Studies in the Parables

by Bob Ganote

Matthew 13:45-46

Introduction: By now we should all know that the Lord in Matthew 13 makes great use of metaphors and similes in his teachings. His method of teaching, if you’ll recall, is to use common objects familiar to the people to reveal a deeper truth.  In the seven parables of Matthew 13 Christ uses metaphors and similes (parables) to emphasize and give color to his teachings, each parable has one particular point to consider.

                The Lord presented four parables to the general public who had gathered to see his miracles and hear him speak. At the conclusion of the four, ending with the parable of the Leaven, he sends the crowd away and enters a house. The disciples gathered around him and what followed were an explanation to them as to the reason he taught the people in parables and his explanation to them [the disciples] the meaning of each. Then, he begins to teach the small group gathered with him three more parables: 1. The Treasure hid in a field; 2. The Pearl of Great Price; and 3. the Parable of the Net cast into the sea, and when he had finished, for a while, his teachings, Jesus asked his disciples have ye understood all these things? They answered, Yea, Lord. May the Lord help us to understand them as well.

 

STRUGGLES IN INTERPRETATION–

Admittedly, his teaching in this chapter seems repetitive, and each parable is also admittedly difficult and open to a variety of interpretations, but a close study will reveal that while the parables are similar the thesis of each one carries its own weight.

                For example, verses 3-8; 18-23: The Sower and the Seed and The Tares among the wheat. Both have to do with planting seed but in one case the Sower is the Lord planting the seed, and in the other are the Tares, planted by the enemy of Christ. The Wheat and the Tares are metaphors meant to represent the good and bad seed, and as in the case of the seventh parable, The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net and gathered both the good fish and the bad fish into the vessel, demonstrates a similarity in teaching methodology, yet, are not identical in presentation – Good seed, bad seed; profitable seed and seed that is unprofitable.

                If we choose to interpret The Kingdom of Heaven to be the Church, in what way may it be so interpreted? The church is commanded to go into the uttermost part of the earth and carry with them the gospel and proclaim the gospel to everyone who will listen, Gather in everyone who will come, Baptize everyone who are obedient to Christ, Disciple everyone who is teachable, and finally, Send everyone who will go out and do the same.    Unfortunately, there are in the visible church, some bad seed; some tares that filter in, and during the proclaiming; The Gathering, The Baptizing, the Teaching, and even the Sending there is in the mix Tares wanting to look like wheat, and Unprofitable Fish swimming in the same pond as the Good fish.

                Our job is not to spend our time trying to figure out who is who and what is what, that is the job of the Holy Angels to do when the harvest is ready. We do not know one from another – the deception is strong, so strong in fact that some Tares don’t know they are Tares and some Unprofitable Fish don’t know they are unprofitable Fish. If they don’t know who and what they are then, it is difficult and at times, impossible for us to know.  Therefore, we must not attempt to gather out those we think are not true Christians – we would be doing much more harm than good. True, we have the right and responsibility to exercise stated biblical discipline on sinning Christians within the church in order to bring their sin to their attention so they can repent, so they can be restored to full fellowship, but this is as far as it should go.

                In Verses 31-33 Jesus speaks of the church that from a beginning as small as a mustard seed which grows into a great tree wherein birds of prey nest waiting to devour the “good seed [my interpretation].” The Leaven which represents a process of degeneration of the Church. [My interpretation] yet, however you choose to interpret these two parables is not the issue of this sermon. Commentators differ among themselves as to the true meaning of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. The issue here is the similarity of our Lord’s use of metaphors common to all, but expressing two similar but different ideas.

                 In verses 44-46 The Lord again uses common objects to relate two similar but different truths. Last time we studied the meaning of the fifth parable of the Kingdom of Heaven being like a Treasure in the field of which we determined to be the Elect of God – those who Christ sought, found, and died for.

                In the parable we are to consider today, the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, we shall undertake to show the difference in meaning between it and the Treasure, which begs the question, if the meaning is that the Treasure and the Pearl are identical, how is it possible for two things to be identical and yet not be the same? We may find an answer in basic biology, for example, consider identical twins. Physically, they are the same, at least in the eyes of the beholder. They appear identical in every way: Hair, eyes, shapes, and even in many cases, thoughts. Fortunately, God graciously gifts the parents [at least the mother] to know the difference when no one else can. However, the fact is that while they appear to be identical in every way, they are not. Each twin has its own set of fingerprints. There has never been, to my very limited medical knowledge, anyone who has the same fingerprints as another — Not to mention that each twin has an individual soul. Though twins may be externally identical, except in fingerprints, they may be and probably are quite different in personality and in their spirituality. The point is that two things can indeed appear to be identical when in fact they are not!

                So, while some of the parables of Matthew thirteen appear to be identical in every way, as in the case of the Treasure in the field and the Pearl of Great Price, they are not! Each parable the Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price represent something very different. Let’s break down verses 45 and 46 and see if we can come to some consensus on the difference between them and why they both express a wonderful truth, the truth they express is not identical. .

                Jesus begins his explanation with, Again…Allow me to get technical once more — I do so to help us get a grip on our Lord’s teaching in these verses].What is the meaning of “Again?” According to the rules of grammar, the use of the word “again” is what is called an Oscillatory expression, which means “to swing back and forth like a pendulum – to move between two opposing beliefs, feelings or theories.” In His parables he uses this language mechanic – an “oscillatory expression” ‘Again’ to move between two things that look alike but present two different truths.

