TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2016.
PEARL
A hard-lustrous round bead formed around an irritating foreign body within the shell of oysters and other mollusks valued as a gem; something precious or choice.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful 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.
There are at least two interpretations of this parable by Bible scholars today.
One is that the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man, seeking good pearls. The man is rich but still not satisfied with all he has got. Pearls are the only substance which cannot be improved by man; this pearl in this parable represents Christ.
When he found one pearl of great price, greater than all, which represented Christ, he went out and sold all that he had and bought the pearl. This pearl, Christ the Lord, the Son of God, is worth everything, and everything is what it will take to obtain it.
There is nothing more valuable than having Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The only way to Jesus is to accept His gift of salvation by acknowledging our sins and seeking His forgiveness whereby we can obtain His Kingdom. In order to obtain His Kingdom, we must be willing to give up everything we have.
Another interpretation is that the merchant in this parable is the God-man Jesus Christ. The merchant came seeking beautiful pearls and found one pearl of exquisite beauty. Jesus, our merchant, came into the world to seek and to save those who were lost and His magnificent pearl is the Church.
The Lord is still seeking to add to the church, which is made up of people that have come to find Jesus as their Savior. These believers are all children of God and together are valuable pearls making up His Church.
The beautiful pearl that the merchant found in this parable taught by Jesus represents the body of Christ. It is a beautiful picture of the growth, unity and purity of the Church.
This pure, pearl-like unity of the church may never be visible to us who are on this earth, during this age. It will be realized though, according to the scriptures, when the dead in Christ are raised and those who are alive are caught up to meet Him in the air. Then we will be perfect in mind and body and, as the parable states, “one pearl of great price” paid for by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the merchant.
Just like in the parable, Jesus came to this earth to accomplish His purpose. He sells all that He has, giving all on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Then He buys the pearl, providing for us life eternal and known to all as His church, a body of believers that will meet Jesus in the air to spend an eternity with Him.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 119:165.
Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.
How grateful we are that You commended Your love toward us so that while we were yet sinners You died for us. Thank You for this parable showing us the value of who we are in Your sight. Help our family to be quality pearls that will be of value in serving You and bringing others to know You.
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