The Pearl of Great Value

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The Pearl of Great Value

Posted On : Sep-22-2011 | seen (804) times | Article Word Count : 789 |

"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." (Matthew 13:45-46)

In ancient times pearls had far greater value than they do today. Here the Lord is showing the worth of the truth. It's value is far greater than all our worldly possessions. Thus we sell (or put aside) all our earthly interests, in order to receive the heavenly kingdom and serve the one true eternal God. Jesus said that the truth would set us free from sin, Satan and the world. (John 8:31-32) A wise man named Solomon gave this advice to all. "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." (Proverbs 23:23) Jesus said we are love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

God has promised to meet our every need if we seek and serve Him first. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:31-33) "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." (Psalm 34:10)

Though some people claim that those who seek God consistently are so heavenly minded that they no earthly good at times, the truth is that God will teach and lead you into all truth. (John 14:26) He will correct and instruct those who trust in Him completely. (Proverbs 3:5-15) The deal of a lifetime is ours if we give away our filthy rags and sin filled lives in exchange for Christ's white robes of righteous. We give over our infirmities and weakness to Him, while in return He grants us eternal life, liberty and His gracious glory. (Isaiah 53:1-12) The parable also indirectly represents both the merchant (Christ) and the church (pearl).

The parable of the pearl is the inspiration for a number of hymns, including the Swedish hymn Den Kostliga Pärlan (O That Pearl of Great Price!), which begins:

"O that Pearl of great price! have you found it? Is the Savior supreme in your love? O consider it well, ere you answer, As you hope for a welcome above. Have you given up all for this Treasure? Have you counted past gains as but loss? Has your trust in yourself and your merits come to naught before Christ and His cross?"

Nobody can actually buy their own salvation by their personal works or deeds. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10) It's by the grace of God that we can enter into salvation, even as Christ completed all things and we only have to follow His perfect example to enter into His rest. (Hebrews 3:1-18, 4:1-16) According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary, grace is defined as coming from charis, which is the equivalent of chen in the Old Testament. They are defined as "graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete: lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace(ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks (worth). We can "buy" salvation only in the sense of gaining rightful possession of it.

We submit to the working of God (and the renewing of the Holy Spirit which takes place) as we are baptized into Christ. (Colossians 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-7) This parable describes how some people react to the kingdom of heaven when they know there must be something out there worthy of great value, and have been searching for it. Here's a few examples of this. The Ethiopian eunuch journeyed to Jerusalem to worship God. He read the Scriptures, which indicates that he was spiritually searching. His immediate desire to be baptized shows his estimation of the value of the salvation offered through Christ. (See Acts 8:26-38) Cornelius the centurion had his prayers and alms heard by God and He sent his angel to instruct the centurion. As promised by Jesus (Matthew 5:6), God took note of his spiritual hunger and thirst. He sent Peter to tell Cornelius the gospel of Christ. (Acts 10:1-48) And finally, remember that the blessings of the kingdom are not limited to the hereafter; as Jesus reassured Peter that there are hundredfold blessings even "in this time." (Mark 10:28-30)

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<h1>The Pearl of Great Value</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Steve-0.aspx'>Steve-0</a> "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." (Matthew 13:45-46)

In ancient times pearls had far greater value than they do today. Here the Lord is showing the worth of the truth. It's value is far greater than all our worldly possessions. Thus we sell (or put aside) all our earthly interests, in order to receive the heavenly kingdom and serve the one true eternal God. Jesus said that the truth would set us free from sin, Satan and the world. (John 8:31-32) A wise man named Solomon gave this advice to all. "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." (Proverbs 23:23) Jesus said we are love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

God has promised to meet our every need if we seek and serve Him first. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:31-33) "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." (Psalm 34:10)

Though some people claim that those who seek God consistently are so heavenly minded that they no earthly good at times, the truth is that God will teach and lead you into all truth. (John 14:26) He will correct and instruct those who trust in Him completely. (Proverbs 3:5-15) The deal of a lifetime is ours if we give away our filthy rags and sin filled lives in exchange for Christ's white robes of righteous. We give over our infirmities and weakness to Him, while in return He grants us eternal life, liberty and His gracious glory. (Isaiah 53:1-12) The parable also indirectly represents both the merchant (Christ) and the church (pearl).

The parable of the pearl is the inspiration for a number of hymns, including the Swedish hymn Den Kostliga Pärlan (O That Pearl of Great Price!), which begins:

"O that Pearl of great price! have you found it? Is the Savior supreme in your love? O consider it well, ere you answer, As you hope for a welcome above. Have you given up all for this Treasure? Have you counted past gains as but loss? Has your trust in yourself and your merits come to naught before Christ and His cross?"
 
Nobody can actually buy their own salvation by their personal works or deeds. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10) It's by the grace of God that we can enter into salvation, even as Christ completed all things and we only have to follow His perfect example to enter into His rest. (Hebrews 3:1-18, 4:1-16) According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary, grace is defined as coming from charis, which is the equivalent of chen in the Old Testament. They are defined as "graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete: lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace(ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks (worth). We can "buy" salvation only in the sense of gaining rightful possession of it. 
 
We submit to the working of God (and the renewing of the Holy Spirit which takes place) as we are baptized into Christ. (Colossians 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-7) This parable describes how some people react to the kingdom of heaven when they know there must be something out there worthy of great value, and have been searching for it. Here's a few examples of this. The Ethiopian eunuch journeyed to Jerusalem to worship God. He read the Scriptures, which indicates that he was spiritually searching. His immediate desire to be baptized shows his estimation of the value of the salvation offered through Christ. (See Acts 8:26-38) Cornelius the centurion had his prayers and alms heard by God and He sent his angel to instruct the centurion. As promised by Jesus (Matthew 5:6), God took note of his spiritual hunger and thirst. He sent Peter to tell Cornelius the gospel of Christ. (Acts 10:1-48) And finally, remember that the blessings of the kingdom are not limited to the hereafter; as Jesus reassured Peter that there are hundredfold blessings even "in this time." (Mark 10:28-30)
 
About the Author: Wikipedia, King James Bible, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Greek Dictionary Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The-Pearl-of-Great-Value_84766.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Pearl of Great Value_84766.aspx</a>

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Author Resource :
Wikipedia, King James Bible, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Greek Dictionary

Keywords : submit, sin, satan, world, pearl, great, value, seek, spiritual, Holy Spirit, God, Jesus, heaven, joy, grace, divine, gift, work, favor, react, p,

Category : Society : Religion

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