The Pearl of Great Price

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking beautiful pearls. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it’ (Mat 13:45-46).

‘All the children of men are busy; one would be rich, another would be honorable, another would be learned; but most are deceived, and take up with counterfeits for pearls. Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price; in having Him, we have enough to make us happy here and forever (Matthew Henry). In the ministry of Jesus He usually spoke in parables. In the tenth and eleventh verse of Mat 13 the disciples asked, ‘why do you speak to them in Parables and His reply was “it has been given you to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven but to them it has not been given”. In essence, Jesus was saying that there are some mysteries or hidden Keys in the Kingdom of God, that every believer needs to know, and it is one’s duty as a child of God to Search for understanding into those issues. ‘It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them’ (Proverbs 25:2, NLT). Life is full of mysteries which can only be unraveled through a diligent search. This lesson focuses on the importance of desiring for, and seeking godly knowledge through Christ, in whom the mysteries of God are revealed.

‘The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law’ (Deut 29:29). ‘Until it is revealed to you it does not belong to you’ (David Oyedepo). Myles Munroe once made a very remarkable statement that, your perception about life depends on what you know and what you know is not all that there is to know, so get more knowledge. Myles’ statement re-echoes what Jesus said in Mat 13:45-46, that you need to search for the treasures of the Kingdom. One’s success in life to a very large extent depends on his passion for knowledge, especially knowledge about the things of God. Your Passion determines your position and your position determines your possession.

In Mat 13:45 Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it. The interpretation of the parable is that the man had an insight into the mystery of Christ. That mystery which was never disclosed to human beings in past generations but is now available to the church and is now being revealed to the hungry sons in God’s kingdom by the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:4, 5). Christ is the express image of God, so to know Him is to have access to the infinite and manifold wisdom of God. Knowing Christ offers one access to a new world of the supernatural, where God reigns over all things and all things are possible. This mystery the world does not know. Those that grasp that mystery of Christ by grace through faith ought to sell everything they have and buy it. Meaning they should yield all their lives to God by denying themselves and seeking Him more and more with their all.  

Jesus did not say that the pearl of great price, was found by accident, instead it was found by one whose business it is to seek for treasures. Many have been robbed of the joy, peace and fulfillment that God created man to enjoy, all because they have not searched for and found Christ the pearl of great price. Others have found Him but have allowed the devil to deceive them into thinking that he has something better to offer. Consequently, they are in the kingdom of God but instead of ruling as sons of the Most High God, they are living as slaves, due to sin and ignorance. In God’s kingdom the son’s of the kingdom rule through wisdom and understanding, and both of them are hidden as treasures in the word of God ( Proverbs 3:19).

Possessing Christ - the pearl of great price will definitely distinguish you amongst men. The truth is, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and none can have a fulfilled life on earth and an eternal life in heaven without Him. God’s word is sweeter than honey comb, more precious than rubies and nothing you desire should compare with her. Seek Christ daily, with all your heart, through His word and prayer, and you will experience heaven on earth as it were in the beginning.