13:1-3; 10-13; 16-17; (NIV)

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1 The Pearl of Great Price: Matthew 13 Sub title: Christ: God s Favorite Son, Our Treasure Introduction Jesus brings seven parables in Matthew 13. Each of them is designed to teach us something that pertains to the secrets of heaven. Today we will be focusing on the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Valuable Pearl. Fully embracing Jesus and his kingdom is like finding a hidden treasure or a priceless pearl, something of such great value that it is worth selling all that you have, or even to the point of giving your very life. Matthew 13:1-3; 10-13; 16-17; (NIV) 3:1-3 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables The disciples came to him and asked, Why do you speak to the people in parables? 11 He replied, Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Exposition: Jesus Christ. God s Treasure, Your Treasure In the Old Testament there is King Solomon, who, in addition to his God given wisdom, lacked very little in his lifetime, yet he would take up his pen to confess; Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. King Solomon was no pauper. This is what the Word of God says about him 1 Kings 10:23-24 (NIV) King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Page 1 of 5

2 1. The Kingdom and the Merchant Looking now to Matthew s gospel we have Jesus giving His disciples this interesting insight into an activity of the kingdom of heaven. Let s zero in on verses 45 and 46 but first note that the parable of the pearl of great value (vv ) is a twin with the previous parable (v. 44). The difference is that the pearl merchant was clearly looking for his treasure, whereas the man in v. 44 may have discovered it by surprise. Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Let s first of all recognize that a parable is simply an illustration that points to a larger truth. The kingdom of heaven has secrets. See verse 11. the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven Jesus is letting His disciples in on some inside information. The next noteworthy thing we see in Jesus s word picture is the merchant. Most people are simply consumers. We consume what the merchants have put up for sale. On the other hand, a merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people to earn a profit. It s anyone involved in the business of buying, selling and trading merchandise. Here is a biblical example of very foolish merchants. John 2:13-16 (NLT) It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father s house into a marketplace! As we will see in this parable not all merchants are foolish. Some are very wise. 2. The Merchant s Pursuit of Wealth. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. Let s consider this merchant. Watch him while he is seeking He had a well defined objective (he s looking something of worth that will satisfy His objective was not that common He sought pearls with diligence He was very particular Page 2 of 5

3 He had modest expectations He was looking for pearls everywhere He was seeking good pearls (plural), not the one pearl (singular) He found one remarkable pearl. Verse 46. finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything he had and bought it. The possession of this one pearl of great price is not vanity. It is the opposite of vanity. This single pearl possessed greater worth than all other pearls combined. There is great value in this discovery. He found all that he sought in this one pearl He was resolved that he would possess it To obtain this precious pearl he would have to sacrifice all that he had to have it But everything must go for the merchant to possess this pearl Matthew 16:24-28 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. There was an urgency to possess the pearl This great pearl is Jesus! Having any other possession is simply vanity. Other words for vanity are worthless, uselessness, pointlessness, fruitless. In other words, when you die, and you will die, you can t take this world s stuff with you. It s just stuff that has no lasting, eternal, value. Matthew 12:42 (NIV) 3. God s Pearl. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here. God s word does not say it is a pearl for then it would be a common pearl. This is no common pearl. This is one extremely valuable pearl. It s one of a kind. Seek God s Pearl! Seek Christ! With faith you san see Him! He s yours if you will have Him! John 3:16-19 (NIV) Page 3 of 5

4 Application: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (The Pearl of Great Price), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. The question for you this hour is a quite simple, but it is a question whose answer will determine your eternity. John 6:63-69 (NIV) The words I have spoken to you they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them. 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 You do not want to leave too, do you? Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God. If you had in your possession all of this world s secrets and comprehended all of the in s and out s of science If you have mastered every skill and art known to man If you possessed all of this world s riches If you have known the unquestionable love of many... If you had tasted every delight known to man If you ve enjoyed the friendship of the wisest and most important men and women of this age If you owned anything and everything that caught your eye If you could truthfully say you have enjoyed all of those things, and you still don t have Jesus, the Pearl of great price, you remain the poorest of all men. Do you possess the Pearl of great price? I want you to know a truth about us, it s something that we all share. Everyone in this building, every person alive or who has ever lived, is looking for happiness and peace. Some seek escape because happiness has eluded them. They have only known disappointment after disappointment. The possession of everything they have sought and obtained have not satisfied their deepest longings. Even the person who takes their own life wants to know peace and happiness. Nothing else has worked. As they lay on their deathbed, they are empty. John 7:37-38 (NIV) Page 4 of 5

5 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. Luke 9:24-26 (NLT) If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Romans 4:5-8 (NIV) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them. Page 5 of 5