Matthew 13:44-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 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.”
In the two greatest commandments given by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ He said that Christians are to love God will all their heart, soul, strength and mind and their neighbour as themselves. This is a description of every believer’s heart. It is the norm rather than an exception. This is true because the start of every believer’s journey of salvation must begin on a note of total surrender and Christ must be everything to us. This truth is revealed by the LORD Himself after He explained the parable of the Wheat and Tares. This parable speaks of the last days where Christ will judge and separate genuine believers from false. Immediately after this grave warning, Christ spoke two short parables on whether Christ is everything to the Christian. They are the parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price.
a. Parable of Finding Hidden Treasure – Now a parable is a real earthly account that existed in the time of Christ. Christ would cite these accounts and use them to teach spiritual truths. In this parable the man who found hidden treasure in a field, hid the treasure and did not tell the owner that there was treasure in the field. Then he sold all that he had to buy the field with the hidden treasure. “This method of purchase is unethical for he should have told the owner that there is treasure in his field! That would have been the ‘Christian’ thing to do!” This must enter into our reasoning when we read this parable!
Remember that Christ was not teaching ethics here like He did in the Sermon on the Mount! Christ was citing a real account of what existed and practiced in His time to teach a very important point. The important point for emphasis here by Christ is that of “selling all to gain the treasure!” The people of the world reacted accordingly when they find earthly treasure. They were prepared to sell all to obtain it. They recognise treasure when they see it. What about the believer? Can he see the treasure in Christ Jesus His Saviour and Lord?
NOTE – the finder of the treasure was not looking for treasure. He found it by “accident.” After that he took the necessary steps to ensure that he gets it!
b. Parable of Seeking Goodly Pearls – Unlike the finder of the hidden treasure, the merchant went out of his way to seek for that pearl of great price. He knew what a goodly pearl ought to be. After much searching he finally found one pearl of great price! Some modernists argue that since there is a pearl of great price then there must be a pearl of greatest price! “This means that Christ is not the best for there is someone who is better than Him!” they argue. Such reasoning is fallacious and ignores the context of the parable. In this parable Christ was using the comparative for the superlative! Comparing all the pearls that the merchant has found it was between THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE versus ALL THE REST OF THE PEARLS. In short all other religions belong to the same category of “other” pearls very much like the broad road that leads to destruction and the narrow road that leads to everlasting life. There are not more than 2 roads. It has always been two since the time of the fall and this can be traced to the time of Cain and Abel. The broad road probably has many lanes but all of them will still lead to the same destructive end. For example if someone changes to another religion other than Christ of the Bible he has changed lane but not road.
The merchant sold all that he had to ensure that he is able to purchase the pearl of great price. This parable is not teaching us that salvation can be bought. It simply teaches us that like the first parable of the hidden treasure the merchant was prepared to sell all to gain all.
APPLICATION – Is Christ everything to you? Salvation is not a half measure relationship. It is a relationship of total commitment. The believer must be prepared to surrender all to receive Christ. He surrenders his ambition, his way of life, his family, his work, his studies, his freedom and even his life. There is no one or anything that must be more important to him than to receive Christ as his Lord and his Saviour. It is an unconditional surrender to Christ!
He might not have been searching and Christ has found him as in the parable of hidden treasure or he has been searching and now has finally found Christ as in the parable of the goodly pearl but the reaction is the same. He sold all to gain all. The moment the believer meets Christ or rather Christ meets him he must sell all for he has found treasure beyond measure even the pearl of great price! AMEN.