSON - “Merchant man”

Here was man who was a connoisseur and know all about pearls. He had discernment and knowledge, as to a pearl’s true worth, and could not be deceived by any sham production.

Wherever this merchant man went, their presence created great interest. They would go from one place to another seeking goodly pearls.

This merchant man was Jesus who left one place to go to another seeking goodly pearls. Jesus departed from Heaven with a purpose in mind just as this merchant man in this parable.

His affection for the pearl can easily be seen.

A. Seen in the place that He abandoned

B. Seen in the price that He accepted

Why did the merchant man seek godly pears, and pay such an infinite price for one pearl? Simply put..He wanted it for Himself.

He sacrifices all that He had for this one pearl.

C. Seen in the purpose that He acknowledged

He wanted the pearl for Himself.

Ephesians 5:25-27 - “present it to himself”

John 14:1-3 - “receive you unto myself”

He purchased us that He might eternally possess us.

II. The MAGNIFICENT PEARL - “one pearl”

He found one beautiful, choice, and precious pearl.

Now a pearl is not mined out or dug out of the ground.

A. A pearl is developed in the midst of suffering.

A small grain of initiating sand creates pain inside the shell of any oyster. An object like a grain of sand gets in an oyster. The oyster by nature responds to the irritation the grain of sand causes and begins to send out a secretion that gradually coats over the foreign object. It continues to do this until a beautiful white pearl is formed. Out of the much suffering, an object of beauty is formed.

How accurate is the fact that the church was formed out of the wounds of Christ.

B. A pearl is dependent on a living organism to be produced, which is not true of any other precious stone.

The offending grain of sand becomes through the work of the injured one, a lovely gem, clothed with a beauty not its own.

The pearl is the only jewel which is the product of a living thing. It is produced by pain, as the church was produced through the agonies of Lord endured on the cross.

C. A pearl is delivered from the deep and darkness of waters to the crown of queens.

It is found in a sate of uselessness. It will remain there unless lifted by another.

A pearl is meant for personal adornment - to focus attention upon the wearer thereof. So the church shall be forever for the display of the race and glory of her Saviour, for whose adornment she was bought and brought up to glory.

D. A pearl is defaced if is cut, divided or improved on in any way.

The value of the pearl is how it comes into existence. It is not carved or cut like a diamond or ruby. Unlike a diamond, a pearl is spoiled if a tool touches it.

So it is with the true church. The Bible says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus,” - Ephesians 2:10.

Other gems are the work of human skill, and the greater the skill the greater the worth. A beautiful diamond is the work of man. This is not so with a pearl; human hands and human design have nothing to do with the pearl.

III. THE MEMORABLE PRICE - “sold all that he hath”

This suggest a great sacrifice. It suggest going from a millionaire to penniless in one transaction. He definitely considered the pearl worth such a sacrifice.

2 Corinthians 8:9 “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.”