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“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matt 13:45-46)
In the parable of pearls, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven with a merchant. So, we have to see the merchant's behavior in the story. This parable differs from the parable of treasure in which Jesus compares the kingdom with the treasure hidden in the field and discovered by accident. But in the parable of pearls, the merchant went out to search for fine pearls. As a merchant, he has to buy many fine pearls, not a single pearl. That must be his business rule number one because he has to store many fine pearls in his warehouse and sell them later with much profit. But something happened when he found one pearl of great value. He sold everything to buy it. Then, he did not search for fine pearls anymore. His action seems silly from the usual business practice, as noted before.
The question is: Would he sell his one pearl of great value? If he sells it, it means the one pearl he found is not so precious to him. Supposedly, one pearl of great value he found must be so priceless that he would not sell it. That is, he may not live without it. Then, what would that be?
If he did not sell it, he would have economic difficulties. Keeping one great pearl looks foolish in some sense.
This merchant is not the same person anymore. He used to be a typical merchant who went out to find many fine pearls (plural) to make more profit.
We may need one vocation of great value, one great love, one great dedication, and one commitment to God. We need to find something without which we cannot live. That is one pearl of great value.
What is something of great value you want to buy and keep by investing all you have?
*My book on the parables of Jesus: Jesus's Truth: Life in Parables (2018).
In the parable of pearls, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven with a merchant. So, we have to see the merchant's behavior in the story. This parable differs from the parable of treasure in which Jesus compares the kingdom with the treasure hidden in the field and discovered by accident. But in the parable of pearls, the merchant went out to search for fine pearls. As a merchant, he has to buy many fine pearls, not a single pearl. That must be his business rule number one because he has to store many fine pearls in his warehouse and sell them later with much profit. But something happened when he found one pearl of great value. He sold everything to buy it. Then, he did not search for fine pearls anymore. His action seems silly from the usual business practice, as noted before.
The question is: Would he sell his one pearl of great value? If he sells it, it means the one pearl he found is not so precious to him. Supposedly, one pearl of great value he found must be so priceless that he would not sell it. That is, he may not live without it. Then, what would that be?
If he did not sell it, he would have economic difficulties. Keeping one great pearl looks foolish in some sense.
This merchant is not the same person anymore. He used to be a typical merchant who went out to find many fine pearls (plural) to make more profit.
We may need one vocation of great value, one great love, one great dedication, and one commitment to God. We need to find something without which we cannot live. That is one pearl of great value.
What is something of great value you want to buy and keep by investing all you have?
*My book on the parables of Jesus: Jesus's Truth: Life in Parables (2018).