Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

(Slide-Off)

Introduction

Good morning again!

Thank you Shauna for reading this morning.

Nex

Children (or adults ) if you would like to read the scriptures during our main service let me know.

How Great is our God!

I was reading this week that the “observable universe” is estimated to be about 46.5 billion light-years

Have you asked yourself, what is a light year?

The distance light travels in one year, which is nearly 6 million million miles

So the observable universe is 46.5 * billion * 6 * Million * Million miles

Or a really, really big number!

That is what our God created, on the fourth day.

Or at least what we know so far about what He created.

How small are our Brains!

How big is the average human Brian?

Put your two fists together (big hands)

The average length of a human Brian is about 15 cm.

So, Is it any surprise God uses pictures throughout the Bible.

Think about that.

We Worship a God who created at least 46.5 * billion * 6 * Million * Million miles.

We are trying to understand God in our 15 cm brains.

The one who created 46.5 * 1000 * 6 * Million * Million, into 15 cm

No matter how many letters you have after your name!

Parables are verbal Pictures

(Emphasis) So, is it any surprise that God uses pictures and parables throughout the Bible to try and covey truth about himself and his kingdom to us, into a 15cm space!

To covey spiritual truth

Parables are verbal pictures.

How great is our God!

How small are our brains.

(Slide)

The Pearl of Great Price

The Pearl of great Price

Today we will spend some time looking at a picture Jesus paints to tell us about the Kingdom of God.

We read it earlier.

It is on the screen.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like.

This is an extended metaphor.

This Parable follows the Parable on the Hidden Treasure.

It makes the same spiritual point but in a different way, hence we read the word “Again”.

Whenever we see “Again” or “Therefore”, we should also looks at what is “Before” it.

Do you have the book, Christ Object Lessons.

The chapter on this Parable can be found on Page 115.

That is your homework.

Three Points, The Pearl, The Merchant, The Worth.

The Pearl

(NKJV)

In our natural, sinful state, the Kingdom of God is hidden from us, we are in spiritual darkness.

We call this one of the results of Total depravity.

Prevenient grace (or enabling grace).

The grace before the grace.

Why a Pearl?

Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

Jewish accounts of finding expensive pearls typically emphasized the finder’s piety; thus a Jewish tailor pays an outrageous price for a fish because he needs it to keep the sabbath, yet finds in it a pearl that supplies his needs the rest of his life (Pes.

Rab.

23:6).

Jesus, however, emphasizes only the value of the pearl and the joy of finding it (Jeremias 1972:199).

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

In ancient Rabbinic literature there is a well known parable that tells of a tailor who pays an outrageous price for a fish because he needs it to keep the sabbath, yet finds in it a pearl that supplies his needs the rest of his life (Pes.

Rab.

23:6).

What is the focus of such a story?

It is so subtle but it is such a misrepresentation of God and God’s favour.

The focus is all on the piety of the person buying the fish and his reward for that Piety.

We do not know if that Rabbinic parable was known at the time of Jesus.

But that kind of teaching was!

It is subtle and dangerous because it places the emphasis in the wrong place.

It is so subtle but it is such a misrepresentation of God and God’s favour.

Do we have the same subtle problem today in our thinking?

Subtle teaching that

After all did not this man have to sell all he had to buy the kingdom of God

Yes we have saved by grace but we have to keep it by our works or obedience.

After all did not this man have to sell all he had to buy the kingdom of God

After all did not this man have to sell all he had to buy the kingdom of God.

Is that what this Parable is Teaching?

hmmm

Jesus is the Pearl

The focus here is the cost and the piety of the person buying the fish.

We do not know if that Rabbinic parable wasd known at the time of Jesus

But the kind of teaching was!

Can we all agree that the focus of this Parable is the Pearl?

It is what is being earnestly sought by the merchant.

What is the Pearl?

And in that context the Merchant who seeks beautiful Pearls.

Mrs White writes (on your bulletin), “The blessings of redeeming love our Saviour compared to a precious pearl.

Christ Himself is the pearl of great price.

In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead.

He is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of His person.”

What is the Pearl?

Jesus is the King

The Kingdom of Heaven or The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God

The Pearl is Redeeming Love.

The Kingdom of God is all about Redeeming Love.

Redeeming love that was ultimately shown in Christ at the cross.

Where Jesus is, that is the Kingdom of God.

It is about the Person of Jesus more than the Place

Jesus is our inheritance.

The actual place is secondary.

It is not so much a place as person.

Where Jesus makes his home, that is the Kingdom of God.