That pearl (the one you sell everything for)

[Godservant]

Dear Christians, fellow Christians,

Peace. Shalom.

Allow me to entertain you with a thought: something about that pearl!

We do sell everything for that pearl, do we not?

As Jesus said "Heaven is like a pearl for which man sells everything to buy it."

But have you ever considered what state you must be in to buy such a pearl?

Does the Shopkeeper hand His pearl over to a man who is filthy on the inside?

Does the Shopkeeper hand His pearl over to a man who is full of contention?

Does the man have to haggle with the Shopkeeper to get His pearl?

Indeed is there any reflection on the pearl itself (a defect), because the man cannot simply ask for _it_ straight away (and pay for it without leaving the shop)?

There are many things we cannot have straight away.

There are many things that take time.

There are many things.

But what will you do for the pearl?

[Jnthn]

To be honest, I think you're completely over egging the pudding here by imposing additional parameters on the parable. The parable is first and foremost about single mindedness, with an undercurrent of persuing somthing of true value.

J

[Godservant]

To be honest, I think you're completely over egging the pudding here by imposing additional parameters on the parable. The parable is first and foremost about single mindedness, with an undercurrent of persuing somthing of true value.

J

Since you have desired to be without a capacity to speak at this point, allow me to speak for you.

"I have read and have not understood that Christ spoke by way of example that the full manifest of the detail of the truth might be realized in the light of His word.

"I have been ready to learn and have proposed a challenge, which is to put simply why I should care more about the Shopkeeper than the pearl.

"It is my expectation when I realize that the Shopkeeper's word is the pearl, that it will dawn on me how much more I could have said about the glaring black hole you created on this subject by simply posing questions."

"I believe I have a right to maturity and that when I am found to have exhausted myself childishly, another will step in to communicate for me what I cannot as is necessitated by God's selective blessing of maturity to others: some others."

"If it should be the case that what is said clashes with my own perception of my cross, then I will determine for myself which is more important, what I would like to say or the message being communicated."

"I will choose the message."

"It will be heard".

[Jnthn]

Since you have desired to be without a capacity to speak at this point, allow me to speak for you.

"I have read and have not understood that Christ spoke by way of example that the full manifest of the detail of the truth might be realized in the light of His word.

"I have been ready to learn and have proposed a challenge, which is to put simply why I should care more about the Shopkeeper than the pearl.

"It is my expectation when I realize that the Shopkeeper's word is the pearl, that it will dawn on me how much more I could have said about the glaring black hole you created on this subject by simply posing questions."

"I believe I have a right to maturity and that when I am found to have exhausted myself childishly, another will step in to communicate for me what I cannot as is necessitated by God's selective blessing of maturity to others: some others."

"If it should be the case that what is said clashes with my own perception of my cross, then I will determine for myself which is more important, what I would like to say or the message being communicated."

"I will choose the message."

"It will be heard".Er, no I do not allow you to speak for me and I definitely do not allow you to attribute a frankly nutty diatribe to me. Furthermore, I do not allow you to co-opt one of Jesus' parables for some inscrutable but quite possibly incorrect purpose.

J

[Godservant]

It seems that in my apparently failing wisdom, I have neglected you on two points:
You do not wish to focus on the message AND
...AND you do not believe it will be heard.

In this, you, Sir, have neglected something dramatic:
We are no longer living in the Age of Grace.

To presume that we are is to presume a graceful negative is sufficient, as you have.
I have tried to rescue you from the embarassment of this, but not only have you rejected it, you have failed to make comment yourself.
THIS is the Age of Wits.

Those who do not live by their wits PERISH....
...as you may YET determine to prove.

[Obsidian]

The pearl is the kingdom of God. The purchaser is Jesus.

[Godservant]

The pearl is the kingdom of God. The purchaser is Jesus.

GREAT thought!

Who are the other shops in your analogy?

[Obsidian]

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

I don' t know, demons? It's only two verses, and it doesn't explicitly mention other shops.

The man in all the surrounding parables (the Weeds, the Sower, the Fisherman/Net) is Jesus. The only ones that people consider ambiguous are the Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl. I'm suggesting the man in those is Jesus also. Otherwise, these parables might suggest that people have to work for their salvation. A faith-based interpretation might just say that you have to give up all your own works in order to obtain Jesus, but simply defining Jesus as the man seems to be the most elegant explanation.

[Godservant]

It is elegant...

...until you give up on the pearl.

[Spheniscine]

They're comin' to take me away, hehe, haha!

Inclination?
Desire?
Chaos
and
madness!

[Godservant]

They're comin' to take me away, hehe, haha!

Inclination?
Desire?
Chaos
and
madness!

Not what you'd expect from a conservative...

...but I do see the connection with having the pearl and losing everything.

Clearly, the appeal of chaos is greater when you think you have the pearl...

...and madness when you think you can hold onto chaos despite chaos is continually tempting.
(I'm not suggesting the pearl IS chaos, but then... if Christ is the purchaser, perhaps it must be, unless it's simply _power_ over chaos and death to hold it).

I myself would choose disinclination and death if it meant that others would have the pearl with me...

...but aside from the lesson in that, it must be remembered that I can easily speak too early (in a safe secluded place where... practically anyone... could write a crazy message on the internet - is that a dirty word yet?)

[Spheniscine]

"the heart of man is darkest coal...
succumb to yer preordained role..."
"ye prance like the youngest foal...
yet the master will soon claim yer soul"
"And I'll chuck ye a'wrigglin' down a dark charnal hole!"

[Johnny MacManky]

Moved from Christianity 201.

[Heterodoxus]

In re the OP: isn't there a rule around here about sermonizing/vignettes/conjecture?

[barnasha]

This particular pearl is not something you can obtain in the physical world or hand over. The allegory isn't sound, i think the metaphor is missed

[Jnthn]

This particular pearl is not something you can obtain in the physical world or hand over. The allegory isn't sound, i think the metaphor is missedYou're reading too much into it. You're criticising a straw man.

J

[barnasha]

I don't understand you Jnthn (could you elaborate slightly?)