Who is the Great Pearl? Christ or We?

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matt. 13: 44- 46

Who is the precious treasure in these two parables? Of course, we all assume that it is Jesus.

However, I have recently been challenged to rethink this assumption (which I will explain later). Could the treasure not possibly be souls for the kingdom, and the “man” be Christ? This would make sense in context of Matthew 13: The “man” in all the other parables is Christ: He is the sower of seed, he is the one who planted the mustard seed in the field; he is the harvester. Clearly Christ is the one doing the action and humans are the ones receiving the action. In the parable of the lost coin and the lost sheep, we see this emphasis again. We see it in many other scriptures:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jer. 31:3

”I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.” Ezekiel 34:16

”Christ redeemed us… “ Gal. 3:13

“There is no one who seeks God … But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.”
Rom. 3:11,21

Interestingly the NIV, in a footnote, tries to cover over the obvious inconsistency that is created by the traditional view, saying, “Jesus did not imply that one can purchase the kingdom with money or good deeds.” I suggest that there would be no need to say those words if we consider that the word “purchase” refers to what CHRIST did. After all, he did purchase the Kingdom with his blood.

”And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and people and nation. ” Rev. 5:9

So why do we not see these parables that way? Could it be because the natural human bent is to put ourselves in the “actor’s” role? We place much focus on what WE are to do regarding the role of salvation. After all, much of our Christian life is “we” focused rather than Christ-focused. So when the interpretation is not explicit, as in the case of these parables, we miss it – that is - if we look through natural self view.

What d’ya think? Go back and read the parables through this different "lens". Does it fit?

Diane

roadsign wrote:
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matt. 13: 44- 46

Who is the precious treasure in these two parables? Of course, we all assume that it is Jesus.

1) The sower of seed: Mat 13:3-8, Mat.13:19-23 (Evangelistic)

2) Wheat & tares: Mat 13:25-30, Matthew 13:38-43 (apocalyptic)

3) The mustered sead: Mat 13:31-32 (reality of the Kingdom)

4) The woman and leven: Mat 13:33 (reality of the Kingdom)

5) A treasure hid in a field:
Mat 13:44 (Evangelistic)

6) the Pearl of great price:
Mat 13:45-46 (the effect of evangelizing)

7) The Dragnet: Mat 13:47-50 (Evangelistic Apocalyptic)

The field is the world and the hidden treasure are the souls of man, that man who sold everything to buy that field is the Christian that gives his life up for the Kingdom to preach the Gosple. (Evangelistic)

The Pearl of great price is about a man who is looking for the truth and when he found Jesus, who is the Truth, went and sold all that he had, and bought It. (the effect of evangelizing) Proverb 23:23 & Job 28:12 & Job 28:18 & Mat 7:6

Christ through man is seeking to find Christ in man.
It is circular.

I've always believed that the treasure and the pearl both are us sinners and the man that sells everything is God who paid the price with His Son.

But now that I think about it, I think I've thought too that it is Christians that find the truth of God, Jesus, and give up everything to follow Christ, our treasure.

Yeah, I guess I've heard both views at different times and both make sense..... Interesting.

It is an interesting slant, if unconventional...but completely valid. I remember I was first alerted to this concept through a message by T Austin Sparks:

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=44]A Pearl of Great Price[/url]

Sparks expounds upon what Diane has brought up here in a most profound fashion: Christ being the man, the pearl being His church. Highly recommended.

Brother Paul

I like it. I like it a lot. Thanks for sharing this.

And to think the Lutherans have held this view for about 500 years now! ;-)

We love Him because He first loved us. He gave ALL and shed His blood to purchase me when I didn't even know who He was. He found me when I wasn't even looking

Amen Brother!

Josef_Urban wrote:
I believe Christ is the man searching.

However, this verse is speaking more of the treasure in the field.

The Great Pearl is about an unsaved man searching for truth and finds Christ in the process.

We love Him because He first loved us. He gave ALL and shed His blood to purchase me when I didn't even know who He was. He found me when I wasn't even looking. Israel is His treasure and the Church is His Bride, represented by a pearl.

The Pearl must be the Truth(I am the truth, the light...ect...)
Proverb 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding
Mat 7:6b neither cast your pearls before swine.

