Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:44-46
The Pearl of Great Price
Intro.
1. People put a value on just about everything. They spend their lives trying to obtain, keep, and increase these valuables, Matt. 13:44, 45-46.
2. Christian’s values and valuables are different from those of the world, Matt. 16:26; Luke 12:15.
3. All of us are merchants in the marketplace of life. What are we shopping for? Are we wise or foolish shoppers? Are we putting the proper value on the proper things?
I. LOOKING FOR THE PRECIOUS PEARL, cf. Eccl. 1:12-14.
A. The World’s Concept of the Most Valuable Things in Life.
1. Material wealth and financial security, Luke 12:15-21.
a. No lasting benefit; hoarding does not bring happiness, only hurt, sorrow, pain, and anger, Eccl. 2:7-9; 5:13-17.
b. Contentment holds real value, not materialism, 1 Tim. 6:6-10.
2. Physical pleasure (Hedonism: “the philosophy which holds that the pursuit of pleasure is life’s highest purpose,” It’s A Playboy World, Banowsky, 9), Eccl. 2:10-11, 4-6.
a. Epicureans (Acts 17:18). “The chief purpose of man is to achieve…a life of pleasure” (Zondervan’s Bible Dictionary).
b. Such people are enemies of God, James 4:3-4.
c. Spiritual satisfactions hold real value, not fleshly passions.
3. Worldly wisdom and learning, Eccl. 2:12-14.
a. Nothing wrong with education unless it elevates itself above others and disdains those who don’t measure up, John 7:15; Acts 4:13.
b. The word of the cross is true wisdom, not “superstitious nonsense,” 1 Cor. 1:18-25.
c. Spiritual wisdom holds real value and surpasses all human wisdom.
4. Prestige, prominence, and power (high station), Eccl. 4:13-16.
a. Will always be someone with more honor, Luke 14:7-11.
b. Those who value prestige will be humbled, v. 11.
c. To be honored by God is more valuable than every exaltation people give one another, v. 10.
-None of these are the pearl of great price.
B. The Pearl of Great Price is the Kingdom of Heaven, Matt. 6:33.
1. Salvation from sin and fellowship with God is in the kingdom.
2. All else is insignificant by comparison, Phil. 3:7.
C. Appraising the Value of the Kingdom of Heaven (the pearl):
1. Bought with blood of Jesus, Rev. 5:9-10; Col. 1:13-14. (Redemption from sin, salvation of the soul, fellowship with God, heavenly citizenship, every spiritual blessing, Eph. 1:3.)
2. Possessing the kingdom means (Heb. 12:28):
a. True (lasting) treasures for the poor, Matt. 6:19-21.
b. True (lasting) sustenance for the famished, Matt. 5:6.
c. True (lasting) security for the troubled, Matt. 5:10.
3. Never depreciates in value. (“Sweeter as the years go by.”)
II. THE SEEKING MERCHANT.
A. Desired the Better Things of Life, Matt. 13:45 (cf. Mary, Luke 10:42).
-We must desire (seek) righteousness to ever obtain it.
B. Could Discern Between Genuine and Counterfeit Pearls, Matt. 13:46.
1. Spiritual discernment to choose righteousness, Phil. 1:9-11.
2. Scriptures are our standard of assessment, Acts 17:11.
C. Was Determined to Possess the Pearl, Matt. 13:46; cf. Matt. 7:7-8.
-cf. Luke 12:32; Heb. 12:28 (the church, Matt. 16:18-19)
III. PURCHASING THE PEARL.
A. How the Purchase Was Made.
1. Immediately, 13:46 (“he went”). He did not delay, 2 Cor. 6:2.
2. At great expense (costly). He “sold all that he had,” Luke 14:33.
a. Eliminate obstacles (sin) to be right with God, Matt. 18:8-9.
b. Deny self, Matt. 16:24.
3. Without regret, Phil. 3:7-8.
Conclusion
1. What value do you put on the kingdom of heaven (the church)?
2. The values you hold, the choices you make, the faith you live tells the value you place on the rule of God in your life (Eccl. 12:13).
3. The kingdom exists, Col. 1:13. Will you enter it (buy it) and be saved? Acts 2:38-41, 47
The aim and end of life for every man is his own happiness, and happiness is primarily defined as pleasure. “Wherefore we call pleasure the Alpha and Omega of a blessed life. Pleasure is our first and kindred good. It is the starting-point of every choice and of every aversion, and to it we come back, inasmuch as we make feeling the rule by which to judge every good thing” (Epicurus, Letter to Menæceus). (ISBE, II:964)
By: Joe R. Price
Posted October 6, 2021