The pearl of great price: Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Has the excitement of life in God’s Kingdom become dull, common place, gradually declining into lukewarm, unemotional “take-it-for-granted” experience? If a person has always known the Good News, he or she may not always fully appreciate its value.
In researching different gemstones I have discovered something about the pearl that is interesting. The pearl is the only genuine gemstone that is created out of adversity. The oyster has an irritant, always coming from the outside, impure water, bacteria, etc. (even cultured – man made pearls-something is intentionally inserted into the oyster). The oyster begins to cover the irritant layer upon layer a substance that eventually hardens with a luster – then one day the wound is healed and a beautiful pearl emerges.
Pearls look good on young and old alike and are appropriate for any occasion. For generations the pearl has been highly valued, and still is today. The pearl can be found mentioned in ancient scriptures of religions of the world, Hindu, Hebrew, the Christian bible. Out of all the gemstones that glitter and shine only the pearl has a luster that actually radiates light.
In the bible we read about the Pearl of great price – some scholars believe this means wisdom and getting wisdom sometimes involves living through heartache. Others believe that the Pearl of Great Price is Jesus, for the great price He paid for you and me. Either way the Merchant recognized the value of what he found.
We read in scriptures about how God works together the things that occur in our life for our good and His glory. We read about the pearly gates in heaven. Could it be that the gates are actually created out of the irritants, tragic losses, etc. that happens in our lives? The Grace of God has given us, layer upon layer till it produces a healed wound a “precious stone”. Like the gemstone - believers have a luster that radiates his love and shines for his glory.
Let the pearl be a reminder that you have been bought with a great price as you radiate God's love and grace as a testimony and an everlasting witness.
You have struck an important note about the pearl and a couple of its unique characteristics. I believe the best interpretation is that the pearl is the universal church which Christ bought at tremendous price. There are MANY fascinating parallels between the pearl-which is unique in MANY ways compared to other gems-and the church of the living God.
ReplyDeleteBut I am biased since I recently released a book on the topic.
May God bless you and your ministry for Him.
Thank you,
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