Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
46. Who, when he had found one pearlof great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought itTheone pearl of great price, instead of being found by accident, as inthe former case, is found by one whose business it is to seekfor such, and who finds it just in the way of searching forsuch treasures. But in both cases the surpassing value of thetreasure is alike recognized, and in both all is parted with for it.
The Good and Bad Fish (Mt13:47-50).
The object of this brief parableis the same as that of the Tares and Wheat. But as its details arefewer, so its teaching is less rich and varied.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[See comments on Mt 13:45]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He went and sold ( ). Rather eagerly and vividly told thus, “He has gone off and sold.” The present perfect indicative, the dramatic perfect of vivid picture. Then he bought it. Present perfect, imperfect, aorist tenses together for lively action. is a merchant, one who goes in and out, travels like a drummer.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,” (heuron de huna polutimon margariten) “Then upon finding one very valuable pearl,” one rich in quality and value, made up of many jewels, joined together as baptized believers, in a new covenant “kingdom of heaven” or church fellowship, as one, Joh 17:21; Eph 4:1-5.
2) “Went and sold all that he had,” (apelthon pepraken panta hosa eichen) “He went away and sold all things that he had, held, or possessed,” forfeited his life and soul, 2Co 18:9; 1Pe 2:24; Joh 10:17-18. He bought it on the cross, then revealed it in power on Pentecost, Luk 24:49; Act 2:1-4; Act 2:41-47.
3) “And bought it.” (kai egorasen auton) “And he bought it,” that “pearl of great price,” of great cost, the church, Act 20:28; Eph 5:25-26. He found it, as both the hidden treasure, Mat 13:44, and here as Mat 13:45-46, “The pearl of great price;” He was sold “under sin,” the sin of Judas Iscariot for 30 pieces of silver, and the sins of the whole world, to purchase the church, redeem the fallen universe, Mat 26:15; Mat 27:3; Act 3:21; 1Ti 2:6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
46. And bought it. By the word buy Christ does not mean, that men bring any price, with which they may purchase for themselves the heavenly life; for we know on what condition the Lord invites believers in the book of Isaiah, (Isa 55:1,) Come and buy wine and milk without money and without price. But though the heavenly life, and every thing that belongs to it, is the free gift of God, yet we are said to buy it, when we cheerfully relinquish the desires of the flesh, that nothing may prevent us from obtaining it; as Paul says, that he
reckoned all things to be loss and dung, that he might gain Christ, (Phi 3:8.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
46. Sold all For if religion be worth anything, it is worth everything. If it require a man on conversion to make restitution of thousands of dollars, he obtains salvation cheaply. Bought it The grace of God is not indeed bought with money. The faith of the heart is what alone procures it. But when that faith is in the heart, the heart delights to give for the Gospel To obtain that faith often requires large sacrifices, especially of the fruits and enjoyments of sin. These sacrifices the man who knows the value of the goodly pearl will joyfully make.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Ver. 46. Who when he had found one pearl, &c. ] Of far greater price than that precious adamant that was found about Charles Duke of Burgundy, slain in battle by the Switzers at Nantes, A.D. 1476. This adamant was first sold by a soldier that found it to a priest for a crown; the priest sold it for two crowns; afterwards it was sold for 7000 florins, then for 12,000 ducats, and last of all for 20,000 ducats, and set into the pope’s triple crown, where also it is to be seen to this day. Christ is a commodity far more precious; surely he “is better than rubies,” saith Solomon, “and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto him,” Pro 8:11 ; “No mention shall be made of coral or of pearls; for the price of wisdom” (this essential wisdom of God) “is above rubies,” Job 28:18 . Pearls are bred in shell fishes of a celestial humour or dew: so was Christ by heavenly influence in the Virgin’s womb. Tanti igitur vitreum? Quanti verum margaritum? (Tertullian.) Christ is to be sought and bought with any pains, at any price. We cannot buy this gold too dear. Joseph, the jewel of the world, was far more precious, had the Ishmaelitish merchants known so much, than all the balms and myrrhs they transported. So is Christ, as all will yield that know him. The pearls usually cast out with the flood, and gathered at the ebb, drew Caesar’s affections for the conquest of Britain, as Suetonius tells us. Shall not that unconceivable worth that is in Christ attract our hearts? &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 13:46 . : precious because exceptionally large, well-shaped, and pure; such rare, but met with now and then. : he is taken by surprise, has not as much with him as will purchase it on the spot, sees it is worth his whole stock, agrees to buy and promises to return with the price. , , a perfect with an aorist. Not to be disposed of by saying that the former is an “aoristic” perfect (Burton, 88). points to a momentous step, taken once for all and having lasting effects. A great venture, a risky speculation. The treasure in the field was a sure gain for the finder, but it remained to be seen what the pearl merchant would get for his one pearl. After the sale of his stock the purchase of the one pearl was a matter of course. In the former of these two parables the Kingdom of Heaven appears as the object of a glad though accidental finding of a sure possession; in the latter as the object of systematic quest and venturesome faith . The difference between seekers and finders must not be exaggerated. The pearl merchant was also a finder. No one would set out on a journey to seek one unique pearl (Koetsveld). The spiritual class he represents are seekers after God and wisdom, finders of the Kingdom of God, of a good beyond their hope. Such seekers, however, are on the sure way to find.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 13:46. , one) An incomparable one; that is, the kingdom of heaven itself.[641]
[641] , sold) This is indeed to renounce all things whatsoever thou mayest possess.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
one: Pro 2:4, Isa 33:6, 1Co 3:21-23, Eph 3:8, Col 2:3, 1Jo 5:11, 1Jo 5:12, Rev 21:21
went: Mar 10:28-31, Luk 18:28-30, Act 20:24, Gal 6:14
Reciprocal: Job 28:18 – pearls Psa 40:16 – love Psa 119:127 – I love Pro 23:23 – Buy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:46
Salvation also is something for which a man should seek (chapter 6:33), and he should be just as careful to find the genuine and not some imitation. Like the parable, there are systems made by man that have the appearance of being good, like “simulated pearls,” but upon examination will be found to be false. And there is no reason for anyone to be deceived for the Scriptures will make it very clear as to what the salvation from God is like. When a man finds it he must devote his entire attention to it in order to retain this pearl of great price.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 13:46. One pearl of great price. Christ Himself, not religion; when this pearl becomes ours, we have true religion. The seeker finds and obtains the pearl in its purity. No mention is made of joy in this case, since this is more characteristic of those who make the discovery without seeking. This parable has a historical application to the present age of investigation and discovery. True science seeks goodly pearls, and leads to the discovery of the one pearl of great price. The pride of science is hostile to all truth, hence sometimes the merchant is too well contented with the goodly pearls already found, to look for the one pearl of great price. The two parables refer to two different classes of persons; yet both make a discovery, both strive to make the treasure their own at every cost. The seeker is perhaps the superior character, and obtains the superior treasure. We may hope for a purer Christianity as the result of intense and earnest investigation; yet the whole discourse shows that side by side with this we must expect an intense and earnest search in the interest of Satans kingdom.