CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Article"> <head> <title>What is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price? | GotQuestions.org</title> <META name="keywords" itemprop="keywords" content="parable hidden treasure, parable pearl great price"><META name="description" itemprop="description" property="og:description" content="What is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price? Why did Jesus often speak using parables instead of teaching more clearly?"> <meta charset="utf-8"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, user-scalable=no"> <link rel="image_src" itemprop="image" href="https://www.gotquestions.org/img/GQlogo.png"><link rel="canonical" itemprop="url mainEntityOfPage" href="https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-treasure-pearl.html"> <meta itemprop="author" content="GotQuestions.org"> <meta itemprop="datePublished" content="2009-07-18"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.gotquestions.org/img/OG/parable-treasure-pearl.jpg"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="GotQuestions.org"> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-treasure-pearl.html"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-M7EVHFDMSZ"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-M7EVHFDMSZ'); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css">  <script type="module" src="/components/header-element-unified.js"></script> <script type="module" src="/components/footer-element-unified.js" defer></script> <script src="/components/unified-script.js" defer></script> <link rel="preload" href="/components/unified-style.css" as="style"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/components/unified-style.css"> </head> <body data-site-theme="light"> <div class="fixed-button settings box-shadow"><img src="img/cogwheel.svg" alt="settings icon" onclick="settingsMenu(this)"></div> <div class="fixed-button sharebutton box-shadow"><img src="img/share.svg" alt="share icon" onclick="shareMenu(this)"></div> <header-element></header-element> <div id="modals"> <ul class="settings-menu modal-menu box-shadow"> <li> <div class="toggle-wrap"> <span>Light</span><input type="checkbox" checked id="toggle" class="checkbox" onclick="toggleTheme(this)" /><label for="toggle" class="switch"></label><span>Dark</span> </div> </li> <li><div id="bibleRefLinkSettings"><label for="bibleRefLinkVersion">Bible Version</label><select id="bibleRefLinkVersion" name="bibleRefLinkVersion" onchange="changeVersion();BibleRefLink.brlSavePrefs();"><option value="ESV">ESV</option><option value="CSB">CSB</option><option value="KJV">KJV</option><option value="NASB">NASB</option><option value="NIV" selected="selected">NIV</option><option value="NKJV">NKJV</option><option value="NLT">NLT</option></select></div></li> <li><label for="font">Font Family</label><select name="font" id="font" onchange="changeFont()"><option value="system-ui">Default</option><option value="Arial">Arial</option><option value="Verdana">Verdana</option><option value="Helvetica">Helvetica</option><option value="Tahoma">Tahoma</option><option value="Georgia">Georgia</option><option value="Times New Roman">Times New Roman</option></select></li> <li><label for="lineheight">Line Height</label><select name="lineheight" id="lineheight" onchange="changeLineHeight()"><option value="1.4">Default</option><option value="1">1.0</option><option value="1.2">1.2</option><option value="1.5">1.5</option><option value="2">2</option></select></li> <li><label for="fontsize">Font Size</label><select name="fontsize" id="fontsize" onchange="changeFontSize()"><option value="1">Default</option><option value="1">1.0</option><option value="1.2">1.2</option><option value="1.5">1.5</option><option value="2">2</option></select></li> </ul> <ul class="final-menu modal-menu box-shadow"> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.gotquestions.org/" class="fb"><img src="img/logo-fb-simple.svg" alt="Facebook icon">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.gotquestions.org/" class="tw"><img src="img/logo-twitter.svg" alt="Twitter icon">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.gotquestions.org/" class="pi"><img src="img/logo-pinterest.svg" alt="Pinterest icon">Pinterest</a></li> <li><a class="SendEmail" href=""><img src="img/letter.svg" alt="Email icon">Email</a></li> <li class="mobile-show"><a class="SendSMS" href=""><img src="img/sms-icon.svg" alt="SMS icon">Text/SMS</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="featured gradient-to-tr" style="--color-start: var(--bgcolor-featured-start); --color-end: var(--bgcolor-featured-end)"> <div class="featured-left"> <h5>Find Out</h5> <h4><a href="going-to-heaven.html">How to go to heaven</a></h4> <h4><a href="get-right-with-God.html">How to get right with God</a></h4> </div> <div class="featured-right"> <div class="desktop-hide gq-YT"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/gotquestionsorg" target="_blank"><img src="img/GQ-YT.png"></a></div> </div> </div> <main><div class="breadcrumb-wrapper"> <span class="breadcrumb" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"><span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a itemprop="item" href="https://www.gotquestions.org"><span itemprop="name"><span class="home-icon"></span>Home</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1"></span> <span class="chevron-right"></span> <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a itemprop="item" href="https://www.gotquestions.org/content.html"><span itemprop="name">Content Index</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2"></span> <span class="chevron-right"></span> <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a itemprop="item" href="https://www.gotquestions.org/questions_Jesus-Christ.html"><span itemprop="name">Jesus Christ</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="3"></span> <span class="chevron-right"></span> <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a itemprop="item" href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-parables.html"><span itemprop="name">Parables of Jesus</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="4"></span> <span class="chevron-right"></span> Parable of the Hidden Treasure</span></div> <section class="content-wrap gradient-to-b" style="--color-start: var(--bgcolor-content-start); --color-end: var(--bgcolor-content-end);" ><div class="content"> <div class="label gradient-to-tr" style="--color-start: #96445a; --color-end: #6f637e;">Question</div> <div class="sponsor-sidebar"><div class="desktop-show" align="center"><div class="adManager-placeholder"></div></div></div> <h1><span itemprop="name headline" property="og:title">What is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price?</span></h1> <div class="actions-wrap"><div class="actions"> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="INTL/parable-treasure-pearl.html" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'intl'});"><img src="img/translate-icon.svg" alt="translate"></a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=293" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'print'});"><img src="img/print.svg" class="questionInteract" alt="parable hidden treasure, parable pearl great price"></a> <span class="audio-icon"><img src="img/volume.svg" alt="audio" class="questionInteract"><audio controls preload="none" style="width:300px;height:25px"><source src="audio/parable-treasure-pearl.