By: Obed Pineda
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2)
One of the greatest thrills that a person can experience is when they discover that which was hidden. Whether decoding the meaning of a hidden message or unearthing a lost treasure, the great joy and excitement lived in that moment, exhibits the sense of accomplishment a person feels from having done so. An argument could be made that this sentiment of pride is often more valuable than the “treasure” itself. Indeed, a message decoded may no longer have an impact if it is outdated, but the reality that for a long period of time it could not be deciphered by anyone else is what makes it so special. Truthfully, it cannot be denied that this joy that springs from finding that which is hidden confirms that the Creator made mankind as curious beings. The sense of accomplishment that a person experience is because the discovery serves as proof to that person that they were able to transition their knowledge into wisdom. Remember that the principal difference between being intelligent and being wise is the correct application of knowledge. One may know about a certain subject, but not be able to put it into practice. Therefore, he who knows about the subject and is capable of applying it properly, this person is wise. Yet, one must not ignore that one leads to the other. A person must first be able to gain knowledge before he can apply it. Thus, this reveals God’s purpose for enabling man with curiosity. To further prove this, observe that “curious” is defined as being “marked by the desire to investigate and learn” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Therefore, it is our curiosity that opens the path that leads to the expansion of our intellect, but it is also the vehicle that allows that knowledge to develop into wisdom. Hence, the reason Holy Writ declares “the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2b, emphasis added). It also provides an explanation as to why the Master chose to speak in parables as His method of teaching. By doing so, Christ was training His disciples how to properly think and discern Scripture on their own. He rightfully understood that the religious leaders of His time had lulled the people into complacency by taking away their ability to freely think. This they accomplished by neglecting to teach them the Scriptures and through intimidation by strictly forcing upon them the yoke of their traditions. Thus, when Jesus began to question their erred interpretation of Scriptures, He exposed their hypocrisy and cruelty toward the people but also admonished the people for having allowed it to happen. The Redeemer exhorted His compatriots to remember the words of King Solomon who penned, “if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3-5, emphasis added). Once more, the Bible makes an emphatic statement that wisdom is to be diligently sought by man. This marvelous concept is echoed by the Master in regards to His church for verily He promulgated, “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46, emphasis added). When this parable is studied, it is typical to focus more on the significance of the “one pearl of great price” and miss the point the Son of man is making. His primary focus is on the merchant seeking for treasured pearls. Let us recall that Christ was seeking to awaken the dull minds of the people of His time. The simile used by the Master directly links the church with the merchant who is hunting for precious stones. It is valuable to also bring to memory the great confusion that was brought upon by sects such as the Pharisees and the Sadducees who opposed one another on doctrinal issues. With His parable, the Lord urged the lost sheep of Israel to search for the truth themselves. He was unmasking the fruitlessness of putting one’s faith in another man, explaining that “they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:14, emphasis added). In the parable, the merchant was able to find that one pearl of great price because he never stopped seeking, nor was he content with just any beautiful stone. In his journey, he came across numerous beautiful pearls that he had already purchased which, due to his profession as a merchant, he planned to sell. However, the Master tells that “when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:46). First, observe that this proverbial merchant was able to identify the value of this pearl above all the others he had already possessed. Being a merchant, he was well aware of the great value this one pearl had. Therefore, he deemed it wise to sell everything he had to secure this worthy, one of kind gem for himself. Although he indubitably owned a vast amount of beautiful pearls since this was his trade, observe that this one pearl’s value surpassed all of them combined. Secondly, the parable teaches that he sold everything in order to purchase this precious stone. The significance of this is that this merchant did not intend to sell this treasure, but instead keep it. The message conveyed by the Lord here is one and the same with the proverb that instructs “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23, emphasis added). It is wise to acknowledge then what (or rather Who) is the one pearl of great price that is worth a man’s entire livelihood to possess. The Hebrew scribe assists in this endeavor as he proclaims that “by faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26, emphasis added). The apostle Paul, too, echoed Moses’ in counting “all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8, emphasis added). Thus, the lesson of the parable is that by earnestly searching the Scriptures, man will find Jesus for He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a). The questions that must now be answered are do you recognize His worth above all and are you willing to sell all to secure Him in your life?