Verse 44, again the kingdom of heaven is
like to a treasure hid in a field,
in which, for which when a man hath
found he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth
and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth
that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto
a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he
had found one pearl of great price, went
and sold all that he had, and bought
it.
Now, this is the second of two parables
which tell us, first and foremost, of what
we mean to Jesus, and how much he
loves us.
We've looked at this first parable, where the
treasure hid in the field, and now we
come to consider the pearl of great price.
I hope we've really got hold in our
hearts of the fact that God's concern for
the whole world is the display of his
government, as it was originally intended.
And this is to be revealed through people
he has redeemed at Calvary, won back from
the enemy, who have revolted against him in
favor of Jesus.
And that could only be accomplished by the
cross.
I don't know, I haven't time to go
into the detail of it, but sometimes, in
support of the kingdom being restored, read Matthew
chapter 4, where you have the account of
a personal encounter between the greatest rebel in
the universe, the devil, and Jesus, the Lord,
the Savior.
You remember something, perhaps, of it.
Just to remind you of one thing, it
took place, you remember, after 40 days and
40 nights, and Jesus was hungry.
And the devil came up to him and
confronted him, and said, if you're the son
of God, as much as to say, I
was listening in when heaven opened a little
time ago, and when the father said, this
is my beloved son, hear him.
If you are then what you are, the
son of God, command these stones to be
made bread, satisfy your hunger.
If you're the son of God, act like
God.
You remember what Jesus said in reply, it
is written, man shall not live thy bread
alone, but for every word that proceeds out
of the mouth of God.
I'm not here to deal with you as
God, I'm here to deal with you as
man.
I'm not here as God, one day, I'll
deal with you as God.
One day, I'll throw you into the bottomless
pit.
My, I hope I'm here at that time
to see it.
I won't be here, but I mean, I
hope I see it happen.
What a tremendous thing, when the devil is
really cast into a bottomless pit, that's the
end of him.
But no, no, I'm here to deal with
you as man, because it was only by
resisting the enemy as a man, and victorious
as a man in everything, that Jesus was
able to impart that human nature, tempted in
all points like as we are, yet without
sin.
Do you think Jesus could have sinned?
He sure could.
If he'd exercised any of his divine attributes
of character, acted as God, he'd have failed.
As a man, he could sin, but he
was able not to sin.
And I believe that for 40 days and
40 nights, heaven held its breath on that
issue.
Or else, where was the temptation?
And as man, in order that, as man
in a perfect human nature, you take that
nature up to heaven, and receive the Holy
Spirit, that that same nature might come and
dwell in you and me.
That God's perfect man, who exhibited the government
of God in every minute of his life,
should repeat that in Christian people.
The kingdom on earth, seen today by people
who are born again.
I hope that you get that.
It's wonderful to live a kingdom life.
That's what the world expects to see.
To demonstrate that life in each one of
us, by the power of his Spirit.
Now, let me just turn with you then,
with that in mind, to the parable of
the pearl.
Frankly, I find this one of the most
amazing instances of God's love for me, and
his love, Jesus' love for me.
I find it very difficult this morning to
speak about it.
It's so moving.
And here's a man who, well, we've heard
of the treasure in the field, but he
goes on to speak of this merchant man,
seeking fine pearls, who found one of great
value, and went and sold all he had,
and bought it.
Only the Holy Spirit can really bring home
the truth of that.
But I need hardly stop and say that
I don't accept a popular interpretation.
I'm afraid I'll be most unpopular with some
of you.
You must come and tell me, I don't
mind, I can take it.
You should not be able to hurt a
crucified man.
Just think into that.
If I get easily hurt with people, if
you do something wrong with me, you shouldn't
be able to hurt.
So don't mind coming and telling me if
you think it's nonsense, if you don't agree.
I told you, be free, absolutely free.
I have to hurry, because I'm going away
tomorrow, so get a move on.
But what is the interpretation that's popular of
this?
The interpretation regards the pearl of great price
as Jesus, that he is the pearl of
great price.
But that's contrary to all the teaching of
Scripture.
Here's a verse of a hymn, it may
be a hymn of a generation ago, perhaps
you don't know it, but have you heard
of this hymn?
I found the pearl of greatest price.
My heart does sing for joy, and sing
I must, for Christ is mine.
Christ shall my song imply.
That's lovely sentiment.
But if it implies that I can purchase
salvation, that's unscriptural.
And how often we sing hymns without thinking
what the message is.
