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(1)
Thom 76:1
(2) Matt 13:45-46
(1) Thom 76:1
76 Jesus said, The Father's imperial rule is like a merchant who had a supply of merchandise and then found a pearl. 2That merchant was prudent; he sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself. 3"So also with you, seek his treasure that is unfailing, that is enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys." [Complete Gospels]
(2) Matt 13:45-46
13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 13:46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
John Dominic Crossan
Item: 98
Stratum: I (30-60 CE)
Attestation: Double
Historicity: +
Common Sayings Tradition: No
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Color Thom 76:1-2 Thom 76:1-2 Matt 13:45-46 Matt 13:45-46 The brief commentary in The Five Gospels (p. 197) concludes with these observations:
The pearl is a common symbol for something precious, sometiems for a special kind of wisdom: "Don't throw your pearls to dogs, or they'll trample them underfoot." (Matt 7:6). In this parable, the merchant invests all he has in the one pearl. What good will that do him? None at all, unless the pearl stands for something more valuable than all his capital. That is a provocative way of illusrtating the challenge of God's imperial rule.
This poem originated as a contribution to the HODOS online community by Gene Stecher. It is published with Gene's consent but he explicitly retains full rights as the creative author. You welcome to use it for personal study and worship, but it should not be published in any other form without the author's prior consent. Index to Gene Stecher's poems
The surprise within and
the systematic search among.
The subject of the surprise,
the subject of the searching.
Pearls and treasures come
from either direction. Better
stay alert for the knock!
or maybe we're talking about JOY!
The joy of the surprise,
the joy of priceless discovery,
the joy of paying the full value.
A pearl in a field? Hard to find!
After you rush to buy the field,
the joy of walking barefoot
through lucious HJ grass.
But you have to pay the full value, everything you have!