Matthew 13:45
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, Matthew 13:45
“Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a man, a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls” (CG).
In the previous verse, Jesus gave the parable of the hidden treasure. He next turns to another parable, beginning with, “Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a merchant man.”
The word emporos, merchant, is introduced. It will be seen four more times, all in Revelation 18. It is derived from en, in, and poreuomai, to traverse, go, depart, etc. This would be a wholesale merchant who moves trade. Thus, he is an “in-traveler.” In this case, he is “seeking beautiful pearls.”
Being a merchant, he would be the go-between for those in the pearl diving trade and the jewelers who set the stones. This is a person who understands the nature of pearls. There are various aspects of a pearl that increase or decrease its value.
In today’s world, there are natural and cultured pearls. The natural ones are more valuable. At the time of Jesus, there were cultured pearls, but this was rare and limited to the area of China. Much later, in the late 1800s and on, they were cultured in Japan.
Natural pearls are prized for various aspects, such as size, luster, shape (perfect spheres being the most valuable), and color. Along with that, surface quality is also evaluated. Like anything that is prized among men, pearls have value based on their rarity. This traveling merchant specialized in pearls. He would have obsessed over every nuance, looking for the finest of them all.
Life application: Our search in life, if we appreciate quality, is to improve our surroundings and possess things that are different and special. It is true that many people are steeped in mediocrity, but even then, they will normally choose the better option of something if given the chance.
Looters, for example, are not the upper crust of society. They may live in rat holes and get a monthly welfare check, but when the power goes out and the getting is good, they will grab the 48” TV before a 36” TV. The fact that it has more value, either for showing off in the house or getting more when pawned to buy drugs, makes it the preferred target.
If we consider our place in this walk of life, we demonstrate wisdom if we are willing to search for that of the absolute highest value. But that will come down to what we think is of value.
Baseball fanatics may search for the rarest baseball card. Auto collectors may sell all they have to own a Stutz Bearcat. But these things, despite being rare, are just things. James speaks of priorities in his epistle –
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” James 5:1-3
Baseball cards can get stolen, lost, ruined, etc. Cars, no matter how well tended, corrode and require constant care. But they can be destroyed in a moment during an earthquake, fire, etc. In fact, nothing physical has any true lasting value. Time causes things to change, degrade, die, etc.
The wise person will look around himself at all the great things that have been created and say, “If this is so great, God who created it all must be even greater!” In understanding this and then taking it to heart, that person will begin to admire and cherish the Creator for who He is, even if that is all he knows about Him.
But what if the Creator has provided information about Himself that goes beyond the plainly evident world? And what if there are people who have come along and said things about the Creator that make a similar claim? Is there a way to know which is the true information and which is not?
This is the search of those who truly want to know. “How can I know if this information is truly from God or not?” This is a study that will lead to the most blessed joy of all when the truth is found. Why? Because the Creator is greater than everything else.
No longer will the temporary searches for beauty, uniqueness, or cash value matter. When one truly understands who God is and knows that he possesses God intimately, the things of this world no longer bear the importance we thought they did.
How can we know if the information in the Koran, the Sutri texts, or the Bible is correct? The answer is that it will match what must be true about the Creator. This is where we as humans need to use our thinking caps. But if we truly desire God, we will be willing to consider the things of God.
In the end, if you are willing to accept it, the Bible alone contains information that is truly from God. Don’t trust this commentary at face value, though. Pick it up and read it! There you will find God because there you will find Jesus. And in finding Jesus, you will find what is most valuable of all.
Heavenly Father, how good You are to us. You have not only created a world filled with wonder and delight, but You have extended our grasp to interact with You, reaching into the infinite realm of Your love, goodness, and wisdom. May we be responsible with our time, seeking You all our days. It is a search that is well worth the time we spend. Amen.
