Matthew 13:46

Of great price. That is, because of its transcendent value. In harmony with the primary meaning of this parable, the “pearl of great price” is none other than Jesus Christ, “the chiefest among ten thousand” (S. of Sol. 5:10). With the pearl, it was size, shapeliness, and luster that made it of value. With Jesus, it is perfection of character and the fullness of divine love. The dealer in pearls must have found supreme satisfaction in the possession of that priceless pearl. It was his own. He who finds in Christ the answer to all the longings of his heart, who finds in Him the way of life more perfectly, who finds in Him the goal of life, has found life’s greatest treasure.

Sold all. Although salvation cannot be purchased, nevertheless it costs all that a man has. Like Paul he who truly “finds” Christ will “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,” and be willing to suffer “the loss of all things” in order to “win Christ” (Phil. 3:8). To know Christ is to fill a void in the life that nothing else can supply. To know Him is life eternal (John 17:3).

Bought it. At the price of self, at the price of pride and ambition, at the price of evil habits. Peace with God costs all that a man has, but it is worth infinitely more. Man purchases salvation at the cost of things that, of themselves, have no permanent value anyway, and thus loses nothing worth while in the transaction.