In Matthew 13, Jesus tells two parables about valuable treasure. First he describes a man finding a a field with buried treasure in it. He sells everything in order to purchase the field and so own the treasure in it (13:44), then in the following verse he tells of a merchant who finds a pearl that is worth infinite amounts of money. Again, the merchant will sell everything to obtain the pearl.
The parable’s main point is to emphasise the great value of the Kingdom of God. It is of infinite value and so wise people will forsake everything in order to “seek first God’s kingdom.” The pearl of greast price then points to the Gospel or indeed to Christ himself. This is how the parable is usually interpreted. Jesus is the pearl of great price, he is of infinite value.
I don’t want you to lose hold of that main interpretation and application but I would like you to capture something else by looking at the parable from a different perspective. I think that this is a legitimate interpretation. It’s also an important corrective to any temptation to see Jesus as teaching us that we can work, earn or buy our way into God’s kingdom.
Consider these points.
- Frequently in Matthew 13, Jesus refers to someone as the subject of his parables, the man who … So, there is a man, a farmer who sows seed and when he does, different things happen. In quite a few of the instances, the man acting points to God or to Jesus. It is he who grows his kingdom.
- The kingdom of God is about the people of God. Chosen, loved and precious to him.
- Jesus elsewhere tells other parables about the kingdom which focus on someone seeking and searching in order to obtain something of great value at great cost. In the parable of the Lost Sheep, he is ready to leave behind the 99 other sheep, placing great value on finding the one lost sheep, just as this man is willing to give up all his other pearls, treasure and wealth for the one.
So, I think it is legitimate to look at this parable from a different angle and be reminded of the one who loves, treasures and values us. This is Jesus, the one who was prepared to forsake the wealth of Heaven to seek us out and to pay out at great cost, the cost of his life in order to purchase us withi hs blood.
So, I think it is permissible and helpful to read the story of the pearl of great price and see it as pointing to God’s great and extravagant love for us, his mercy and grace poured out for us in order to redeem us for him.
Faithroots 