The Pearl of Great Price
Matthew chapter 13 deals with seven parables of the Kingdom, which give us a prophetic overview of the Kingdom of God. Now we need to understand that truth portrayed in the scriptures is multi layered. There is also a devotional view which speaks to you personally this view is important as it speaks to you a way that is personal to you. However there is also a view of scripture that speaks of the nature and attributes of the Lord Jesus. Another layer can be described as the prophetic layer; it is this layer that I want us to look at today.
These seven parables give us a prophetic overview of the Kingdom of God starting from the ministry of Jesus and ending with the final harvest at the end of the age.
The disciples were puzzled as to why Jesus spoke to them in parables
Matthew 13:10
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
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He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Jesus clearly indicated that he was hiding some truths within the parables so that only those whom were ready to receive the hidden levels of truth would understand them. These parables are profoundly personal and profoundly prophetic. Each parable speaks of a specific church age in the Kingdom of God
1) The parable of the sower (see verse 37) The period of the three years of Jesus ministry in the earth
This speaks of Jesus who was first to sow the good seed with varying results 40-60-100 fold.
Matthew 13:37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Jesus came sowing seed (truth) which had varying results among the hearers. Some of the seed fell among stony places, some among thorns, some by the wayside and some on good ground: Matthew 13:3-8. This church age was the period covered by the ministry of Jesus on this earth.
2) The wheat and the tares V24. From Pentecost to 312ad
From the Upper room Pentecost experience through to around 312ad is considered as what is known as the period of the early church.
The early Church; was a mixture of wheat and tares it was not a perfect church. Many false doctrines arose during this period which have plagued the church ever since. We are told that we cannot sort the tares out until the end-times.
Matthew 13:38
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
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The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
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As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
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The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
3) The grain of mustard seed V31. From 312ad to the beginning of the dark ages
Matthew 13:31
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
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Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
During this church period the church grew to become the greatest of religions in its day. It began to wield great political power and influence. But the birds of the air began to lodge in its branches. Note;
Matthew 13:4
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Demons began to take hold and rule in this church period.
4) The parable of the leaven v33
Matthew 13:33
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
This woman, (the false church) became completely full of leaven. Leven speaks of Sin, False doctrine, and Hypocrisy. (See Luke 12:1 & 1Corinthian 5:8). This plunged the church into a thousand years of what became known as the dark ages.
5) The treasure his in a field v44 from around 1517ad on
Matthew 13:44
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Here we see A MAN found a treasure hidden in a field (the scriptures) and this man has to sell all that he has to buy the field. This treasure would cost this man everything. This man of course was Martin Luther who found the treasure of Justification by faith or salvation through the saving grace and blood of Jesus. The price of buying into this field for this truth was of great cost to Luther.
Many other truths would be found as the years went by
1523 The Ana Baptists found the treasure of Water Baptism
1865 The Salvation Army rose up with a new understanding of Practical Christianity. Orphanages, feeding the poor, etc became a real ministry. However we also need to understand that the Salvation Army was a mighty spiritual force in those days, they moved in great power and holiness.
1875 Holiness movements Sanctification
1900 The Baptism Holy Spirit
6) The pearl of great price v45
Matthew 13:45
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
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Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
One of the most sought after treasures in the ancient world were pearls. This merchant found a pearl that was different from all the others. This merchant traded in pearls but this pearl of great price was different. . What was so different with this pearl which motivated him to sell his business for it? It is interesting that the gates to the city of God are made of one single pearl.
Revelation 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Jesus said this:
John 10:9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The other treasures were truths this treasure is THE TRUTH
We can be born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit and yet not know the Lord. The cry of the Apostle Paul was, THAT I MIGHT KNOW HIM Phil 3:10. James 2:23 tells us that Abraham was a Friend of God. Enoch Walked with God, Moses talked with the Lord Face to Face: Exodus 33:11. All these men found the pearl of great price, that of knowing God. Finding the Lord as your friend is finding the pearl of great price.
John 15:15
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Many know about the Lord but few really know Him. It is time to sell all to find this pearl this relationship. This 6th parable is an invitation to you to find the pearl of great price, there are many other pearls of truth but we must now find and walk with THE TRUTH Jesus. Abrahams relationship with God was such that God said this;
Genesis 18:17
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah but He said I need to talk this over with Abraham first.
John 15:15
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
There is a generation that will find the Lord in a way that has only been found by few in throughout church history.
It is in this age in which we are now living when many will find the pearl of great price, they will begin to find the Lord in a way that has been primarily reserved for this generation, a generation that will be willing to sell all for this prize. To sell all means that above all Jesus is our first love, it means that we are willing to give up anything for this relationship. This will then lead us into the final parable
7) The parable of the Net 13:47
Matthew 13:47
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
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Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
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So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
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And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
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Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
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Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
We have observed a procession of things old and new beginning from the ministry of Jesus up to this present time. The 6th and 7th parables are about to merge in this generation and it is important that we be up with and living present truth.
2 Peter 1:12
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
When the Lord has sufficient people walking with Him the final harvest will begin to be reaped. We are living at the end of the age, this 6th parable has to be experienced and then 7th parable will be enacted. The harvest in earnest will begin to come in. These are days when we must have ears to hear what the Lord is saying t His church.
Blessings
Neville Johnson
September 1, 2009