“The kingdom of heaven is likened 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 KJV
“…The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46 NASB
Notice the Person: it is a merchant man or business man. This is his business. Notice the contrast with “the man” of v 44.
Notice next the Pursuit. Here is a man with a purpose or goal. In the case of the field, there is not the thought of looking for the treasure. It is simply found. Here, the business man has something in his mind for which he is looking.
The Place – the sea – is often likened to the sea of nations.
The Pearl is indivisible and the fruit of suffering.
The Purchase price – all that he had.
“He sold all that He had,” reminds us of a great contrast. In Luke 15 we read of a prodigal who spent all on himself. Our Redeemer spent all on us.
Questions to consider:
- “He sold all.” What did the Lord Jesus sacrifice when He became a man and moved to Calvary? Did the selling of “all that He had” begin at Calvary or did it begin at incarnation?
- Think of the contrast with another redeemer. Boaz purchased Ruth. No purchase price is mentioned. Why? Did Boaz become poor to purchase Ruth?
