Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

THE PARABLE EXPLAINED

• A merchant is seeking beautiful pearls
• He finds one pearl of great price
• Undeterred by its price, he sells all that he has and buys it!

1) YOU MUST BE SEARCHING

Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH

Acts 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30. And Philip ran thither tohim, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31. And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

• 1) Be a student of the Scriptures
• 2) Apply the Scriptures to the best of your understanding
• 3) Be open to what others may have to share concerning the Scriptures

SEARCHING

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
• Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
• Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2) YOU MUST KNOW A GREAT THING WHEN YOU SEE IT (THE KINGDOM)

Matthew 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,

• The value of the kingdom can be seen when we consider that it is:

A REFUGE FROM THE POWERS OF DARKNESS

• Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

A DOMAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, AND JOY

• Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

AN UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM

• Hebrews 12:25-29 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

3) THE LAW OF SACRIFICE ~ YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP TO GO UP

Matthew 13:46 Went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples,If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

A CHANCE OF A LIFETIME

Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and FOLLOW ME. 22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

THE TRADE OFF

We find an interesting possibility when we read the previous scripture that Jesus was possibly offering this rich young man a place as a disciple when he beckoned him to sell all that he had to follow Him. Yet the man found the price to be too much to pay.

• 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
• Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

TAKE THIS WHOLE WORLD (Cathedral Quartet With Strings)

Take this whole world, but give me Jesus

Take this whole world, but give me Jesus

Take this whole world, but give me Jesus

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back

 (Verse)

Take this whole world (I’m in love with Jesus)

But give me Jesus (He’s my dearest friend)

Take this whole world (Left this world behind me)

But give me Jesus (Gonna serve Him ’till the end)

Take this whole world (I fixed my mind on Heaven)

But give me Jesus (A long, long time ago)


I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back

GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD SERIES

• SERMON ONE: THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED
• SERMON TWO: THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (THE FOUR SOILS)
• SERMON THREE: THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND THE TARES
• SERMON FOUR: THE PARABLE OF THE COSTLY PEARL
• SERMON FIVE: THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
• SERMON SIX: THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON