This is something I have pondered for a very long time; ever since I heard a sermon on this topic several years ago. It was so mind-bending for me at the time, that I never forgot.
As a disclaimer, I have not really done extensive theological research on this, so I am not claiming to have the most accurate hermeneutic on this passage, but I do think this is a perspective on this familiar parable that is worth considering.
It’s a super short parable. One of the shortest, actually. We find it in 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.“
Now, when you read that passage, how do you interpret the players in the parable? Who is the merchant? What is the pearl? My entire growing up years, I always heard it interpreted this way, “The kingdom of heaven is so valuable that it is like a pearl of great price! When you find it, it is worth giving up everything you own to get it. Jesus is the pearl. Pursue Jesus regardless of the cost!”
But there are a few things that don’t make sense about that interpretation. First of all, you can’t buy the kingdom, and you can’t buy Jesus! The kingdom is not for sale, and if it was, everything that you own would never be enough to pay for it. Secondly, that puts you in the position of the merchant, searching for fine pearls, and Jesus in the position of the treasure just waiting to be found. Do you know what unredeemed people DON’T do? They don’t search for fine pearls. And if they did – they wouldn’t know the kingdom was one when they saw it. Do you know what Jesus DID come for? To seek and to save the lost. Hmmm…
So what happens if we flip the script on that? The parable says “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant…” Who is the King of the kingdom of heaven? Jesus. Not us.
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. Do you know what a pearl is? It’s basically a redeemed irritant. A grain of sand gets into the shell of an oyster, and the oyster begins to cover it with a coating that makes it smooth, and round, and beautiful. No longer irritating, and now having great value. That sounds a whole lot more like humans than it does like Jesus.
On finding one pearl of great value, (he) went and sold all that he had and bought it. If we go with Jesus, the King of the kingdom of heaven, being the merchant, and he’s searching for pearls of great value, and then he finds one and gives everything he has in order to get it – who does that leave to be represented by the pearl? You?
I believe that narrative makes more sense in its given context. And think about the implications of that to you and your worth and value. YOU are the pearl of great value! Jesus was seeking great treasure, and when He found you, He hurried to give up EVERYTHING HE HAD – his very life – just so He could have you.
Wow!
How valuable you are, Friend! This is the message of the kingdom. This is the message of the Gospel. Jesus is crazy about you! He knows your value way more than you do. He knows that you are so valuable that you were worth His life. Why? Because you were made in His very own image. Part of Him is in you. You are eternal, and eternally loved. You were chosen and named before the world began. Your life was planned to the exact number of days, and every hair on your head has a number!
And you know what? Not just you, but every image-bearer. As we follow in the footsteps of our Savior, the Merchant of our souls, we need to see that value in others as well, and work with Jesus in “obtaining pearls” for the Kingdom. There are more pearls to be found. Jesus has and will pay for them, but let’s advance the Kingdom on earth by joining Him in His search.
“Heaven’s kingdom realm is also like a jewel merchant in search of rare pearls. When he discovered one very precious and exquisite pearl, he immediately gave up all he had in exchange for it.” (TPT)