In the first parable, He is the one who discovers the treasure, which is Israel , Exodus 19:5

He hides it

then goes and sells all that He has

(dies on the Cross)

The field is the world -He purchased the whole world.

If it is the souls of man, He has not yet redeamed them all and only a few will be bought.
If it is the Earth its self, He already owns that, no need to buy it.

But right now, during the age of grace, the treasure Israel is hidden in the midst of the world, hidden from salvation through their Messiah, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. He bought the whole world, but will one day soon unearth the treasure in that field and so "all Israel shall be saved" -Rom. 11:26 . The second (the pearl) is the Church. He doesn't hide it and then come back later for it, but buys it right away.

Matthew 19:21 go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.(Mark 10:21, Luk_18:22)

It is an interesting slant, if unconventional...but completely valid.

I see that Matthew Henry explains the “conventional” view in great detail, so maybe indirectly many of us got it from him. Interestingly, bible commentarian, Verlyn Verbrugge believes that the pearl represents the Church, and Christ is the man. Verbrugge also points out that of all precious stones, only the pearl results from an injury done to a living organism (the oyster). Certainly the living Christ suffered at a great cost to purchase us.

I believe Christ is the man searching.

Only yesterday did I hear this “new” view. (new for me) It was through a message by Jackie Pullinger – a lady whom the Lord has used mightily to reach drug addicts, gangsters, and prostitutes in the Walled City in Honk Hong. When these despicable illiterate youth find Christ, they are immediately filled with the Spirit. Jesus heals them from their addiction, and they pray and prophesy. They are full of joy because of what Christ has done for them by saving them even though they are the worst sinners of the world.

Jackie said, “I let THEM interpret the Word of God to me. They know nothing about the Bible, but the Spirit shows them. I have read these parables now to hundreds of new converts over the years. I ask them who the man is and who the pearl is. One hundred percent of the time they respond this way: ‘Oh, the precious pearl is me and the man is Christ.’”

Jackie then adds in her sermon: “You probably never thought it was that way because you didn’t get it from the Spirit, right? You heard it the other way from a man.

Well, for me, that’s true. In this case I choose to receive a word from these “hundreds of converted addicts”, rather than from the experts.

I cannot wait to go read the parables now in this light.

Here is the SI link for [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=117]Jackie Pullinger[/url] sermons. I highly recommend them - if you want a Holy Ghost blessing!

Diane

All of Scripture is a story of redemption. It all points to Christ, and not man. It is not man doing to gain, but God doing to provide for man.

Your starting point will determine your hermeneutic.

If man doing is your starting point, you will have difficulty with a Biblical view of grace presented throughout the Scriptures.

If on the other hand you use the view that Jesus Himself presented, you will see the grand and sweeping work of redemption that God has worked in Christ.

Just to provide some clues to how we should interpret Scripture look at Christ's words-

Luke 24:25 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
Luke 24:27 [b]And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.[/b]

John 5:39 You search [b]the Scriptures[/b] because you think that in them you have eternal life; and [b]it is they that bear witness about me,[/b]

Scripture is Christ centered.

I too also agree that the Man searching is Christ Himself. If the man who sold all to purchase the field with the treasure (or Christ) were us, at first it might be a nice sentiment but not in terms of salvation because we cannot purchase Christ, or salvation - Jesus gave all to purchase us!

There is an interesting parallel in the OT story of Ruth and Boaz. Boaz being (a picture of Jesus), buying the field to get Ruth (the church).

roadsign wrote:

It is an interesting slant, if unconventional...but completely valid.

You have to wonder how this “slant” became “unconventional”. Maybe it’s because we so easily associate these parables with the incident where Jesus told the rich man to sell everything. However, that is a bad fit for these parables. For one thing, the rich man was not told to use his income to buy the Savior, No! No! In fact, that was the man’s hindrance! He was trying to figure out a way to earn his way to eternity – some effort.

Furthermore, the Pear is not the Savior, but the truth of the Gosple.

I believe Christ is the man searching.

why would Jesus give a parable that explicitly suggests that a human BUY Christ?

Christ surely would not have put such an enormous stumbling block in our path!

Furthermore, why would Christ tell us that "the kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."

The leaven is variuos false doctrines, the "three measures of meal" are the basic true Doctrines of Christianity.

Why would Christ tell us that the kingdom of heaven is full of bad doctrines(leaven)?