We are redeemed not with corruptible things, 2
Peter 1 18, such as silver and gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ.
He it is who paid the price.
He it is who's taken the initiative.
He sought me, I didn't seek him.
I owe everything to him.
We'll see as we look at this verse,
who is this, and what is this pearl?
Let's handle it in three sections.
First, the meaning of the pearl.
Notice, and put down in your notes, that
the pearl is a New Testament word, and
not an Old Testament one.
In the Old Testament, there are some wonderful
descriptions of precious stones, stones which were on,
for instance, on the breastplate of the priest.
Exodus 28, don't bother to look it up,
but just jot it down, then sometime you
can look it through.
You'll find emeralds, and sapphire, and diamonds, and
jasper, precious stones, contrasting them with wisdom, which
is far above, wisdom which is far above
rubies.
Interesting verse, perhaps it's rather naughty of me.
It says, Proverbs 8 11, and then Proverbs
31 10, a good wife is far more
precious than jewels.
Especially mentioned for the sake of some fellows
here, to whom I would say, come on.
You know what I mean?
I shall say no more, although I'm tempted
to.
Oh, I thank the Lord for our wives.
They halve our sorrows, double our joys, and
treble our expenses.
That's why they're so dear to us.
Forgive me that bit of stupidity.
I'm keeping believing for you.
Now, you never find in the Old Testament
a pearl mentioned, because the Jew did never
count the pearl of least value, of any
value.
And I can imagine the surprise with which
the disciples heard this parable, for they knew
not only that the pearl was not valued
by the Jew, but it was highly valued
by the Gentile.
The jewelry of eastern kings contained pearls, and
pearls had an increasing value.
Until now, of course, it's the most precious
stone in the east.
But it's always been regarded as something of
Gentile value.
And so our Lord takes this pearl, the
thing of Gentile value, as the symbol of
the most precious thing in this parable.
That's the meaning of the pearl, but how,
what about the making of it?
Now, we need to go slow here.
I want to give you time to get
this down.
As far as I know, the pearl is
the only precious stone which is the product
of a living organism.
The pearl is the direct result of an
injury done to the life which produces it.
The pearl, I repeat, is the direct result
of an injury done to the life which
produces it.
You all know the story of the, of
how the pearl is found in the shell
of an oyster.
Amazing, really.
Perhaps a grain of sand or some other
foreign substance has got, metaphorically speaking, under its
skin.
And you know, when that happens with you
and me, something gets under our skin.
Well, this pearl, this thing, this something, foreign
substance, has intruded and something that harms and
injures and hurts.
And what's the reaction of the oyster?
Well, it covers that thing that hurts it
with layer after layer of something which is
called mother of pearl.
The most precious part of its being, it
uses to cover this intruded thing with mother
of pearl until the thing which has caused
injury and harm is changed and becomes a
precious jewel.
So, word for word, please, it might help
you.
The pearl has become the answer
of the life which was injured
to the thing that injured it.
Just keep that sentence before you.
The pearl has become the answer of the
life which was hurt or injured to what
injured it.
The pearl began by creating hurt, injury, but
the answer of the life it injured is
to transform it into a thing of beauty
and value.
Got that?
Do I repeat?
Okay.
Repeat?
Last bit.
Okay.
Reverse again.
Ready?
Pearl has become the answer of the life
which was injured to that which injured it.
The pearl began by creating hurt, injury, but
the answer of the life it injured is
to transform it into a thing of tremendous
beauty and priceless value.
Now, you'll see that and understand the wonder
of it in a few minutes if you
don't see it already.
That's the making of a pearl, but look.
What about its purpose?
What about the mission of it?
What's its use?
What value is it?
Well, to most people, it's a thing of
beauty, but in Eastern thought, it's a picture
of innocence or purity.
I wonder if anyone here has the name
of Margaret.
How many of you are called Margaret?
Well, did you know that that word is
a Greek word, Margretis, and it means purity.
Purity.
And so, the pearl is not only the
answer of an injured life to what injured
it, it's that, but it's a picture of
purity.
Oh, my.
Something that has originally been the cause of
pain and hurt has been dealt with.
By the very life it hurt, it injured,
till it's changed into a thing of priceless
beauty and purity.
A picture of the triumph of purity over
impurity.
Just look at one other thing here.
The merchant man is seeking pearls, not for
himself.
He's a merchant man, not for other people.
In those days, Eastern lands, the best and
most precious was only worthy of a king
to wear.
So, here's the picture, a merchant man seeking,
finding a pearl worthy only of a king,
and he determines to purchase it at any
cost that he may present it to a
king.
