Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the pearl of great price)
The kingdom of heaven is like. Christ continues to tell the disciples about the kingdom of heaven that they may understand truth. He continues to educate his disciples that they may know the kingdom, that they may see the kingdom, that they may have the wisdom of heaven within themselves to teach others. For one does not teach what one does not know and Christ wants his disciples to know. Christ wants his disciples to believe. Christ wants his disciples to see. Christ wants his disciples to have wisdom. For they will carry the message of the kingdom. They will be the light to shine forth to men. They will battle the evil in the world and spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
The weeds have already been planted and are growing. The weeds are growing among the good seeds of the kingdom. The weeds are wrapping themselves around the fruit of the kingdom and choking the life from the fruit. But Christ brings life to the seeds. Christ brings nurturing to the good seeds. Christ brings love to the good seed that they may know truth in the kingdom. For the good seed searches for truth. The good seed seeks to know. The good seed desires to possess the kingdom that is buried deep within them. Christ tells another parable about the kingdom. He says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."
The kingdom of heaven is like. The good seed seeks the fine pearls. The good seed seeks the treasure in the field. The good seed seeks the truth. The good seed seeks all that is Christ. The good seed seeks love. The good seed seeks peace. The good seed seeks happiness. The good seed seeks patience. The good seed seeks humility. The good seed seeks the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven. The good seed seeks all that is Christ. The good seed seeks faith. The good seed seeks hope. The good seed seeks justice. The good seed seeks the riches of the kingdom of heaven. What do you seek?
The kingdom of heaven is like. Christ has given us parables to live by today. He has given us comparisons. He has given us a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. We all seek something in this physical world. Some seek wealth. Some seek truth. Some seek knowledge. Some seek understanding. Some seek peace. Some seek love. Some seek those things that would satisfy their inner needs and cravings.
We think that if we just had the good things of life that we would be happy. So, we seek those things that we think will bring us happiness, i.e., more money, fine clothes, beauty, physical prowess, marketable talents, a loving mate, the typical family, power, influence, etc. All these things we seek to fulfill our inner needs that we believe will satisfy us. So, in many ways we too are like merchants seeking fine pearls. When we find our desired worldly pearls we sell everything to own it. We sell ourselves to own that which we seek, be it a well paid position, wealth, power, influence. All the things that our hearts desire, we sell ourselves to them that we may own them.
Yet these things are worldly and satisfy only temporarily. They are like the mist that evaporates when the sun comes out. Wealth and money buy things but do not buy permanence. Power and influence are of this world and last as long as we are in it. All these things are here today and gone tomorrow. Yet these are the things that we seek to fill our inner needs. The kingdom of heaven is like. What pearls do you seek? Do you seek the pearls of the kingdom or do you seek the pearls of the world? Do you give all to own the pearls of the world or would you sell all to own the pearls of the kingdom? Which do you value?
The kingdom of heaven is like. Christ continues to tell the disciples about the kingdom of heaven that they may understand truth. He continues to educate his disciples that they may know the kingdom, that they may see the kingdom, that they may have the wisdom of heaven within themselves to teach others. For one does not teach what one does not know and Christ wants his disciples to know. Christ wants his disciples to believe. Christ wants his disciples to see. Christ wants his disciples to have wisdom. For they will carry the message of the kingdom. They will be the light to shine forth to men. They will battle the evil in the world and spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
The weeds have already been planted and are growing. The weeds are growing among the good seeds of the kingdom. The weeds are wrapping themselves around the fruit of the kingdom and choking the life from the fruit. But Christ brings life to the seeds. Christ brings nurturing to the good seeds. Christ brings love to the good seed that they may know truth in the kingdom. For the good seed searches for truth. The good seed seeks to know. The good seed desires to possess the kingdom that is buried deep within them. Christ tells another parable about the kingdom. He says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."
The kingdom of heaven is like. The good seed seeks the fine pearls. The good seed seeks the treasure in the field. The good seed seeks the truth. The good seed seeks all that is Christ. The good seed seeks love. The good seed seeks peace. The good seed seeks happiness. The good seed seeks patience. The good seed seeks humility. The good seed seeks the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven. The good seed seeks all that is Christ. The good seed seeks faith. The good seed seeks hope. The good seed seeks justice. The good seed seeks the riches of the kingdom of heaven. What do you seek?
The kingdom of heaven is like. Christ has given us parables to live by today. He has given us comparisons. He has given us a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. We all seek something in this physical world. Some seek wealth. Some seek truth. Some seek knowledge. Some seek understanding. Some seek peace. Some seek love. Some seek those things that would satisfy their inner needs and cravings.
We think that if we just had the good things of life that we would be happy. So, we seek those things that we think will bring us happiness, i.e., more money, fine clothes, beauty, physical prowess, marketable talents, a loving mate, the typical family, power, influence, etc. All these things we seek to fulfill our inner needs that we believe will satisfy us. So, in many ways we too are like merchants seeking fine pearls. When we find our desired worldly pearls we sell everything to own it. We sell ourselves to own that which we seek, be it a well paid position, wealth, power, influence. All the things that our hearts desire, we sell ourselves to them that we may own them.
Yet these things are worldly and satisfy only temporarily. They are like the mist that evaporates when the sun comes out. Wealth and money buy things but do not buy permanence. Power and influence are of this world and last as long as we are in it. All these things are here today and gone tomorrow. Yet these are the things that we seek to fill our inner needs. The kingdom of heaven is like. What pearls do you seek? Do you seek the pearls of the kingdom or do you seek the pearls of the world? Do you give all to own the pearls of the world or would you sell all to own the pearls of the kingdom? Which do you value?
