"The Pearl of Great Price: A Bible Study in Beauty and Endurance"
- John Nolan
- Apr 27
- 19 min read
Updated: May 7
Using natural, relatable items, Jesus often told parables or moral stories to reveal the spiritual truths of God's Kingdom. He spoke of everyday items and events familiar to His audience, such as garments, vineyards, market products like fish and bread, and common events like farming and weddings.
Jesus spoke the parable of 'The Pearl of Great Price' to illustrate an important aspect concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. This wonderful parable holds within it a truth so beautiful and glorious in its revelation that it becomes a heart treasure for all who find it.
The Pearl of Great Price- (A Bible Study in Beauty and Endurance)
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45-46)
A Study in Beauty and Endurance
The journey of life involves many trials and challenges, with both victories and failures. It is filled at times with laughter and sadness. Throughout these seasons, we discover things that are precious to us, whether it be our family and friends, the causes or charities we support, or the faith in God that many of us cherish.
If you are unsure what you cherish in life, imagine someone yelling FIRE! in your home. The thoughts that jump into your mind and what you reach for first will probably reveal what you hold dear in your heart.
What does Jesus Christ mean to you personally? Is He so precious to you that you would sell everything to follow Him? That is the type of commitment that Jesus required of His disciples and probably one of the main reasons why it was said that the early church turned the world upside down.
(Luke 14:25-33) Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple... So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
The Pearl
How Are Pearls Formed Inside an Oyster?
The formation of a natural pearl inside an oyster begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell and irritates the mantle. It's similar to the oyster getting a splinter under its skin. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant by encapsulating the interloper, thereby protecting itself. The mantle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance used to create the shell, and these concentric layers of nacre will eventually form a pearl.
"The oyster endured irritation and pain, but from that suffering emerged something beautiful." Here we find a life principle: The most precious things in life are often the most costly, the cost may be financial, sometimes emotional, or perhaps it might cost you your whole life.
The Merchant
The merchant in the above parable was probably an international trader, moving aboard ships or trading caravans from country to country, trading precious stones and pearls. He was never sure when he might discover something remarkable, whether in a small village weekly market or a major city bazaar. However, his search was relentless, for this was how he made his living.
Finally, the day came when he saw a remarkable find, the greatest pearl he had ever seen, but the cost was also astronomical. As a merchant, he would ordinarily have carried around considerable amounts of money to purchase stock, however, the price of this pearl was beyond his resources. He had to arrange to liquidate all that he owned so that he might acquire this beautiful pearl; such was the preciousness of this wonderful discovery in his eyes.
Other buyers may have seen the pearl without realizing its significance or value. To them, it was just another item in the marketplace. Their eyes may have passed over it briefly and then moved on to other things. Perhaps they were distracted by other thoughts, thinking about what they would have for lunch or the cost of fixing a leaking roof. Their chance to acquire it was there, but then it was gone, forever.
(Matthew 13:16-17)
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it
Word Study
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45-46)
"like a merchant"
Merchant (Greek)
{emporos}: a passenger on shipboard, a merchant
Usage: a merchant, trader; one on a journey.
In your life's journey, have you found something worthy of giving your life for?
"like a merchant seeking"
Seek (Greek)
{zéteó}: to seek
Usage: I seek, search for, desire, require, demand.
(Matthew 7:7)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
"seeking beautiful pearls"
Beautiful (Greek)
{kalos}: beautiful, good
Usage: beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.
Some kinds of beauty surpass what is merely seen by the eyes and can only be fully appreciated by the heart.
"found one pearl of great price"
Great Price (Greek)
{polutimos}: very precious
Usage: of great value, very costly, very precious
It is important to consider the great cost of our salvation and cherish the grace delivered to us as believers in Christ.
"went and sold all that he had"
Went (Greek)
{aperchomai}: to go away, go after
Usage: I come or go away from, depart, return, arrive, go after, follow.
The Merchant departed, considered, weighed the cost, and sold everything he owned.
The Cost To God the Father
Sending His only beloved Son into the earth to die for the sins of mankind cost God the Father far more than we could ever understand. Perhaps only a man like Abraham, who was willing to lose his only son, Isaac, to see God's kingdom be established on the earth, could understand even a small measure of the loss God must have felt.
