The parables of Jesus in Matthew 13 mark a pivotal moment in His teaching ministry. In the early stages of His work, Jesus proclaimed plainly:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17).
He offered Israel the Kingdom, calling the nation to turn back to God and embrace Him as their promised Messiah. But as opposition grew—culminating in the Pharisees’ blasphemous accusation that Jesus performed miracles by Satan’s power (Matthew 12:24)—a shift occurred. Jesus no longer addressed the crowds with direct proclamations about the Kingdom. Instead, He spoke in parables.
When His disciples asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10), Jesus answered:
“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” (Matthew 13:11)
This shift fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15):
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Thus, the parables served a dual purpose:
- To conceal truth from the hardened and unbelieving.
- To reveal mysteries of the Kingdom to true disciples.
From a dispensational perspective, these parables unveil the mystery form of the Kingdom — the period between Christ’s rejection and His return, when the Kingdom’s visible glory is postponed, but God’s redemptive program continues in hidden ways. The parables are not Church doctrine but insights into God’s Kingdom plan during this interim age.
Words: 1371 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45–46
“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.”
Exposition of the Parable
The Merchant: Christ the Seeking Savior
This parable introduces us to a merchant—a professional trader actively seeking fine pearls. The merchant is not a casual buyer; he knows value and dedicates himself to finding that which is most precious.
In this parable, the merchant represents Christ Himself. Jesus came into the world on a mission:
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Unlike the man in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure who stumbles upon a valuable find, this merchant deliberately searches. This reflects Christ’s purposeful, redemptive mission to secure what is of greatest value in God’s plan.
The Pearl: The Church, Formed and Unified
The pearl in this parable symbolizes the Church, the body of believers formed through Christ’s work during this mystery age. A pearl is a fitting image for the Church for several reasons:
- A pearl forms organically over time, layer by layer—just as the Church has been built progressively as souls are redeemed and added to the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:14–16).
- A pearl is indivisible; its beauty and worth depend on its wholeness. Likewise, the Church is one unified body (Ephesians 4:4–6), composed of both Jew and Gentile, redeemed and joined together in Christ.
The pearl is not mined or fashioned by human effort; it grows through a process hidden from view. Similarly, the Church, though invisible in its full spiritual reality today, is a work of divine craftsmanship that will one day be revealed in glory.
The Merchant’s Purchase: Christ’s Sacrificial Work
The merchant sells all he has to purchase the pearl. This speaks of Christ’s total self-giving to redeem His people. The Apostle Paul writes:
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…” (Ephesians 5:25–26)
Christ’s sacrificial death paid the price to secure His bride. The merchant’s joyful willingness to give up everything mirrors the joy that was set before Christ as He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
Dispensational Significance
From a dispensational viewpoint, this parable reveals:
- The Church’s unique identity as a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament but now made known through Christ and the apostles (Ephesians 3:3–6).
- The unity of the redeemed body, represented by the single pearl, composed of believers from every nation and background, joined in Christ.
- The costly price of redemption, paid in full by Christ for His people.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price complements the Parable of the Hidden Treasure:
- The treasure speaks of Israel, hidden for now but awaiting restoration.
- The pearl speaks of the Church, formed during this mystery age as Christ gathers His bride.
Alternative View: The Pearl as Personal Salvation
Some interpret this parable as describing a sinner who finds the Gospel and surrenders everything to gain salvation. While this view encourages personal devotion, it falls short theologically:
- Salvation is a gift, not something we purchase by surrender or sacrifice (Ephesians 2:8–9).
- The parable’s focus aligns with God’s redemptive work, not human effort.
Christ, not the sinner, is the seeker. He is the one who gave everything to secure His people.
Cultural and Historical Context
The Value of Pearls
In the first century, pearls were more highly prized than even gold or diamonds. The finest pearls were sought by the rich and powerful, including Roman emperors and Eastern kings. A single, perfect pearl could be worth a fortune.
Pearl divers risked their lives to retrieve these treasures from the depths of the sea. The idea of a merchant selling everything for one pearl would have deeply impressed Jesus’ listeners. It illustrated the supreme worth of what was being gained—and the totality of the commitment required to secure it.
The Indivisibility of a Pearl
Unlike gold or gemstones, a pearl’s value depends on its wholeness. Cut a pearl, and its beauty is destroyed. This mirrors the Church’s nature:
“There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6)
The Church, like a pearl, is a single, unified entity, precious and beautiful in God’s sight.
The Pearl in Biblical Imagery
Pearls appear in other biblical passages, further enriching our understanding of this parable:
- Matthew 7:6: Pearls represent precious truth not to be wasted on those who will reject it.
