God in Sandals: Transformational Encounters With the Word Made FleshSample

The Pearl of Great Value

As we have seen in previous parables, Christ illustrated the same truth with similar stories. Reflect on the parable in Matthew 13:46. In what ways is it similar to the parable of the hidden treasure? Can you find anything that distinguishes it from the other parable? As a result of the second teaching, what principle can be stated?

In the previous parable, the peasant found the treasure purely by accident. Nevertheless, he immediately understood that he had found something of great value, and decided to sell all his possessions in order to obtain it.

In the story of the pearl merchant, Christ once more uses a figure that would be well-known to most of His listeners. Pearls were considered very valuable in the Middle East, and there were a great many merchants who bought and sold them.

The merchant referred to in the parable must have been a wholesaler, so we should understand that he was used to carrying out his business with caution, carefully calculating the costs and benefits of each transaction. When he found the precious pearl, however, he threw his habitual caution to the wind and sold everything he had in order to buy it. Despite his great knowledge of pearls, he couldn’t get over his discovery.

And so we have two kinds of people who enter the Kingdom. The peasant represents those who find the Kingdom without looking for it. They are probably not even aware of its existence. Nevertheless, when the opportunity to enter arises, they take it joyfully.

The pearl merchant could represent those who have developed sensitivity to spiritual matters. They are interested in developing a relationship with God, but their own blindness keeps them from finding the correct path for their lives.

Despite the differences between the peasant and the merchant, we should note that in both cases the people found a priceless treasure without looking specifically for it. The peasant, obviously, did not even suspect there was treasure buried in the land. Similarly, even though the pearl merchant had dedicated his life to finding costly pearls, he didn’t know that a pearl of such great value existed. He found it without looking expressly for it.

These two situations show that the Kingdom is not something we can find by ourselves, even though our testimonies frequently place people in the leading role of conversion. It is more accurate to confess that the Kingdom was suddenly revealed to us because behind our salvation there is a God inviting men and women to share in communion and intimacy with Him.

The only merit in the peasant and the pearl merchant was that they took good advantage of unexpected opportunities. We are—and always will be—people who react to a God who initiates. As such, our lives are wrapped in a mantle of grace. Literally, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).