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1994-11-14
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PART II: THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM
CHAPTER 7
THE BEST PEARL
Introduction
Whereas the man who found the hidden treasure in a field
was not searching for a treasure, the pearl merchant was
actively seeking for a treasure (fine pearls). This parable
is found only here in Matthew 13:45-46. This is the second
parable that Jesus told to his disciples privately.
The Story
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
a merchant looking for fine pearls. When
he found one of great value, he went away
and sold everything he had and bought
it." (Matthew 13:45-46, New International
Version.).
Again, Jesus draws from an earthly story in order to
teach a spiritual truth. A pearl merchant was looking for
fine pearls when he found a very fine, beautiful pearl. The
merchant sold everything he had and bought it.
The Interpretation
This parable teaches the same truths as The Hidden
Treasure. It is interesting to note that the word, "Pearl"
is from a Sanskrit word meaning "Pure." Jesus is The Best
Pearl. The merchant is the one who discovers the exceedingly
high value of Christ and accepts him as his personal Lord and
Savior. By the act of selling all that he had, the merchant
represents the believer placing God and his Son above every-
one and everything else.
Central Truth
CHRIST (AND HIS SALVATION)
IS SUPERIOR TO EVERYTHING ELSE.
Conclusion
A fitting conclusion for so great a truth is to receive
Christ as your Savior if you have not done so. Here is how
to receive The Best Pearl:
1. GOD LOVES YOU. Realize that God loves you and desires a
life of joy for you:
For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
Not only did God tell you that he loves you, but he
proved his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love
is also expressed by the full and high quality life he has
planned for you NOW--in this life as well as in the life to
come. Jesus said,
The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and
kill and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full.
(John 10:10, New International Version).
Why is there so much evil in the world and why do many
people not experience the abundant life?
2. SIN HAS SEPARATED YOU FROM GOD. Because people are sinful,
they are cut off from God and his blessings. The Bible
teaches and human experience confirms that we are sinful:
For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
We were created for fellowship with God, but that
fellowship was broken when we rebelled against God. Sin
brought us spiritual death:
For the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, New
International Version).
We continually strive for the abundant life but always
fall short. Business success, wealth, education, religion,
fame, drugs, pleasure and all human substitutes cannot fill
the God-shaped void in the human heart. How do we become
reconciled with God and experience the abundant life?
3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER. Jesus Christ is God's
only provision to forgive our sin and give us abundant life.
Jesus died for us--he took our penalty of death:
Very rarely will anyone die for a
righteous man, though for a good man
someone might possibly dare to die. But
God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST
DIED FOR US. [italics mine]. (Romans
5:7-8, New International Version).
God demonstrated that Christ's death was accepted as a
sacrifice for us by raising Christ from the dead:
For what I received I passed on to
you as of first importance: that Christ
died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, that he was buried, that he
was raised on the third day according to
the Scriptures, and that he appeared to
Peter, and then to the Twelve. After
that, he appeared to more than five
hundred of the brothers at the same time,
most of whom are still living, though
some have fallen asleep. Then he
appeared to James, then to all the
apostles, and last of all he appeared to
me also, as to one abnormally born.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8, New International
Version).
Christ is the only way to God:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and
the truth and the life, No one comes to the
Father except through me." (John 14:6,
New International Version).
It is not enough to know that God loves you, that sin
has cut you off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only
way to God.
4. YOU MUST RECEIVE CHRIST PERSONALLY. You must personally
receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible states
that,
Yet to all who received him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave the right
to become children of God--children born
not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband's will, but born of
God. (John 1:12-13, New International
Version).
You receive Christ by faith:
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith--and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by
works, so that no one can boast, For we
are God's workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:8-9, New International
Version).
If you choose to receive the truth about Jesus Christ,
then the Holy Spirit will give you faith to trust him as your
personal Savior. Then, when you receive Christ, the Holy
Spirit will give you a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this
being born again:
You should not be surprised at my saying,
`You must be born again.' (John 3:7, New
International Version).
This is the most important experience that you will ever
have. God will bring new life into your being. This new life
will make you more like the Lord Jesus.
The Prophet Isaiah painted this beautiful word picture
concerning the ministry of Christ:
The Spirit of the Sovereign
Lord is on me
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent men to bind up the
brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the
captives
and release from darkness for the
prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor
and the day of vengeance of our
God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve
in Zion--
to bestow on them a crown of
beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of
righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
(New International Version)
Isaiah speaks of the joy of deliverance from past guilt
and bondage of sin. However, it does not happen auto-
matically.
Christ stands at your heart's door, but you must open
the door:
Look! I have been standing at the
door and I am constantly knocking. If
anyone hears me calling him and opens the
door, I will come in and fellowship with
him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20,
The Living Bible).
You can receive Christ in your heart right now. Pray
this prayer from your heart:
Almighty God, I confess that I have sinned
against you. I ask you to forgive me. I receive
Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for
forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tell someone that you have accepted Christ as your
Savior. Please write me and tell me the good news also.
(This presentation of the plan of salvation was adapted from
Dr. Bill Bright's "Four Spiritual Laws.")
END