Jesus often used parables emphasizing the same truth but from a different viewpoint; perhaps this way more people would understand these truths, then too, repetition of a thing emphasizes its importance. Today we are returning to Matthew 13:44-46 where in our previous meditation we noted two parables pertaining to the value of the kingdom of heaven: when we find Jesus, the treasure that was hidden in the field, treasure that the world never gave to us, it behooves us to give up all we lived for in the past to gain the treasure He has provided! In the second parable, verses 45-46, some see Jesus as the “pearl of great price”, which He is in that sense; but how about Him being the “merchant seeking beautiful pearls”? We the people He created being the pearls, highly valued in His sight but we were severed from Him and lost through Adam and Eve’s choice to sin. So He came seeking us as He did Adam in Genesis 3:8-9. In order to pay the price for that pearl the merchant would have to sell everything he had. We were “sold under sin” Romans 7:14, and lost until Jesus, as the merchant, came to this earth “to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10. In order to make the purchase He had to “sell” everything He had in heaven not thinking His “equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained” Philippians 2:6 Amplified Bible; He had to become like us in Hebrews 2:17, “yet without sin” Hebrews 4:15. Then also on this earth He had to give up everything he had down to His very life blood to pay our ransom price, for “without shedding of blood there is no remission” Hebrews 9:22. Since He loves us so much (see 1 John 4:19) and paid such an awesome price to redeem us, is it not logical that we should submit to His embrace? For all that high price He paid, it is not effective in us unless, and until, we receive Him according to John 1:12!
The valued pearl
By Rose Hill
To Me you were like a pearl that was lost,
I needed to find you at any cost.
My love for you caused Me to give,
My life and blood so you could live. – Jesus.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.