|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
(45) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant seeking beautiful pearls, (46) who, when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. New
King James Version Change your email Bible version
The particular merchant Jesus speaks about was a very uncommon merchant. He
was special because he filled a narrow niche in the market: He bought and sold
only pearls. This indicates just what kind of person this merchant was. If he
could devote all his time to seeking just pearls, he must have been rich and
highly placed. He was not a common caravan master. We would him call "a
specialist."
He may even have been a buyer for a particular type of person, like royalty.
In the ancient world, pearls were so rare that usually only monarchs could
afford them, using them in their crowns and on their clothing to show off their
royal splendor and say, "Look at me - I can afford pearls."
Some have thought that the merchant is a person like us who goes seeking
after Christ, after the gospel, or after the Kingdom. However,
the Bible itself makes these ideas absolutely impossible. For instance, Paul
writes in Romans 3:11, "There is none who understands; there is none
who seeks after God."
No ordinary person - nobody at all - seeks after God. In agreement, Jesus
Himself says, "No man can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him"
(John 6:44).
Isaiah 55:1 adds, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the
waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and
milk without money and without price." We cannot buy anything from God, so how
could any human being be the merchant who seeks and buys the pearl? It is
impossible.
Luke 7:42 is part of the Parable
of the Two Debtors. One phrase applies to this: "And when they had nothing
with which to repay, he freely forgave them both." The creditor here is God, and
we are the debtors. God freely forgives us even though we have nothing to buy forgiveness
with, so a person cannot be the merchant. First, humanly, we cannot seek Him.
Second, we have to be called so that we can seek Him. Third, we cannot buy salvation,
and even if it were for sale, we do not have the money to buy it. On all counts,
it is impossible for a sinful human being to be the merchant.
That leaves only one person that it could be - Jesus
Christ Himself. He is the only One who has what it takes to buy this pearl.
Notice these confirming scriptures:
-
For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
-
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go
and bear fruit. (John 15:16)
-
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his
own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3)
Only Christ can do it.
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O
Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
This tells us who the merchant is. Without a doubt, it is Jesus Christ, our
Redeemer.
— Richard T. Ritenbaugh
To learn more, see:
Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 3): Hidden Treasure
Related Topics:
Christ as Merchant
Church as Pearl
Jesus Christ as Redeemer
Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
Pearl of Great Price
Please cancel my subscription to The Berean |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
To
consistently receive the Berean, please add berean@cgg.org to your Safe Senders
list and/or address book.
|
|
|
Posts