Pursuing the Pearl - At All Cost! — April 7 [Description]Overview of Matthew 13:45-46:These two verses are part of Jesus’ parables about the kingdom of heaven. In this short but powerful story, Jesus describes a merchant who is actively looking for fine pearls. When he finds one pearl of great value, he goes and sells everything he owns just to buy it.This parable teaches that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable that it’s worth sacrificing everything else to obtain it. The “pearl of great price” represents the unmatched worth of knowing and following Christ.It challenges listeners to consider: What are you chasing? And is it worth your whole life?Brief Overview of the Passage:This passage explores the meaning of Jesus’ parable about the merchant seeking a pearl of great price. It reveals that Christ Himself is the pearl—pure, flawless, and the embodiment of God’s wisdom, love, and righteousness. Though salvation is a gift, it requires total surrender to Christ. The parable also symbolizes Christ’s love for humanity, seeing us as His own pearl worth the sacrifice of heaven. True seekers—those who give up everything—receive this treasure. When the Holy Spirit reveals Christ’s worth, lives are transformed, as seen at Pentecost. That same revival power is promised again, calling us to value Jesus above all else.

Bible discovery

Matthew 13:45-46365D 97.1

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,365D 97.2

46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.365D 97.3

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

Christ’s Object Lessons pp.115-121:365D 97.4

This chapter is based on Matthew 13:45, 46.365D 97.5

The blessings of redeeming love our Saviour compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated His lesson by the parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of His person. The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. Every page of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are “hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3. He is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30. All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.365D 97.6

These scenes are to be repeated, and with greater power. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the former rain, but the latter rain will be more abundant. The Spirit awaits our demand and reception. Christ is again to be revealed in His fulness by the Holy Spirit’s power. Men will discern the value of the precious pearl, and with the apostle Paul they will say, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:7, 8.365D 97.7