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></audio></span> </div></div> <div itemprop="articleBody"> <div class="label gradient-to-tr" style="--color-start: #29a699; --color-end: #749c5a;">Answer</div><br><br> Jesus had just finished explaining to the disciples the meaning of the <a href="parable-wheat-tares.html">Parable of the Wheat and the Tares</a>, and these two short parables are a continuance of His discussion of the “kingdom of heaven.” He expressed truths about the kingdom in three pairs of parables in Matthew 13: <a href="parable-sower.html">the seed and the sower</a> (vv. 3-23) and the weeds in the field (vv. 24-30); <a href="parable-mustard-seed.html">the mustard seed</a> (vv. 31-32) and the leaven (v. 33); and the hidden treasure (v. 44) and the pearl of great price (vv. 45-46). <br><br> The similarities of these two short parables make it clear they teach the same lesson—the kingdom of heaven is of inestimable value. Both parables involve a man who sold all he had to possess the kingdom. The treasure and the pearl represent Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. And while we cannot pay for salvation by selling all our worldly goods, once we have found the prize, we are willing to give up everything to possess it. But what is attained in exchange is so much more valuable that it is comparable to trading an ounce of trash for a ton of diamonds (Philippians 3:7-9). <br><br> In both parables, the treasures are hidden, indicating that spiritual truth is missed by many and cannot be found by intelligence or power or worldly wisdom. Matthew 13:11-17 and 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 make it clear that the mysteries of the kingdom are hidden from some who are unable to hear, see, and comprehend these truths. The disobedient reap the natural consequences of their unbelief—spiritual blindness. Those whose eyes are opened by the Spirit do discern spiritual truth, and they, like the men in the parable, understand its great value. <br><br> Notice that the merchant stopped seeking pearls when he found the pearl of great price. Eternal life, the incorruptible inheritance, and the love of God through Christ constitute the pearl which, once found, makes further searching unnecessary. Christ fulfills our greatest needs, satisfies our longings, makes us whole and clean before God, calms and quiets our hearts, and gives us hope for the future. The “great price,” of course, is that which was paid by Christ for our redemption. He emptied Himself of His glory, came to earth in the form of a lowly man and shed His precious blood on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.<br><br> </div> <section class="homepage-sponsor desktop-hide"> <div class="desktop-hide" align="center"><div class="adManager-placeholder-mobile"></div></div> </section> <div class="related resources"><h4>For Further Study</h4> <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'amazon'});" href="https://amzn.to/4laDNNt">Parables of Jesus by James Montgomery Boice</a><br><br> <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'logos'});" href="https://www.logos.com/?utm_campaign=logossubxlaunch-phase1&utm_source=gotquestions&utm_medium=advertising_display&utm_content=logossubxlaunch-phase1-gtlink">More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!</a> </div> <div class="related topics"><h4>Related Articles</h4> <a href="parable-unforgiving-servant.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unforgiving / Unmerciful Servant?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-Good-Samaritan.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Good Samaritan?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-rich-fool.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Rich Fool?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-mustard-seed.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-sower.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sower?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-prodigal-son.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-talents.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Talents?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-ten-minas.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-sheep-goats.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-fig-tree.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-ten-virgins.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-vineyard.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Vineyard?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-lost-sheep-coin.html">What is the meaning of the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-wedding-feast.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Wedding Feast?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-wheat-tares.html">What is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-two-sons.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Two Sons?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-Pharisee-tax-collector.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-laborers-vineyard.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-persistent-neighbor.html">What is the meaning of the parable of the friend in need (persistent neighbor)?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-persistent-widow-unjust-judge.html">What can we learn from the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-feast-cloth-wineskin.html">What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-unjust-steward.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-growing-seed.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-dragnet.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Dragnet?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-great-banquet.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)?</a><br><br> <a href="parable-leaven.html">What is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven?</a><br><br> </strong><hr><br> <center><strong class="return"> Return to:<br><br> <a class="button-link box-shadow" href="Jesus-parables.html">Parables of Jesus</a><br><br> What is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price?</strong></center> </div> </section> <section class="subscribe gradient-to-br" style="--color-start: #153c59; --color-end: #1b537c"> <div class="grid"> <div class="gradient-to-br box-shadow" style="--color-start: #2c6482; --color-end: #64547b"> <h5>Subscribe to the</h5> <h3>Question of the Week</h3> <p>Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox!</p> <iframe src="scommon/qotw.htm" title="question of the week" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%"></iframe> </div></div> </section> </main> <footer-element></footer-element> <center> <div itemprop="dateModified" content="2022-01-04">This page last updated: January 4, 2022</div></center> <script src="scripts-2025.js"></script> <div style="display: none;" itemprop="publisher" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"><meta itemprop="name" content="GotQuestions.org"><div itemprop="logo" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"> <img src="https://www.gotquestions.org/img/GQlogo.png"><meta itemprop="url" content="https://www.gotquestions.org/img/GQlogo.png"><meta itemprop="width" content="400"><meta itemprop="height" content="79"> </div></div> </body> </html>