Picture a man walking through a field, just going about his day, when suddenly his foot catches on something. Curious, he kneels down, brushes away the dirt, and his eyes widen—he's uncovered a treasure beyond his wildest imagination. It’s not like anything he has ever seen, and he immediately recognizes just how valuable it is.
You would think he would grab it and run as fast as he could. He doesn’t. Instead, he buries again and rushes home and sells everything he has—his house, his possessions, every last item he owns—they’re all gone! Imagine the reaction of his family and friends. “What in the world are you doing?” they probably ask. “Why are you throwing away everything you’ve worked for, everything you have, for a measly piece of land?” His response is most likely just a smile because he knows something they don’t. To them, it looks crazy. To him, it’s the smartest decision he’s ever made.
Picture a pearl wholesaler, one who has spent his entire career searching for the finest pearls in the world. He knows what makes them valuable, what sets them apart, and he is dedicated to finding the very best. One day, in the midst of searching for better and more valuable pearls, he comes across the ultimate pearl, the one that could possibly be more valuable than anything he has ever seen.
You would think he would want to do whatever is necessary to add it to his inventory to serve as the pièce de résistance of his collection. Instead, he makes a shocking decision. He liquidates his inventory, and then sells all he has in order to buy that one very valuable pearl. His friends and business associates must think he is foolish…
These two stories are parables that Jesus uses to tell his disciples about the nature of the kingdom of heaven.
