What does Matthew 13:45 Mean?

Study Notes

pearls
The true Church, "one body" formed by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:12 ; 1 Corinthians 12:13 . As Israel is the hid treasure, so the Church is the pearl of great cost. Covering the same period of time as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the Church; Romans 16:25 ; Romans 16:26 ; Ephesians 3:3-10 ; Ephesians 5:32 . Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol:

(1) A pearl is one, a perfect symbol of unity 1 Corinthians 10:17 ; 1 Corinthians 12:12 ; 1 Corinthians 12:13 ; Ephesians 4:4-6 .

(2) a pearl is formed by the accretion, and that not mechanically, but vitally, through a living one, as Christ adds to the Church Acts 2:41 ; Acts 2:47 ; Acts 5:14 ; Acts 11:24 ; Ephesians 2:21 ; Colossians 2:19 .

(3) Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for presentation to Himself Ephesians 5:25-27 . The kingdom is not the Church, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfilment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body 1 Corinthians 12:12 ; 1 Corinthians 12:13 compose the true Church, the pearl.

kingdom .

Context Summary

The parables of treasure and pearl are a pair. They describe the various ways we come to know God's truth. Some happen on it suddenly. They are pursuing the ordinary vocations of life when suddenly the ploughshare rings against a box of buried treasure. The husbandman is suddenly rich beyond his dreams.

But in other cases religion is the result of diligent search. Man cannot be happy without God. He goes from philosophy to philosophy, from system to system, turning over the pearls on the dealer's trays; but suddenly his listlessness is transformed to eagerness as he discovers the Christ. Here is the pearl of great price. He has sought and found, and is prepared to renounce all. See Philippians 3:7. Is there not, too, a deep sense in which Jesus has renounced all, that He might purchase for Himself the Church, His bride? He is the merchant, and we the pearl, though only in His eyes-the eyes of love-could we be held worthy of all that He surrendered to win us! [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 13

¹  The parable of the sower and the seed;
¹⁸  the explanation of it
²⁴  The parable of the weeds;
³¹  of the mustard seed;
³³  of the leaven;
³⁶  explanation of the parable of the weeds
⁴⁴  The parable of the hidden treasure;
⁴⁵  of the pearl;
⁴⁷  of the drag net cast into the sea
⁵³  Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country