Thread: Is Jesus the 'Pearl of Great Price'?

Matthew 13:44-46 reads:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."

I ask cause I am wanting to sing this song by Sovereign Grace Music that has a chorus that says "Only Jesus! The Pearl of greatest price"

Is that theologically accurate?

Matthew Henry:

II. That of the pearl of price (v. 45, 46), which is to the same purport with the former, of the treasure. The dream is thus doubled, for the thing is certain.

Note, 1. All the children of men are busy, seeking goodly pearls: one would be rich, another would be honourable, another would be learned; but the most are imposed upon, and take up with counterfeits for pearls.

2. Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price, a Jewel of inestimable value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward God; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and for ever.

3. A true Christian is a spiritual merchant, that seeks and finds this pearl of price; that does not take up with any thing short of an interest in Christ, and, as one that is resolved to be spiritually rich, trades high: He went and bought that pearl; did not only bid for it, but purchased it. What will it avail us to know Christ, if we do not know him as ours, made to us wisdom? 1 Cor. i. 30.

4. Those who would have a saving interest in Christ, must be willing to part with all for him, leave all to follow him. Whatever stands in opposition to Christ, or in competition with him for our love and service, we must cheerfully quit it, though ever so dear to us. A man may buy gold too dear, but not this pearl of price.

Every Christian should have a Matthew Henry 1 Volume Commentary on the whole Bible on their shelves.

Originally Posted by jason d

Matthew 13:44-46 reads:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."

I ask cause I am wanting to sing this song by Sovereign Grace Music that has a chorus that says "Only Jesus! The Pearl of greatest price"

Is that theologically accurate?

In a nutshell, "yes." The other way of interpreting this passage is to say that the church is the pearl of great price and that Jesus is the merchant. Jesus finds the church and sells all he has (i.e., gives up his life for the church) to buy the church.

Warren Wiersbe interprets this parable (and the parable of the treasure in the field) this way. When I read through his "Be" series on Matthew, I had to put the book down; I couldn't read it any further. There is nothing inherently valuable about the church.

The key to interpreting this parable is in Matthew 13:44 ("The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field"). These two parables are teaching parallel thoughts. The Kingdom of Heaven is the treasure and the pearl.

I have a Matthew Henry's but didn't get to it yet, I was still looking it up in Calvin's commentary (is it confusing to look up stuff in the gospels because he does them in "harmony", which makes it hard to look up a specific verse sometimes) :-/

found this [finally] in Calvin's commentary:

46. And bought it. By the word buy Christ does not mean, that men bring any price, with which they may purchase for themselves the heavenly life; for we know on what condition the Lord invites believers in the book of Isaiah, (55:1,) Come and buy wine and milk without money and without price. But though the heavenly life, and every thing that belongs to it, is the free gift of God, yet we are said to buy it, when we cheerfully relinquish the desires of the flesh, that nothing may prevent us from obtaining it; as Paul says, that he

reckoned all things to be loss and dung, that he might gain Christ,
(Philippians 3:8.)

I'd most certainly agree with Calvin. Its never sat right with me to hear that the treasure is the Church. I argued this point with my Pastor, and he just couldn't get the idea that we must "sell all" in order to gain Christ; too opposed to the fact that it's a gift, he said (I'm church-searching) . Though it wouldn't be an inconsistent error to suppose such- that Jesus "sold all" to purchase us- clearly the Christian either forsakes all, which is true repentance joined with faith, or "he cannot be" Jesus' disciple (Luke 14:33); and clearly, this is the intended meaning of the text!

Originally Posted by ewenlin

Every Christian should have a Matthew Henry 1 Volume Commentary on the whole Bible on their shelves.

Just ordered it, with Josh's recent postings, and this thread, I had to do it...I'm excited.

Thanks.