Every parent who has lost a child would do almost anything in their power to have them back. It is this parental love that God created within us as human beings that empowers fathers and mothers to make tremendous sacrifices for their families. God sent His only Son to die for you and me, that we might join His family and become sons of God.
(John 3:16)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(Philippians 2:5-9)
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Nobody understands or esteems Christ's sufferings more than our Father in Heaven; it is for this very reason that He has made the discovery of the pearl of great price difficult and extremely costly.
(Matthew 7:6)
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
The Cost and Benefits To The 12 Apostles
The Cost
The twelve disciples of Christ, who ultimately became known as the Apostles (Judas being replaced by Matthias), were selected by Jesus after a full night in prayer. Enlisted from among common working professions of the day, some were simple fishermen or public servants. Most of the disciples were uneducated and untrained in theology or public speaking.
These men, who walked with Jesus daily through His 3 1/2 years of ministry, hearing His teaching, seeing the miracles, were chosen to bear witness to the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Seemingly unremarkable men whom God used powerfully throughout their lives and faithfully bore witness to the truths of the gospel. It is traditionally thought that most, if not all, of the Apostles died as martyrs.
(Matthew 10:2-4)
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him
(Acts 4:13)
Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The Benefits
(Matthew 19:27-30)
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?”
So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
(Revelation 21:14)
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
(Revelation 21:21)
The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
The foundations of the New Jerusalem City wall and its pearly gates will forever grant access to the Father's house in the Kingdom of God. The Apostles who took up their crosses and followed Jesus, their Messiah, unto death, are forever honored in the Kingdom of God. We are also called to carry the same cross and to share in the same glory as our Lord.
(1 Peter 1:7)
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Living For Jesus Christ
What is precious to you? What would you give your life for? Or perhaps an even more searching question is: What would you live your life for?
Over the years, I have realized a great difference between what people would give their lives for and what they would be prepared to live for. One involves a single moment of great sacrifice for something or someone, whereas the other may require a lifetime of sacrifice and many such moments of discipline and self-sacrifice.
*Jesus Christ's life involved both forms of sacrifice. He lived a perfect, sinless life and then made the most extravagant sacrifice in history.
The Pearl Being Formed
Jesus' Approach To The Cross
Even before Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was subjected to terrible torture and suffering by the Roman Garrison. He was beaten, struck with rods, spat upon, mocked, scourged by whipping, and had thorns pressed into His scalp. He was then forced to carry the huge wooden beam that He would be nailed to through the streets of Jerusalem. Finally crucified between two criminals on the hill of Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull.
The King of the Jews Crucified
(John 19:17-19)
And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS
Jesus Forgiveness on The Cross
(Luke 23:34)
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots
Jesus Saving a Criminal On The Cross
(Luke 23:42-43)
Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Jesus Protecting and Providing On The Cross
(John 19:26-27)
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour, that disciple took her to his own home
The 3 Hours of Darkness On The Cross
(Matthew 27:45-50)
Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately, one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.
I heard it said recently that of all the suffering that Jesus had endured throughout this horrific ordeal, it was the moment that His Heavenly Father turned away from Him that caused Him to cry out the most. The complete intimacy that Jesus had always known as being part of the Godhead was no longer there, as He bore the sin of all mankind.
The Jewish day begins at sunrise, therefore, the sixth hour is usually around midday, and the ninth hour is around 3 PM. For those 3 hours, the Bible records that the entire land of Israel was covered in thick darkness. It was certainly not a solar eclipse, as historically total solar eclipses last from only around 10 seconds for the shortest, and about 7.5 minutes for the longest.
Those 3 hours of darkness may have been the most agonizing for Jesus. His vicarious (in the place of others and for the benefit of others) suffering for mankind didn't merely end with His physical body, the Holy One of God, perfect, sinless, and pure, also willingly became sin and a curse for us as He hung there. The agonizing experience that Christ endured was like a refining fire and must have altered our Lord forever.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him
(Galatians 3:13)
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)
This beautiful passage in the Old Testament offers prophetic insight into God's redemptive plan being fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
(Book of Isaiah Chapter 53: 4-6)
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
*Jesus Christ became the Pearl of Great Price, formed through willing, yet undeserved suffering and anguish in the place of mankind whom He loves. The perfect gift of God came down from above, the Lamb of God, forever proving God's goodness toward men in giving His most precious Son for us all.