                “Again…” means that Jesus is being redundant if he meant for the Treasure in the Field and the Pearl of Great Price to be identical. I do not find him redundant except when wants to amplify and impact his words so that there can be no misunderstanding as to what he means for example, in John 3:3 he says to Nicodemus, Verily , verily , I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John, by the way uses the emphatic verily, verily more times than the other three gospel accounts put together. Verily, verily, or “listen carefully to what I’m saying…be sure you understand my words fully.”

                In His Sermon on the Mount he is repetitive in beginning, but not redundant in his meaning. Nine times He proclaims: Matthew 5:3-11Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

                Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

                The similarity between the Treasure and the Pearl is admittedly obvious: A man sought, found, and paid a great price for what he has obtained. One found a Treasure and “bought the field” in which he found it. The other, also “found” a treasure, a pearl of great price and he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. One thing is plain. The two men in these parables are meant to be our Lord Jesus Christ.

                Both “men” were seeking something and both men found what they were looking for – both then “bought” their find and proved to be willing to pay any price – to give all they had to possess it. The Treasure was found in the earth while the Pearl came from the sea.

                Last time in our study of the Treasure we explained that the treasure in the field was not Christ himself nor was it the Kingdom itself nor was it the Gospel nor was it the Church – Christ is not seeking the gospel he is the gospel! It was not the church for the church is neither hidden or buried waiting to be found, the church is being openly built! With the exception of building a church in a country hostile to the gospel our Lord’s churches are quite visible! The Christ is not hidden – the gospel is not – the church is not hidden – the kingdom of God is not hidden! We did say that the Elect are hidden (safe) in the sense that 1. No one but our Lord knows who they are, and 2. The Elect are hidden (safe) from the jaws of the “roaring lion” that goes to and fro about the earth seeking an Elect person to devour.

                It is also clear that while it was a “man” in both cases, it was not to mean just any man — A sinful man does not seek the kingdom of heaven. The King of the Kingdom seeks the sinful man. Therefore it is Christ seeking a Treasure which is in parabolic form the treasure in the field, which represents the Elect of God – chosen – and ordained to eternal life. No sinful man wants to seek the gospel; indeed no man can seek it until the Spirit of God works regeneration in his heart and opens the man’s eyes of understanding. No sinful man seeks refuge and comfort from a church – he looks everywhere else but not in the Church.  Too many commentators give too much credit to a man “dead in trespasses and sin” to make these decisions. Therefore, it is plain to me that the treasure portrays a theological example of the sovereign purpose of God – UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION – Man does not seek God and holiness; God and holiness seeks man.

                Neither the uncovered treasure nor the Pearl of Great Price was searching for anyone or anything. One was hidden in the earth; One was snatched from the depths of the sea. They were found by the purposeful seeking of the Lord Jesus Christ – who came to seek and to save that which was lost. All who are “lost” are or will be, found. As we continue to consider our text this morning, I ask you to remember that Jesus came to seek and to save…THE LOST!

This leads us to…

                The Pearl of Great Price. I have tried to establish that both the “Man” in the field and the “Merchant man” is one and the same person – Jesus Christ! It is also evident to me that the Treasure and the Pearl represent things of great value. In the case of the Treasure, I take full responsibility to say the Treasure represents the corporate Election, but who or what does the Pearl represent? …the Merchant man seeks goodly pearls. Pearls are in the plural thus, representing more than one, meaning many. I choose to interpret the Pearls to all be those who have been already chosen and ordained to eternal life [therein lies the value – what is said of Christ may also be said of his elect—“chosen of God and precious” If I am correct in my interpretation then the goodly pearls are individual pearls that make up the Elect. They are goodly because they are of God’s own choosing – God did not choose them because they were goodly and good pearls; They are good and goodly  because God has chosen them to be goodly and godly.

                Notice also that he found ONE pearl of great price, not to mean that this one pearl was of greater price than the goodly pearls mentioned earlier, but there is  something about the reference to this pearl as being of GREAT VALUE.

                While the Treasure represents the great number of all elect persons, the Pearl of Great Price [the great price being the cost of its redemption – the sacrifice of Jesus Christ] represents the importance Jesus places on just one elect soul.

                The pearl is a perfect example of a single soul. What is more precious, more valuable than the pearl? What is more precious, more valuable than a single soul? Is there found in Scripture, other than when referring to Jesus Christ, any thing is more valuable than ONE SINGLE SOUL! Theologically, The Treasure represents all the Elect corporately and points to UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION– The Body of Christ; this PEARL OF GREAT PRICE represents PARTICULAR REDEMPTION or the value and the selection of even one of the elect.  

                We view the Elect as a body of Believers [the Treasure] – we must see the Pearl of Great Price as one single soul, and its worth and its importance to our Lord. Christ not only came and died for the great body of the Elect, but for each and every soul of each and every elect one in that great body.

                Beloved, if you have a personal relationship with Christ, thank God you are in good company and have become a ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!

                Of all Christ has chosen He will lose none! His Treasured Elect are secure in Christ; the Pearl of Great Price is also complete in Christ, not one soul lost; not one soul left behind; not one soul forgotten.  

                Amen