Perhaps you begin to see something of the
truth here.
I don't know that I can find words
to express it.
But our Lord seems clearly to be teaching
that in this age, today, there's to be
gathered out of it, bought
out of it, and presented to God, the
most glorious jewel that'll flash forever.
Not only here, but in heaven.
Out of all the mystery of sin and
evil and confusion and chaos in the world
today, there's to be found something very wonderful
for the possession of God, the Father.
And among all the treasures of this day
and age, it is the Church of Jesus
Christ, which is supreme.
That's the secret, hidden from all previous times,
now revealed to the disciples, Colossians 1, 26
and 27.
The mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations, I'm reading, that now is
made manifest to his saints, to whom God
would make known what is the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles,
which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.
Now, you see a master in this parable,
discovering the pearl, going away and selling everything
and buying it.
Not going away from earth to heaven, but
going away from heaven and to earth.
For the Lord has seen this jewel from
all eternity, and for love and desire, surrenders
position, possessions, all he has, that he may
purchase it and take it back with himself.
The thing that was held in contempt by
the Jew is to him a pearl of
great price.
There's a difference, of course, between the kingdom
and the Church.
A lot of people who've been in heaven
have been in the kingdom, but not in
the Church.
Old Testament believers, for instance.
But here's the pearl of great price.
Got that so far?
Ready?
We read in 1 Peter 2, 7, 1
Peter 2, 7, to you which believe he
is precious, or to you which believe is
the preciousness.
All that is precious in him is imparted
to his people.
All that is precious in Jesus is imparted
to us.
That's the secret of Christian character.
Never do we need to make anything of
ourselves to boast of.
Heard of this verse of a hymn?
Every virtue we possess, and every victory won,
every thought of holiness are his alone.
Anything good in you and me is the
product of his life realized in me.
We came to him, to Jesus, worthless, and
are transformed into something precious because he's passed
over to each one of us all the
values which are himself.
That's the story of the pearl.
I believe I may have told you, I'm
not ashamed to tell you again, that Major
Thomas was one of my first Christian friends,
and long ago before any of you were
thought of, I met him.
He was a medical student at the time
in London, and he was speaking at a
very small meeting to which I'd invited him.
I was un-Christian, but making a mess
of it.
Maybe some of you feel you understand what
I mean by that.
I'd been converted perhaps about two or three
years, but I wasn't getting on at all,
making no progress.
In the course of his address, he said,
what do you think Christ expects of you?
I just curled up.
I wanted to disappear, hide under my seat,
because I thought to myself, I know he's
going to tell me he expects some wonderful
person, somebody with a halo, and somebody, you
know, tremendous.
And the next words he used, I'll tell
you, he said, nothing but failure.
Nothing but failure.
I pricked up my ears.
I thought, Lord, I'm a candidate, but that's
me to a T.
Okay, nothing but failure.
Okay, here I am.
And then he said, but God has given
you the Holy Spirit that you need not
fail.
And then I realized for the first time
in my life what the Christian life really
meant.
You get it?
The only good thing about you is Jesus.
And I've been a Christian now for, well,
I'll leave it at that, between 50 and
60 years.
And there is no sin that I'm incapable
of committing.
Five minutes after this lecture is over, but
for the grace of God.
The only good thing about Alan Redfarth is
Jesus.
The only good thing about you is Christ.
And that's the story of the making of
the pearl.
First of all, that pearl is worthless.
The cause of harm, it's changed into a
thing of beauty by the very person it
hurt, bruised, harmed.
Yet his answer, his answer, the injured one,
the one who was hurt, to those who
harmed him, is to make over to them
all the beauty and the character.
By the very wounding of Jesus, there comes
to us his grace, his glory, his beauty.
It's not self-improvement, but Christ's replacement, replacing
you with himself.
But what's the purpose of the pearl?
He hasn't bought it for himself.
He's bought it to present it to his
father.
And out of all the chaos in the
world, he is lifting his people to be
those who will be with him forever in
heaven, and who, until they get there, will
be his channel through whom he will reveal
himself.
May I read to you just two verses
from Ephesians chapter three, verse eight.
And to me, who am less than the
least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all
men see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the world
has been hid in God, who created all
things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that
now, under the principalities and powers in heavenly
places, might be made known by the church
the wisdom of God, according to the eternal
purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus, our
Lord.
So, oh, this really takes some believing.
Not merely am I made rich in God
with all his grace and all his strength
and power, but he's gained something of priceless
value to himself in each one of us.
