OceanSide church of Christ

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THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

Matthew 13:45-46

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Last week, we found that the kingdom of heaven is like unto a “treasure” (Matt. 13:44).

 

B.    Tonight, we are going to see that the kingdom of God is like unto a pearl, in fact, a pearl of great price.

 

C.   Matthew is the only gospel writer to record this parable of Jesus for us (Matt. 13:45-46).

 

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.

 

D.   This parable and the Parable of the Hidden Treasure both reveal the high value of the kingdom.  The difference comes in the manner in which they are found.

1.     In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, the man unexpectedly finds the treasure.

2.     In the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price, the merchant man is actively seeking “goodly pearls.”

 

E.    Let’s look at this parable for the next few minutes.

 

I.           THE KINGDOM IS VALUABLE

 

A.   The kingdom is said to be “one pearl of great price.”

1.     Pearls were valuable in Jesus’ day.

2.     They were much more difficult to obtain at that time.

3.     The man found a pearl of great price:  size, color, and shape.

 

B.    The kingdom of heaven is like this valuable pearl.  What are some of the things that give it such value?

1.     It was planned by the Almighty God.

a.     Ephesians 3:10-11

 

To the intent that now unto principalities and power in heavenly places might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he pur-posed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

b.    God is valuable because there is no one equal or comparable to Him (II Chron. 6:14).

 

And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth…

 

 

2.     The kingdom, the church, is valuable because it was purchased with the precious blood of Christ.

a.     Acts 20:28

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

b.    This blood was not only human; it was divine.

1)     Jesus was the son of Mary.

2)     He was also the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

3.     The kingdom of God is valuable because it is the only institution devoted to the souls of men.

a.     The soul of man is his most valuable possession (Matt. 16:26).

 

For what is a man profited is he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

b.    When man is redeemed by the blood of Christ, his soul is cleansed.  That soul is placed within the safe haven of the kingdom of God.

1)     Paul writes that we are translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13).

2)     John reminded his readers of the Revelation that he was their com-panion in the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:9).

 

II.         SOME ARE SEEKING SOMETHING OF VALUE

 

A.   The merchant in the parable was “seeking goodly pearls.”

 

B.    There are people in our world who are seeking something valuable from a reli-gious perspective.

1.     They are seeking a relationship with God.

2.     They are seeking the truth.

3.     They are seeking the true church for which Jesus died.

4.     They are seeking real forgiveness and comfort.

5.     They are seeking meaning and purpose in life.

6.     They are seeking something that has hope beyond this life.

 

C.   Bible examples:

1.     Nicodemus seems to have been seeking something (John 3:1-2).

 

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:  for no man can to the miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

 

2.     Zachaeus was also a man seeking something (Luke 19:2-3a).

 

And, behold, there was a man named Zachaeus, which was chief among the publicans, and he was rich.  And he sought to see Jesus, who he was…

 

3.     The Ethiopian eunuch was a seeker.

a.     He was probably a proselyte to the Jewish religion.  This would explain why he “had come to Jerusalem for to worship” (Acts 8:27).

b.    He also sought God in the scriptures (Acts 8:28).

 

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

 

4.     A unique example of seekers, the Athenians

a.     They appear to be seekers (Acts 17:19-20)

 

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is?  For thou bringest strange things to our ears:  we would know therefore what these things mean.

 

b.    These men, however, were not honest seekers.

1)     They loved the constant search (Acts 17:21).

 

(For all the Athenians, and strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else, but to either tell, or to hear some new thing).

 

2)     When Paul came to the resurrection of the dead, their search was over (Acts 17:32).  They had limits to their search for truth.

 

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked:  and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

 

c.    There are some seekers today who are much like the Athenians.

1)     They just love the hunt.

2)     Or, they will seek until they hear something they disagree with:  baptism, instrumental music, the oneness of the church, etc., then they will cease their search.

 

III.       TO OBTAIN THE PEARL (KINGDOM) ONE MUST BE WILLING TO SELL ALL

 

A.   The parable states:  “…when he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

 

B.    Two examples:

1.     The apostles left all to follow Jesus (Matt. 19:27).

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee…

 

2.     The rich young man could not leave all (Matt. 19:21-22).

 

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful:  for he had great possessions.

 

C.   Some just cannot sell all.  NOTE:  If you do not sell, you cannot possess the pearl of great price.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Three verses:

1.     Matthew 5:6

 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.

 

2.     Matthew 7:7

 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

 

3.     John 7:17

 

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

 

B.    The Ethiopian eunuch found his pearl of great price.

1.     He wondered who the prophet Isaiah was speaking about (Acts 8:34).

2.     Philip taught him about Jesus (Acts 8:35).

3.     The eunuch put on Christ in the waters of baptism that day, and went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:36-39).

4.     Question:  How do we know that he found the kingdom?

a.     Philip preached the same Christ to the eunuch that he did to the Samarians (Acts 8:5, 35).

b.    In his preaching the Christ to the Samarians, he taught them of the kingdom (Acts 8:12).

 

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.

 

c.    Would he teach the eunuch the same things he taught the Samarians?  Absolutely!!!