June 12

Matthew 13:45‑46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant men, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it”— Matthew 13:45,4645Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45‑46).
CONTRARY to the ideas of many, the sinner is not the merchantman. He has nothing wherewith to purchase, nor is God offering salvation to those who can afford to buy. The Lord Jesus is the Buyer, as in the previous parable. The “pearl of great price” is the Church—that mystery which was yet to be revealed through Paul (Eph. 3:3-73How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. (Ephesians 3:3‑7)). Calvary was the market-place where the Lord sold all that He had—gave Himself, in fact—in order that He might purchase this pearl and make it His own forever. To interpret this parable so as to make Christ the pearl and the sinner the merchantman is to pervert the message of the gospel, which tells of salvation offered without money and without price (Isa. 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)) to those who have no merit to plead, nor any assets wherewith to purchase (Rom. 4:4,54Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:4‑5)).
“Tale of tenderness unfathomed
Told by God to me—
Tale of love, mysterious, awful—
Thus God’s love must be.
There below in midnight darkness,
Under those wild waves,
Lies the treasure God is seeking,
Jewel that He craves.
Down beneath those sunless waters
He from Heaven has passed,
He has found His heart’s desire,
Found His pearl at last.
All He had His heart has given
For that gem unpriced
Such art thou, O ransomed sinner,
Yea, for such is Christ.”
―C. P. C.