Revelations

Revelations from the Word

A pearl of great price

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price [polutimos], went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:44-46).

Jesus is this man who knows that the Kingdom of God is a hidden treasure (not yet revealed) in the World – the field according to Matthew 13:38. Then he sells all that he has – he gives his life – to buy (redeem) this field which since the fall belongs to Satan (Matthew 4:8-9).

Jesus is also this merchant who searches for beautiful pearls among men, his field which now belongs to Him. Also he has paid a great price to buy these beautiful pearls which belong to Him, one by one (1 Corinthians 6:20). All these beautiful pearls are intended to make up "A pearl of great price", his Bride. It is for that reason that Jesus has returned to his Father's house in order to prepare a place for this Bride who he will come to seek so that she will always be with Him (John 14:2-3).

The Greek word polutimos means 'great value', 'highly honoured'; the Bride is "a pearl" who will be highly honoured, for she will be at the side of her husband, Jesus Christ, to reign on the earth during the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is waiting then to find next to Him a Bride glorious, holy and perfect, that is to say a virtuous wife like the one in Proverbs 31:10-31:

she brings good to her husband all the days of her life,
she works with her hands with joy,
she gets up while it is still dark,
she plants a vineyard and strengthens her arms,
she values all she has,
she reaches out to the afflicted and the destitute,
she does not fear for her family,
she makes for herself clothes of fine linen and purple (royal),
she is clothed with strength and dignity, and she rejoices at the days to come,
she speaks with wisdom, and teaches with kindness,
she watches [tsophim, watchman] over her house,
she is not lazy,
she will be rewarded with fruit for her labours,

This is why the heart of her husband has confidence in her:

he holds a place of authority in the land,
he and his sons call her happy or blessed (like Mary),
he praises her for she surpasses all the other women.

"Let him who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches".