45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Jesus joined the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price at the hip. They both speak of the value of the interim present kingdom. Jesus’ disciples were despondent over the formal rejection of Israel, so He spoke of the value of the present kingdom.
13:45
“Again,
The word “again” draws an analogy to the parable of the hidden treasure.
the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
The word “merchant” means wholesale dealer. The “merchant” here is Jesus Himself. Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven (the interim present kingdom) to Himself. The emphasis changed from people in the kingdom to the purchaser of the kingdom.
13:46
who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
The finder here is Jesus. He did not find the pearl loosely lying around somewhere, but after a search He found this expensive pearl. The exquisite pearl is the interim present kingdom.
went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Jesus sold His life for saving those in the interim present kingdom.
PRINCIPLE:
The kingdom in which we live is of utter value to Jesus.
APPLICATION:
The emphasis in the parable of the pearl of great price is on the King Himself and the price He paid for the interim present kingdom.
The nation Israel is not the same as the church. Some in the Israel during Jesus’ day were in the interim present kingdom. Those of us in the church are in that kingdom as well. In the final phase of the kingdom—during the Millennium—the church will reign with Christ over the Millennial kingdom.
