The following comes from a sermon excerpt from Benjamin Keach (1640-1704) on Matthew 13:45-16 which says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
Consider Keach’s words below:
Whatsoever Christ is made to believers, that He is made to every one that finds him. Two things such should consider, that would find and know how precious a pearl Christ is.
1.What He is in Himself.
2.What He is and will be to Him that finds Him.
1. Whatsoever a great and inconceivable portion is to a man in a natural sense, that is Christ, and much more to him that finds Him in a spiritual sense; for He is our portion and inheritance of our souls for ever, Psal. 16:5, 33:22, Lam. 3:24.
2. What honour and external happiness attends a virgin that is espoused and married to a mighty and excellent prince, what peace, what glory, what satisfaction doth she meet withal? That and much more is Christ to every one that finds Him in a spiritual sense, for every believer is espoused and married to Him, Rom. 7:4, 2 Cor. 11:2.
3. What bread is to a hungry person, or drink to a thirsty person in a natural way, that is Christ, the Pearl of great price, to every soul that finds in a spiritual way; He is the Bread of God, the Bread of life, and Water of life to the soul.
4. What clothing is to a naked man, to the body, that is Christ to the soul that finds Him: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,” Rom. 13:14. We put Him on as a garment in justification, and in sanctification also.
5. What rest is to a weary person in a natural way, that is Christ, and much more, (for His rest is glorious,) in a spiritual way, “Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Matt. 11:28.
6. What peace is to a troubled and wounded conscience, that is Christ to him that finds Him; He gives present quiet, and everlasting peace to the soul that hath Him, and knows he hath Him.
7. What sight is to one that was born blind, that is Christ in a spiritual way to every soul that finds Him.
8. What liberty is to one who has been in bonds, (in prison, in captivity, or slavery) in a natural way, that is Christ and much more in a spiritual way to him that finds Him: “If the Son make you free, then are you free indeed,” John 8:36.
9. What millions of gold and silver is to a poor man, not worth a groat in respect of the things of this world, money answering all things; that and much more is Christ to that man that finds Him in a spiritual sense.
10. What abundance of corn is to a nation in time of famine, (when its inhabitants were forced to feed on husks) that is Christ and much more to a hungry soul that finds Him, who (like the Prodigal) feed on husks which the swine did eat.
11. What a pardon is to a condemned rebel just ready to be executed, that is Christ in a spiritual sense to a condemned sinner when he finds Him, who was under the fearful sentence of divine vengeance.
12. What ease and a perfect cure is to a man tormented with intolerable pain, (whether of the stone, gont, or what is worse,) that is Christ to a tormented despairing soul, that finds Him: or what a healing and infallible balm, is to a man mortally wounded, that is Christ to a wounded sinner that finds Him.
13. In a word, what it is to be perfectly delivered from whatsoever is evil, either here in this world, or hereafter in the world to come, that is and will Christ be to every one that finds Him.
14. And what it is to be perfectly possessed with whatsoever is truly, really, and spiritually good; that is or will Christ be to every one that finds Him.
Secondly, from hence I infer, that that person that seeks not the pearl of great price, is a notorious fool, or out of his wits; who but a fool or a mad-man would neglect seeking of such a pearl?
Thirdly, how will sinners lament their folly in seeking other things more than Christ, nay utterly neglect the seeking of Him.
Fourthly, I infer, that such who have got Christ, or have found this pearl, are the most happy people in the world.
Benjamin Keach, An Exposition of the Parables and Express Similitudes of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (London: Aylott and Co., 1858), 201–202.
