Series: The Kingdom of Heaven – Your Value to God

Matthew 13:45-46 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

For the next few days, we are likely going to talk about various parables that Christ told to describe the kingdom of heaven.  Each parable about the kingdom of heaven that he told painted a picture that showed a characteristic of that abstract concept that is so hard to grasp.  By just understanding a few characteristics of the kingdom of heaven, we can take this abstract thing and make it something real.  Skipping some of the first parables about the kingdom of heaven, I decided to start with this one, because I feel that it commonly gets misinterpreted as the same parable as the verse before it (vs. 44) about a great treasure hidden in a field.  The truth is that these two parables show two different characteristics of the kingdom of heaven and are not necessarily just one and the same, which is how most people treat it.

If you look at this parable, the kingdom of heaven is not described as a pearl of great value but a merchant in search of fine pearls.  Unlike in vs. 44, which describes the kingdom of heaven as “treasure hidden in a field,” something to be desired above all else, in vs. 45 it is described as “a merchant” who is looking for something to be desired above all else.  Our passage today illustrates a characteristic of the kingdom of heaven that is heavily overlooked – its willingness to do whatever it takes to bring a soul into its kingdom.  If we look carefully at vs. 45-46, we find that the kingdom of heaven is described as a merchant who sells everything he has to buy “one pearl of great value.”  It sells all to get one.  Being a comic book collector, I can completely understand that mindset, for if at a convention, I found a rare comic book at a reasonably cheap price, I would likely sell every book I had with me at the time to get my hands on that one book.  Because I know and understand its value, I would do anything I could to get it.

The King of the kingdom of heaven does the same thing for every soul that is on this earth today.  All three Persons of God have done everything they can to draw you in.  First, we must recognize what Christ, the Son, has done for you.  Christ has given His all for you.  He willingly gave up His glory in heaven above to die as a criminal on the cross to pay the penalty for you; He did all of this so that you could have a new and restored relationship with Him.  All it takes is trust in Him as Lord and Savior.  Second, we must recognize all that the Father has done for you.  He has designed every single event and detail of your life from the century you were born in to the family that raised you to the school you went to, so that you would have the best opportunity of accepting Him as Lord and Savior.  I sincerely believe that God has arranged everything in each person’s life in a way so that they would have the best chance to accept Him.  For some people it may be through a Christian upbringing.  For others, it may be through some hardships and difficulties that will bring them to their knees.  Whatever situation, event, or history, God will do everything to bring you to Himself.  If God was willing to give up His Son for you, will He not do everything to draw you to Him?  Lastly, we must recognize all that the Holy Spirit does to draw you to the kingdom.  John 6:44 states that no one could come to Christ unless the Father draws him; that job of drawing people falls on the shoulders of none other than the Holy Spirit.  He moves in each and every heart to draw them to recognize their sinful state, their need for a Savior, and the solution in Christ.  It is only through the Spirit that anyone can utter that “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor. 12:3).  The Holy Spirit plays just as essential a role in drawing you to Christ than Jesus Christ and God the Father.  All three Persons of the Trinity will do everything they can to bring you to Him; the choice is up to you.

When Christ stated this parable, He likely wanted to highlight how God will do everything He can to bring you into His kingdom.  He sees you as a pearl of great value, worth everything, including His life; that is why He was willing to die for you.  If you have already received Him and are a part of His kingdom, then give thanks for that awesome gift and live for Him in return.  If you have not yet decided to be a part of His kingdom, then what are you waiting for?  He gave everything for you.  Why won’t you give your everything to Him?