Parable of the Pearl
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The Parable of the Pearl or the Pearl of Great Price is a parable told by Jesus in explaining the value of the Kingdom of Heaven, according to Matthew 13:45-46. Other uses of this title refer to this parable.
[edit] The parable
From the Gospel of Matthew (KJV):
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
From the (noncanonical) Gospel of Thomas (Patterson-Meyer Translation):
Jesus said, "The Father's kingdom is like a merchant who had a supply of merchandise and found a pearl. That merchant was prudent; he sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself. So also with you, seek his treasure that is unfailing, that is enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys."
[edit] Interpretation
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The implied analogy was that the Kingdom of Heaven was of such worth that his disciples should gladly be willing to give up their wealth and comfort to obtain it.
Christians typically take the parable to mean that the heavenly riches are far greater than the full total of all worldly riches.[citation needed] Though the idea is not present in the text, some also teach that Jesus is the pearl that some men found, and sold all for, and became his disciples, hoping for an eternal kingdom.
Christians may also believe[citation needed] that the pearl represents the Assembly (or Church) for which Christ gave Himself up (sold all that He had), i.e. willingly bore the judgment of God for sin, died, poured out His blood and rose again on the third day. These Christians typically believe the Assembly is the feminine, corporate symbol of bride or wife of Christ, composed of every single Christian believer from Pentecost (incoming of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-4) to the Rapture (secret return of Christ, 1 Thes 4:16,17). The pearl itself is a beautiful, single entity, formed through suffering in the heart of the oyster (in the same way that believers endure lack of wealth or comfort) and like the Church, will be put on display in a coming day. Unlike precious stones which must be cut and polished to reveal their clarity and beauty, the pearl is perfect as it comes from the oyster - the hand of man could only spoil it - symbolizing the formation of the Assembly by the hand of the Holy Spirit of God.[citation needed]
The parable is similar to the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and appears next to it in Matthew.
The Jesus Seminar rated the parable as probably authentic ("pink"). It is simple, short, and memorable.
[edit] See also