The Pearl of Great Price- The Glorified Christ
Perhaps the suffering that Jesus endured was the reason why John the Apostle describes the glorified Christ like this:
(Revelation 1:12-18) Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death
The Apostle John had now become an old man. He was commonly called John the Elder by those to whom He ministered. John had been exiled to the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea during the persecution of the Christians by the Roman Emperor Domitian. John, known as 'the disciple that Jesus loved', was often given the best seat beside Jesus when they ate at the table. John was also the disciple who leaned on Jesus' breast and asked Him who the betrayer would be at the Last Supper.
This close friendship between John and our Lord gave him insights into the beautiful heart of our Savior, and ultimately, John was the apostle who revealed in the scriptures that "God is Love"(1 John 4:8).
Church tradition tells us that the Apostle John was the last of the 12 disciples left alive after his closest brothers in Christ had all been martyred for their faith. It has been surmised that Jesus' revelation to John on Patmos fulfilled the words spoken by our Lord on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after He made His disciples breakfast after His resurrection.
(John 21:22-23)
Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
5 Obstacles In Achieving The Pearl Of Great Price
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:25)
1) Not Counting The Cost
(Luke 14:28-30) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’
2) The Distractions Of The World
(Mark 4:19)
and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful
3) The Desires Of The Flesh
(James 4:3)
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures
4) Failure To Humble Ourselves From Pride
(James 4:6-8)
But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says:
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded
(James 4:10)
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up
5) The Rich Young Ruler- Not willing to risk it
(Matthew 19:21-22)
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions
There is no doubt that Jesus' requirements for following Him were extremely costly, and many today, as they were in the past, are unwilling to pay the price. They believe that the freedom to continue living as they are in the world now is a better choice than gambling everything for the possibility of eternal life later. Following Christ will always require a step of faith, but for those who have chosen it, the rewards both now and in eternity are worth it. However, those unwilling to give up everything they own to follow Christ will never know the heavenly glories of being intimately united with the Pearl of Great Price.
(Acts 13:46)
Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
(Philippians 3:7-8)
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
The Kingdom That Awaits Us
The Prophet Daniel's Revelation
The glorious Kingdom of God that would never pass away was prophesied through Daniel the Prophet. A kingdom that would surpass every other kingdom in history, both in its glory and its longevity. A kingdom of eternal peace and joy, created for those who would become children of God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. A kingdom where the king is Lord over all the kings of the world, but simultaneously is a loving and caring Father to all His subjects.
(Daniel 7:13-14) “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
I know many of us are looking forward to enjoying the blessings of our Heavenly Father's house and the fruits of our labors here on Earth! I also believe that all we have gone through in Christ's service will ultimately prove worthwhile.
Taking Up Our Cross and Following Christ
(Romans 5:7-8)
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Matthew 10:37-39)
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
(Philippians 1:21)
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
(1 Corinthians 15:31)
I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
(Philippians 3:10-11)
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead
(Colossians 2:11-14)
In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross
(Romans 5:3-5)
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
(Hebrews 5:7-9)
who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
(Ephesians 2:19-22)
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Keys To Finding The Pearl Of Great Price Yourself
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45-46)
Like the merchant in the parable, we must be clear and decisive about what we seek in life and how far we are willing to go to achieve our goal. For the merchant, his search was more than just a weekend pastime or hobby, it was an all-consuming passion. His purpose was to find the Pearl of Great Price, and he was devoted fully to this aim. He had already counted the cost emotionally and financially, so when his opportunity finally emerged, he acted resolutely.
Gaining the Pearl of Great Price is achievable for each of us; however, just as its worth is beyond worldly value, so is its cost to us individually. For those of us who, like the merchant, are dedicated to this cause, here are 5 keys to help you daily in your pursuit.
1) Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30)
2) Delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4)
3) Become as a little child in your heart and see its value continue to grow joyfully in your eyes (Matthew 18:3)
4) Believe in the eternal value of that which you seek (Hebrews 12:2)
5) Trust in the Lord and His guidance fully (Proverbs 3:5-6)
The Pearl Of Great Price: Conclusion
Our Savior Jesus Christ forged the way by His example, enduring and overcoming the agonies of the cross and through them becoming the Pearl of Great Price. His 12 Apostles followed Him faithfully, sharing His sufferings and eternal glory. Now it is our turn as disciples of Christ to live for Christ and, if need be, to die for Him, and may God grant us the courage and the grace to follow in their footsteps.
God Bless
John Nolan
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