the kingdom. The day of manifestation is coming when the words will resound, `The kingdoms of this world

are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign unto the ages of the ages' (Rev.

11:15). This parable declares that in spite of all opposition God's purpose for Israel and the kingdom will be

fulfilled. This would comfort the hearts of the disciples. They would see how irresistible is the purpose of Him,

Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

Thus has God declared His answer to the evil one. He had hidden his leaven, but the Lord had hidden His

treasure. Soon the day will come when the Lord will remove the stain of sin and the corruption of the enemy:

soon He will come to make up His jewels, and then shall Israel be a glorious diadem in the hand of their God.

Matthew 13:45,46

It will be remembered that in our exposition of the parable of the Hid Treasure we drew attention to the

difference which is made in Scripture between `all Israel' and `the Remnant'. It appears also in the above

parable. Both refer to the people of God's choice - Israel, both are referred to under the figure either of a

treasure or a pearl of great price. The very Jews who were `enemies because of the gospel' were nevertheless

`beloved because of the fathers', but doubly precious in the sight of God has ever been that believing remnant

from Abraham onwards. These are an election from among the elect, and these are dealt with in the parable of

the Pearl:

`Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like unto a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, and, finding one very

precious pearl, departing, he at once sold all things whatsoever he had and bought it' (Matt. 13:45,46

Author's translation).

Let us briefly consider the words used in this parable.

Merchant.

The word is emporos in the original, giving us emporium, and occurs five times in the New

Testament, once in the parable, and four times of the merchants connected with Babylon (Rev. 18).

Pearls.  These are mentioned in the New Testament nine times. Two of these occurrences are in the

parable, and five are in the Revelation. The harlot is seen decked with precious stones and pearls, but after her

destruction the new Jerusalem, the holy city, is seen with its foundation of precious stones, and every gate a

pearl. Merchants and pearls are connected with the two cities, and the two systems, the one being the devil's

parody of the other.

The New Testament word for a pearl is margarites. Another word, not found in the New Testament, but

closely resembling the Hebrew word translated `rubies', is the word pinna. The Revised Version margin of Job

28:18 gives `pearls' as an alternative reading. Bochart is very strong in his belief that the Hebrew word peninim

(rubies) should be translated pearls. The price of wisdom (Job 28:18; Prov. 3:15) and the worth of a virtuous

woman (Prov. 31:10) are placed above the value of peninim or Pearls.

Coming now to the meaning of the parable. Right down the ages since the time of Abraham there has been a

faithful remnant. These will form one company at the end, and are spoken of as `holy brethren, partakers of the

heavenly calling', `who died in faith, not having received the promise'. The reader should turn to the following

passages before going further, to learn more concerning this remnant according to the election of grace. Isaiah

1:9; 7:3 (Shear-jashub, the name translated for us in 10:21 by the words `the remnant shall return'); Isaiah

11:11,16; Ezekiel 9:4-6; 14:22; Joel 2:32 (compare the remnant on the day of Pentecost); Micah 2:12; Romans

9:27; 11:5.

The overcomers of the Apocalypse, the 144,000 sealed of the tribes of Israel, the various companies

mentioned in Revelation 12:17; 14:1-5; 15:1-3 and 20:4 all seem to be part of this great company denominated

by our Lord `The Pearl of Great Price'. Pearls are compared with holiness in Matthew 7:6; the partakers of the

heavenly calling are called `holy brethren' (Heb. 3:1), and `saints of the Most High' (Dan. 7:22). Pearls are

compared with wisdom in the Old Testament and Daniel 12:3 tells us that `they that be wise shall shine as the

brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars unto the age and beyond'.

These are the seed of Abraham likened to the stars of heaven, the nation itself being likened to the sand of the

sea shore. These wise ones `understand' and `instruct many' (Dan. 11:33); they are subjected to tribulation

(Dan. 11:35) before they enter their glory. Wherever we see this elect remnant we find tribulation and suffering.