The Life of Christ

We also notice that Jesus, “from joy over it, he goes and sells all He has.” • Heb. 12:2 says, “…for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.”

• The church is the “treasure in earthen vessels,” which Jesus ultimately purchased (2 Cor. 4:6-7). 2 Cor. 4:6-7: For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

The spiritual fulfillment of this parable can be seen in the book of Ruth.

• On the same day that Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, he also purchased the field that belonged to Naomi (Ruth 4:1-12).

• As the “ kinsman redeemer, ” when Boaz took Ruth for his wife, he also had the obligation to purchase her field as well.

• The field and the wife were part of the same package.

Viewing Ruth as a type of the bride of Christ, shows that when Jesus comes for His bride at His return, He will also at that time take possession of the field, which is the world.

SECTION 90

Mt. 13:45-46 “Ag ain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Once again, the standard interpretation has been that Jesus is the pearl of great price, but this is also inaccurate for the same reason that He is not the treasure.

• Notice that the pearl is bought. None of us can buy Jesus; Jesus was the One who paid the price.

• Acts 20:28 tells us that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood.

• 1 Pet. 1:18-20 adds: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things…bu t with the precious blood of Christ….”

The merchant came seeking pearls.

• The shepherd sought the sheep that was lost (Lk. 15:4).

• Jesus came to seek that which was lost (Lk. 19:10).

At each of the twelve gates in the New Jerusalem there stands a great pearl (Rev. 21:21), an eternal reminder of the suffering of Christ each time one enters the city.

• The oyster was biblically declared an unclean fish, just as the Gentiles were considered unclean in the eyes of the Jews.

• And yet the church is likened to the something coming from that which is unclean.

SECTION 91

Mt. 13:47-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down, and

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