The Parable of the Pearl 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went and sold all he had and bought it.”

Pearls are precious. A genuine freshwater pearl can cost up to €1,000, and as far back as the Hellenistic period, pearls from India and Central Asia were commodities that were traded in the cities along the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.

The words of Jesus in Matthew 13:45–46 concern the Kingdom of Heaven, which is compared to a person who invests in beautiful pearls. The German Standard Translation speaks of a merchant, that is, a connoisseur and lover of pearls, who finds a particularly valuable pearl. He sells everything he owns to buy this pearl. The man (the original Greek text speaks of a ‘man’ or ‘person’, not a merchant) invests by buying it: he puts all his eggs in one basket.

What nonsense! God’s kingdom is surely not a trading floor.

Or is it? Investment in the Bible? Not such a rare topic after all.

This brief and condensed logion – comprising just two verses – appears in the context of chapter 13 of the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament canon. In the immediate context is another very brief logion that fits the theme (Mt 13:44). Here, too, there is an investment: In this verse, the Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure buried in a field. Here too, a man discovers this treasure. He too invests his entire fortune after selling his property. The Greek text (and the English version follows the original) suggests: the Kingdom of Heaven is the treasure. The man finds it, but hides it again by burying it in the field.

In the first logion about the pearl, it is the man who comes first and thus takes centre stage: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls.’ It describes a connoisseur who knows what he is doing. Otherwise, we learn hardly anything. It is not reported where the pearl was found: at the market? In a shop? Nor is it reported what kind of pearl it is or what it is used for. However, it is not a find on the beach, but must be purchased with money.

The logion makes sense if one has an understanding of economics. The reader must know that pearls are valuable, and ideally also that it is not entirely unreasonable to invest under certain circumstances. Otherwise, this logion would be nonsensical. Perhaps there is even speculation involved here; but what is at stake is one’s own fortune.

At the same time, we are dealing with an expert. He has insider knowledge. It is a particularly valuable pearl (though not the most valuable). People invest and speculate. They do not buy it to ruin themselves, but to invest and generate added value. They are banking on an increase in value, or at least on value stability. Whether it pays off remains to be seen. What happens to this little treasure remains unclear.

It is interesting that – provided the pearl is genuine – it is a natural treasure, a product of nature. The creation from which it originates was created by God. That, at any rate, is a deeply Jewish-theological assumption which Jesus shares. It is therefore ultimately a product of God’s creation and, in that sense, a gift. Such speculation succeeds only because resources for the investment are available, which are likewise gifts from God. Everything comes from God, including the man’s money to buy the pearl.

In Matthew 13, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to images from the trade in luxury goods. Something valuable is in prospect. Here it is a small treasure that delights lovers of beautiful things, yet is unaffordable for the poor. The latter are not being duped; to think so would be to misunderstand this concise parable. It is about the logic of investment. The parable operates on market logic to show what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about: things that are valuable and beautiful, for which a commitment must be made.

What is beautiful and valuable in your life? Are you investing?

Aleksandra Brand