Parables of Jesus: Pt. 4 A Buyer, a costly pearl and Christ.
Good morning....
"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest." Corrie ten Boom. This is a great reminder for all believers. Let's meditate on this today!
The parable of the pearl of great price.
Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
This parable is not interpreted by the Lord and it is clearly linked to the parable about the treasure hidden in the field. It also begins with the phrase "the kingdom of heaven is like..."
The word "merchant man" is a word that refers to a wholesaler or a buyer, rather than one who sells goods out of a retail location. A merchant man travels great distances by sea or land in order to find the best goods at a fair price. He has authority to buy things that are valuable.
In this parable, the merchant man is looking for valuable pearls. He is seeking with the intent to find them. A "goodly" pearl is a word that usually refers to both great beauty and moral purity.
The merchant man found one after intense searching. This solitary pearl was very costly but he sold all that he had in order to buy it.
The idea is of Christ dying on the cross to pay the sin debt of all sinners so that they could be restored to the Father in heaven through faith in His Son. That great pearl represents all of the born again believers whether Jew or Gentile.
Christ seeks out the sinner like the merchant man seeks the pearl.
Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The word "seek" in this text is the same one used in Matthew's gospel. Christ came to seek and save the lost. He came first to the Jews but He also sent the gospel to the Gentiles.
Luke 15:3-7 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Christ paid a high cost to redeem us like the merchant man did for the great pearl.
This text is another illustration of the heart of Christ. He used sheep as an example of seeking and saving the lost. 99 sheep may be safe but the owner knows that one of them is left behind and he goes seeking that lost sheep. There is great rejoicing over finding that one sheep which was lost.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The author of Hebrews encourages all believers to remember all the saints who have gone before us walking in faith (Hebrews 11) and to run our own race with patience and endurance.
We are to look to Christ and remember that Jesus had all the shame, guilt and ugliness of our sins laid upon Him. He was the sinless Son of God yet He bore all of that for us on His cross.
What motivated Christ to do this? The joy of sinners being redeemed from hell and His great love wherewith He loved us while we were still sinners.
All believers, Jew or Gentile were bought with the highest price.
1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Peter reminds us of essential truths. Christ suffered for us. Christ left an example for us to follow. Christ bore our sins in his body on the cross. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ heals our relationship with God. Christ redeemed the lost sheep who had gone astray and is now our Shepherd (Psalm 23).
This parable also teaches us that while Christ is in heaven, Israel will still exist and the Church will continue to grow.
Points to Ponder...
"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest." Corrie ten Boom. This is a great reminder for all believers. Let's meditate on this today!
The parable of the pearl of great price.
Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
This parable is not interpreted by the Lord and it is clearly linked to the parable about the treasure hidden in the field. It also begins with the phrase "the kingdom of heaven is like..."
The word "merchant man" is a word that refers to a wholesaler or a buyer, rather than one who sells goods out of a retail location. A merchant man travels great distances by sea or land in order to find the best goods at a fair price. He has authority to buy things that are valuable.
In this parable, the merchant man is looking for valuable pearls. He is seeking with the intent to find them. A "goodly" pearl is a word that usually refers to both great beauty and moral purity.
The merchant man found one after intense searching. This solitary pearl was very costly but he sold all that he had in order to buy it.
- The merchant man is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ bought us with His blood.
- The pearl is a picture both of Israel and the Church. Christ gave up His life to save all of us.
- The merchant man had to sell all that he had so that he could buy this one great pearl.
The idea is of Christ dying on the cross to pay the sin debt of all sinners so that they could be restored to the Father in heaven through faith in His Son. That great pearl represents all of the born again believers whether Jew or Gentile.
Christ seeks out the sinner like the merchant man seeks the pearl.
Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The word "seek" in this text is the same one used in Matthew's gospel. Christ came to seek and save the lost. He came first to the Jews but He also sent the gospel to the Gentiles.
Luke 15:3-7 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Christ paid a high cost to redeem us like the merchant man did for the great pearl.
This text is another illustration of the heart of Christ. He used sheep as an example of seeking and saving the lost. 99 sheep may be safe but the owner knows that one of them is left behind and he goes seeking that lost sheep. There is great rejoicing over finding that one sheep which was lost.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The author of Hebrews encourages all believers to remember all the saints who have gone before us walking in faith (Hebrews 11) and to run our own race with patience and endurance.
We are to look to Christ and remember that Jesus had all the shame, guilt and ugliness of our sins laid upon Him. He was the sinless Son of God yet He bore all of that for us on His cross.
What motivated Christ to do this? The joy of sinners being redeemed from hell and His great love wherewith He loved us while we were still sinners.
All believers, Jew or Gentile were bought with the highest price.
1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Peter reminds us of essential truths. Christ suffered for us. Christ left an example for us to follow. Christ bore our sins in his body on the cross. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ heals our relationship with God. Christ redeemed the lost sheep who had gone astray and is now our Shepherd (Psalm 23).
This parable also teaches us that while Christ is in heaven, Israel will still exist and the Church will continue to grow.
Points to Ponder...
- This beautiful parable brings the heart of Christ and the cost of redemption before us.
- Christ put all His power into seeking the lost sheep like you and me.
- Christ willingly went to the cross and paid the price that was required to free us from sin's bondage.
- Christ shows us that there is great joy in heaven whenever someone is born again.
Although this parable is only 2 verses in length, it is a powerful picture of our salvation in all respects. He loved us before we loved Him. He sought us before we thought to seek Him. He paid the price because He loved us.
The question is, do I recognize that I owe my life to Christ because He bought me (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)? Do I thank Christ for seeking me out and rescuing me? Is my heart expressing both humility and praise to my Great Redeemer?
Bob
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