SERMON ON THE BEACH The Valuable Pearls

In these parables Jesus is revealing the mysteries of God, still operating today.
This story of the valuable pearls reveals the mystery of how God works in the church.

Matt 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
This parable is very similar to "the hidden treasure". And, is often misunderstood, as well.
Most people think that the merchant is us and the pearls are Jesus.But with the clues Jesus gave us. He is the merchant.Also, we’re not capable of buying him, therefore.Jesus came looking for the pearls.
An interesting note is that pearls had never been valued by Israel.Or even mentioned in the OT.
But this sermon was taught on the beach in Galilee.Where many Gentiles traded for fine pearls.
So, we see Jesus looking for fine pearls, selling all that he had. So that he could buy them.
Last week we saw that the treasure Jesus found was Israel.At peace with God and flourishing, until they rejected God.So he hid them until he came back to buy the field where the treasure was. (Rev 5)
In this parable, I believe the pearls are the church as God sees it.Already complete and very valuable.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

But why did Jesus choose pearls for the symbol of the church? Why didn’t he use any other jewel?
I believe it’s because the pearl is the only jewel that comes from a living creature and grows out of hurt. A pearl is the response of an oyster, to a grain of sand that causes an injury or irritation. The oyster transforms the rough object of irritation into a smooth, beautiful, desirable and valuable object.

Isn’t that what the Lord came to do for the church.And, in order to accomplish it, he gave all that he had. Yes, Jesus gave up heaven for pain, hunger, thirst, darkness and death. But that is only the half of it. The personal emotional experience of Jesus entering humanity and dying on the cross.Is the other half. He became one with us. With our hurt and shame and sorrow and frustration and heartache.
Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Isa 53:5 and by his wounds we are healed.
Isa 53:11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
God’s heart felt the hurt of our hearts in his longing to heal our hurting souls.
All of us hurt ourselves and we hurt each other, even though we are simply trying to meet our needs.
Yet in ignorance we go right on doing the things that are hurting us, and others, in the first place.
And, if someone tried to help us with a self-righteous attitude.We would have difficulty receiving help. So, in order to help us, God knew that he would have to "get down and dirty" and become what we are.
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Can you see why Jesus chose the oyster to illustrate this act of love, on our behalf? For us, who have caused so much hurt in God’s heart.And yet God’s love still envelops us, layer upon layer until we are formed into a beautiful, shining, lustrous jewel. Can you see why you are the pearl of great value?

The Lord is working out all of the defects in the pearl (the church) so that we can be healed of our hurts and sorrows right here on earth. Presented to God as "A radiant church", "holy and blameless"
Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
The pearls will one-day, become a testimony through all eternity, of the glory and greatness of our God. As he surrendered himself to the effects of sin, for the love of his children.The pearls of great value.