Matthew 13:46
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:46
“who, having found one highly valued pearl, having departed, he has sold all – as many as he had, and he purchased it” (CG).
In the previous verse, Jesus began the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. That continues with the words, “who, having found one highly valued pearl.”
A new word, polutimos, highly valued, is seen. It is derived from polus, much or many, and timé, a value. Thus, this signifies something of great value, a large sum of money, great honors, etc. Continuing, Jesus says, “having departed, he has sold all.”
Another new word is seen, pipraskó, to dispose of as merchandise or into slavery. One can see him taking his wares and selling them so that he has enough to make the purchase of this one pearl. He sold, “as many as he had, and he purchased it.”
The pearl merchant was willing to make this complete exchange to obtain this single pearl, knowing its value was more than what he already possessed. He saw the object, he understood its immense value, and he was willing to give up all else to obtain it.
As with the previous parable, this cannot be speaking merely of salvation during this dispensation, as pretty much every commentary states. If it is, the lesson would have to be stretched to the utmost extreme.
It is Jesus who purchased our salvation for us (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23, Ephesians 1:14, etc.), not the other way around. The parable follows the same pattern as noted in the previous parable –
*Another parable He near-set them, saying, “It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens, to a man having sown good seed in his field.”
*Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like treasure having been concealed in the field, which a man, having found, he concealed...
* Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a man, a merchant...
Jesus is the merchant. In this case, a pearl merchant. The pearl is the effect of the gospel, meaning those who live by faith, trusting the Lord alone for their salvation. This is why Paul could say that even Abraham was included in the gospel –
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” Galatians 3:8, 9
It explains why the “gospel” could be preached to Israel even before Jesus completed His work (as in Matthew 4:23, etc.). Jesus was willing to give up all He had to make this purchase –
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
It is through this that He made His purchase. This is just what it says, using the same Greek word, in 1 Corinthians 7:23, “You have been purchased [agorazó] at a price” (NAB).
A point about pearls should be considered. They are taken from shellfish, something deemed unclean under the Law of Moses. The point is that in a world full of unclean individuals, either for being condemned apart from the law or those who are condemned because of the law, God is looking for those of faith.
These comprise the pearl that is precious in God’s eyes. It is not those who are self-boasting and proud of their deeds under the law that God is pleased with. God has set the parameters, and He has confirmed them in His use of metaphor. Be sure to be a person of faith. This is what God is most pleased with.
Life application: As with the previous parable, this analysis bucks against almost all others. The scholar John Gill (1697-1771) seems to have figured this out, but what he penned is otherwise pretty much ignored.
But it is unthinkable to equate what is offered freely to believers with what is stated here. It is Jesus who does the work. It is we who are prized above all in His eyes. For whatever unimaginable reason, the Bible reveals it is so. Even David struggled with this –
“What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4
We cannot do a change-up switcheroo in the subject of these parables without coming to a faulty conclusion about what is being said. Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 13:37 that the Sower is the Son of Man.
Taking these two parables and changing the subject confuses the lessons. Jesus is the reason for Scripture’s presentation. We are the reason Jesus came. Were it not so, He would have no need to depart heaven, giving up all. There would be no point in it.
Instead of trying to earn God’s favor through the incorrectly taught explanation of these parables, stop and consider your value to God when you believe the gospel. How can it be that He would find those of faith so precious? And yet, it is so.
When you feel that you are lacking value, all you need to do is remember what Jesus Christ was willing to do to purchase you back from Satan’s power. Be assured and be reassured that you, because of your faith in Him, are a part of the pearl of great price.
This perfectly describes why the gates of the New Jerusalem are pearls, as noted in Revelation 21:21. They are a reminder of this fact.
Heavenly Father, we cannot imagine what our value is in relation to what Jesus was willing to give up in order to buy us back to You. Whatever it is, may we be people of ongoing faith, accepting that You have done it and so it must be. Thank You for the care and attention that You have lavished upon us. Amen.