He's gained something.
We talk about our inheritance in Jesus, but
we don't talk much about his inheritance in
us.
He's gained something very precious in his people,
because through the whole of not only this
life, but glory, the wisdom of God, the
grace of God, is to be made known
to principalities and powers, the pearl of great
price, gathered out of human sin and human
failure.
He loved me and gave himself for me.
The pearl of that mission today, we've said
before in other parables, that the Lord wants
to reveal his kingdom life through each one
of us.
The question is, am I doing that?
Because this involves very practical reactions.
Let me give you just two and ask
you to apply them.
First, how do you react when you get
hurt?
How do you react when you're hurt?
I remember one at Moody Church in Chicago.
Every Sunday morning, about two minutes to 11,
just before the service, one of the trustees,
one of the big shots in the place,
used to put his head through the door
and look at me and say, hopeless pastor,
church half empty today, and he went out.
Well, that didn't help very much.
One minute later, another man came in, walked
right across the door, across the floor, and
put his arm around me and hugged me
and said, wonderful pastor, the church is half
full today.
Both of those men saying the same thing.
One with a view to raking me through,
the other with a view to encouraging me.
Which do you think it would be easier
to love of those two?
Well, I don't need to answer the question.
I reacted to man number one in exactly
the reverse direction to which I had preached,
and I didn't like him, and I couldn't
stand him.
So I thought the only thing to do
is to get rid of him, and I
wrote a letter.
Oh, it really blew up that letter.
I said to him, it's no use me
ministering here with people like you around.
Go to some other fundamental church in Chicago,
do your thing there, but we can never
see blessing if you stay here.
Off you go, and lots more.
And I left that letter on my desk.
My wife saw it, and she said to
me, don't you think we'd better pray together
before you send that letter?
Oh, I said, yes, sure.
I've read a lot about it, but I'd
like to pray with you too.
Come on, let's kneel down and pray now.
So I said, you pray first, and I've
never forgotten the next 10 minutes.
She never prayed for the man at all.
She prayed for her husband, and that did
something.
It broke my heart.
I had to go to that man and
apologize, and to speak to my church board
and tell them I was sorry.
And something happened that day, not to the
man, but to the minister.
How do you react when you're hurt?
The strange thing was that just a week
later, we were having a Keswick convention, so
-called, at Moody Church, and among our speakers
was Dr. Maxwell, president of Prairie Bible Institute.
And he was speaking at a minister's meeting,
at which I was taking the chair.
And he began, about 400 ministers, saying, how
do you behave when somebody needles you?
And I began to feel very uncomfortable in
the light of what had just happened, and
wished I could disappear from the platform, but
there's no hope for it.
And he said, when will you men realize
that the people who you don't like, the
people who you can't get on with, are
the nails that Jesus is using to drive
you to calvary?
That's it.
People today are talking a lot about Pentecost,
a lot about Holy Spirit power.
You can't have Holy Spirit power without a
personal calvary.
And that means not only going there to
visit it, but it means staying there all
your life.
How do I react when I get hurt?
Try 1 Corinthians 13, and let a little
love loose in the situation, and watch God
work a miracle.
And one other thing, how do I react
when other people hurt Jesus?
How do I react when other people hurt
Jesus?
When I see people and meet people who
hate him and despise him, how do I
react then?
Do I find myself just possessed with a
tremendous desire that that hurt to him causes
in my heart to be like a burning
fire that makes me long to see such
people transformed into his likeness?
The message of the pearl of great price,
and wonderful, wonderful thing, that the one who
was so badly hurt is now in you
the person who hurt him.
And the reaction of a real Christian is
to shed abroad in your heart the love
of Jesus.
I trust that that's exactly what you and
I wish to do today.
Let's pray together.
Now we have just a moment or two.
Perhaps we could spend it in quiet prayer.
Now, maybe you need to ask the Lord's
forgiveness for your reaction to somebody who's hurt
you.
And to ask him to give you grace
to have the reaction that produces the pearl,
the reaction of love.
Love one another, say Jesus, as I have
loved you.
Lord, as we go out into a world
that despises you, help us to go out
as people who've learned to love and to
care, and to have the love of God
in our hearts shed abroad by your Holy
Spirit.
And people may see a miracle has taken
place.
As we reflect something of the loveliness of
Christ, make it possible so that your sacrifice
on Calvary for us was not worthless, but
infinitely worthwhile.
We ask it in Jesus' name.
Amen.