FINDING THE PEARL

"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." (Matthew 13:45-46)

There is a very precious truth taught in this parable. Before this, Jesus had declared another parable which said the Kingdom of God was like a treasure hidden in a field. The man found it, even though he was not looking for a treasure. In simply working in the field, he came upon the treasure unexpectedly, and sold everything he had to obtain the whole field. In this, Jesus gave a picture of the truth elsewhere affirmed, "I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me" (Isa 65:1; Rom 10:20). Thus many who are not in quest of something excellent come in contact with the truth of God, like the two on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13ff), or James and John who were called while mending their fishing nets (Matt 4:21). Or, even like the Philippian jailor, who found the Lord after being awakened from a sound sleep (Acts 16:27).

But our text speaks of another aspect of the Kingdom. There are also people who find this glorious salvation who are engaged in a search for the Lord, and for good and excellent things. They are likened to "a merchant man, seeking goodly," or beautiful and fine, "pearls." Perhaps they are like Lydia and the women with her, who found Jesus when they went down to a river to pray (Acts 16:13ff). Or, like the Ethiopian eunuch, they are earnestly trying to understand the Scriptures, but are only being confused (Acts 8:30-31). These are people who want the truth. They want nothing to do with the lie. They want to be saved. They do not want to be lost. But they appear to be having little success in their quest for "goodly pearls." In fact, what they are finding brings dissatisfaction to them, and often a degree of frustration. They know there is something better–some "goodly pearls"–but they are unable, it seems, to find them.

God, who knows the heart, will not let such souls go long before they discover "one pearl of great price." They, like Hilkiah find "the book of the Law in the house of the Lord," though it was long hidden from him (2 Kgs 22:8). When this pearl–the Kingdom of God–is found, it makes everything else appear worthless. It brings the satisfaction the soul longed for, and the joy for which it craved.

There is nothing novel about the "one pearl of great price."  In fact, the one who finds it is quite willing, and aggressively so, to sell everything that he has to buy it. The thirsty and discerning soul knows the "one goodly pearl" cannot simply be added to a collection of other pearls. It can never be a pearl on a string with others, so to speak. He senses this pearl is so costly, he cannot have it and other pearls at the same time.

This, of course, is pictured in Paul, who spoke of the manner of the Kingdom. He counted everything but "loss"–or sold all that he had–to buy the "one goodly pearl" (Phil 3:7-14). The Lord Jesus affirmed that to obtain what He has to give, one must "deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Him." He must "lose his life"–or sell all that he has–if he is to obtain the "one goodly pearl" (Matt 16:24). Perhaps this explains why many souls have not obtained the precious pearl of reference. Either they have never really found it, or they have found it and, because they did not value it properly, have been unwilling to sell all they had to obtain it.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ for allowing me to find Your Kingdom -- yes, for leading me to do so. I know by experience that nothing is to be compared with Your Kingdom. Grant me grace to continue to seek it first, together with Your righteousness. I know there is more to it than I presently know.

-- Monday: LAYING ON OF HANDS --