- Revelation 21:21: The gates of the New Jerusalem are single pearls, symbolizing the beauty and preciousness of God’s redeemed people dwelling with Him eternally.
These references affirm the pearl as a fitting symbol of what is rare, valuable, and sacred in God’s plan.
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price teaches us:
- Christ sought and secured His Church at the cost of everything.
- The Church is one unified body, precious in His sight.
- Believers are called to live in light of Christ’s sacrifice, treasuring what He treasures.
As Charles Ryrie wrote:
“The parables of Matthew 13 describe the present age when the Kingdom is in mystery form, revealing both the King’s work and the hidden realities of this time between His two comings.”
This parable invites us to reflect: If Christ gave all to redeem His people, how should we, as His redeemed, live in response to His immeasurable love?
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price – Matthew 13:45–46
Published by Brother Woody BrohmThe parables of Jesus in Matthew 13 mark a pivotal moment in His teaching ministry. In the early stages of His work, Jesus proclaimed plainly:
He offered Israel the Kingdom, calling the nation to turn back to God and embrace Him as their promised Messiah. But as opposition grew—culminating in the Pharisees’ blasphemous accusation that Jesus performed miracles by Satan’s power (Matthew 12:24)—a shift occurred. Jesus no longer addressed the crowds with direct proclamations about the Kingdom. Instead, He spoke in parables.
When His disciples asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10), Jesus answered:
This shift fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15):
Thus, the parables served a dual purpose:
From a dispensational perspective, these parables unveil the mystery form of the Kingdom — the period between Christ’s rejection and His return, when the Kingdom’s visible glory is postponed, but God’s redemptive program continues in hidden ways. The parables are not Church doctrine but insights into God’s Kingdom plan during this interim age.
Words: 1371 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45–46
Exposition of the Parable
The Merchant: Christ the Seeking Savior
This parable introduces us to a merchant—a professional trader actively seeking fine pearls. The merchant is not a casual buyer; he knows value and dedicates himself to finding that which is most precious.
In this parable, the merchant represents Christ Himself. Jesus came into the world on a mission:
Unlike the man in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure who stumbles upon a valuable find, this merchant deliberately searches. This reflects Christ’s purposeful, redemptive mission to secure what is of greatest value in God’s plan.
The Pearl: The Church, Formed and Unified
The pearl in this parable symbolizes the Church, the body of believers formed through Christ’s work during this mystery age. A pearl is a fitting image for the Church for several reasons:
The pearl is not mined or fashioned by human effort; it grows through a process hidden from view. Similarly, the Church, though invisible in its full spiritual reality today, is a work of divine craftsmanship that will one day be revealed in glory.
The Merchant’s Purchase: Christ’s Sacrificial Work
The merchant sells all he has to purchase the pearl. This speaks of Christ’s total self-giving to redeem His people. The Apostle Paul writes:
Christ’s sacrificial death paid the price to secure His bride. The merchant’s joyful willingness to give up everything mirrors the joy that was set before Christ as He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
Dispensational Significance
From a dispensational viewpoint, this parable reveals:
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price complements the Parable of the Hidden Treasure:
Alternative View: The Pearl as Personal Salvation
Some interpret this parable as describing a sinner who finds the Gospel and surrenders everything to gain salvation. While this view encourages personal devotion, it falls short theologically:
Christ, not the sinner, is the seeker. He is the one who gave everything to secure His people.
Cultural and Historical Context
The Value of Pearls
In the first century, pearls were more highly prized than even gold or diamonds. The finest pearls were sought by the rich and powerful, including Roman emperors and Eastern kings. A single, perfect pearl could be worth a fortune.
Pearl divers risked their lives to retrieve these treasures from the depths of the sea. The idea of a merchant selling everything for one pearl would have deeply impressed Jesus’ listeners. It illustrated the supreme worth of what was being gained—and the totality of the commitment required to secure it.
The Indivisibility of a Pearl
Unlike gold or gemstones, a pearl’s value depends on its wholeness. Cut a pearl, and its beauty is destroyed. This mirrors the Church’s nature:
The Church, like a pearl, is a single, unified entity, precious and beautiful in God’s sight.
The Pearl in Biblical Imagery
Pearls appear in other biblical passages, further enriching our understanding of this parable:
These references affirm the pearl as a fitting symbol of what is rare, valuable, and sacred in God’s plan.
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price teaches us:
As Charles Ryrie wrote:
This parable invites us to reflect: If Christ gave all to redeem His people, how should we, as His redeemed, live in response to His immeasurable love?
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related