Jackie then adds in her sermon: “You probably never thought it was that way because you didn’t get it from the Spirit, right? You heard it the other way from a man

Did those new converts(novices 1Tim 3:6) first pray for the interp?
Are they actualy able to teach(2Tim 2:2)?

Where is it said to listen to new converts to understand the Word of God?

Just pray and ask God to reviel what they realy are of.
1) The sower of seed: Mat 13:3-8, Mat.13:19-23 (Evangelistic) Never is told who the sower is, but we know that man preaches the Gosple(sows the seed)
If it were God doing the sowing, He wouldn't sow were it wouldn't produce fruit more-less sow were devils would eat the seed.

2) Wheat & tares: Mat 13:25-30, Matthew 13:38-43 (apocalyptic)
God knows who is His, He divides at the end.

3) The mustered sead: Mat 13:31-32 (reality of the Kingdom)
mustered seads do not become trees.
This is telling us that the plant mutates into something that it shouldn't be.
The birds, as we learn are devils.
They nest in the "branches"
What are the branches in the Chruch?
Denominations!

4) The woman and leven: Mat 13:33 (reality of the Kingdom)
The leaven is variuos false doctrines, the "three measures of meal" are the basic true Doctrines of Christianity.

5) A treasure hid in a field:
Mat 13:44 (Evangelistic)
The Field is ripe for the harvest.
Pray the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the feild.
The field is the world and the hidden treasure are the souls of man who are in that feild, that man who sold everything to buy that field is the Christian that gives his life up for the Kingdom to preach the Gosple.
Furthermore, Jesus never sold anything, He gave it all up. We are never told in Scripture that Christ redeems a feild or a land.
But men go to lands to preach to the souls in the land.

6) the Pearl of great price:
Mat 13:45-46 (the effect of evangelizing)
The effect of evangelizing is the Truth being spread so that people searching for truth may find the Great Truth!
The Pearl of great price is about a man who is looking for the truth and when he found the Truth, went and sold all that he had, and bought It. Proverb 23:23 & Job 28:12 & Job 28:18 & Mat 7:6

7) Wheat and Tares explained (apocalyptic):

8) The Dragnet: Mat 13:47-50 (Apocalyptic)
God knows who is His, He divides at the end.

roaringlamb wrote:

If man doing is your starting point, you will have difficulty with a Biblical view of grace presented throughout the Scriptures.

Since my basic starting point is Scripture its self, the whole Scritpur; context, meaning, culture of the time, setting...ect..., I am able to see what it realy is saying with out a preconcieved mindset to obscure my view.

The sower of seed: My starting point is The seed(the Word)

2) Wheat & tares: It is not pointing to Christ as you would think and as you said, "It all points to Christ, and not man."

The mustered sead: Mat 13:31-32: is the Tree that it grows into.
Mustard is not from a tree.
It is not pointing to Christ as you would think and as you said, "It all points to Christ, and not man."

The woman and leven: Mat 13:33: My starting point is the woman.
What woman would bring in leaven?
Not the Church, but a harlot.
It is not pointing to Christ as you would think and as you said, "It all points to Christ, and not man."

A treasure hid in a field Mat 13:44: My starting point is a person who sold all he has for a tresure.
Christ never sold anythig to come as man, he [b]gave[/b] it all up.
We are suposed to go and preach the Gosple, How would we go to a far land without selling what we have to fund our evangelising?

the Pearl of great price: My starting point is what a pearl is.
Matthew 7:6 is about not offering our truths(the Gosple) to those violent and abusive people who would return to their own vomit and devalue that which we value; nor to those especially debased and utterly and shamelessly immoral people who would not perceive its value, would trample it down, and would abuse you.

Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

All of Scripture is a story of redemption.

The pearl of great price is about a man who buys the great Truth to be saved(1Tim 2:4).
Opposit of 2Thes 2:10

It all points to Christ, and not man.

Actualy your view points to man as the goal.

Christ serching for man which is the treasure.
That is man centered.
The pearl being the church is man centered.

My view of the tresure in the feild is man doing somthing for the advancment of the Kingdom of Christ.

My view of the Pearl is man selling all for the Truth of the Gosple, which is about Christ. This is Christ centered.
This is Christ centered.

My starting point is commone sense and reality.

:-o

roadsign wrote:

My starting point is commone sense and reality.

Whose reality?

:-o