By: Rev. Gerry Weesner, Maples United Methodist Church
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46 (NIV).
The parable of Jesus known as “The Pearl of Great Price” is one of his shorter ones and is included with some other short parables in Matthew’s gospel.
The only character in the parable is a merchant. As such, he was likely a dealer in luxury items. He buys and sells fine jewelry, including pearls, which in biblical times were the most costly and sought-after jewels of all. To him, it’s all about the money until one day, the day he comes upon the most perfect and beautiful pearl he’s ever seen.
Jesus tells us what he does in response: “He went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Some persons think he went to such lengths because he felt confident he could turn around and sell this exquisite pearl for even more. If that were true, then his purchase was a calculated risk, a shrewd business decision.
But Jesus doesn’t tell us that. The story is about his purchase of the pearl and no more. The parable leaves us hanging. Did the merchant go on to resell it? And if so, how much did he profit? We’ll never know. Jesus isn’t interested in how much the merchant may have earned. The parable is about the buying, not the selling. And the most amazing aspect of the story is this: the merchant sold all that he had to buy it.
The traditional allegorical interpretation of this parable is that the pearl symbolizes the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, and the sinner is the merchant seeking the pearl of great price. It’s the fundamental Christian message of salvation. There’s no more important thing to do in life than to hold that pearl in our hands. No sacrifice is too great; if by making it we gain the ultimate reward: a ticket to heaven.
The finding of the pearl was no accident. In the providence of God it waits hidden for those who seek. Some people may seek the Kingdom earnestly and finally obtain it. The person recognizes the value of what they have found and willingly invests everything to have it. The Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable that it calls for a total investment (radical discipleship) from those who find it.
