When we apply the rules of right division when studying God's Word, even the most difficult scriptures become very simple to understand by comparing scripture with scripture. The synoptic gospels have many similarities in the timeline and miracles, etc., but there are some parables that are unique to Matthew that are kingdom specific like the parable of the hid treasure and the pearl of great price.
Matthew 13:44-46: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
We began our study of these two parables last Sunday by looking through the lens of this mystery period we live in, aka the dispensation of the grace of God, and seeing that the man in v.44 and v.45 is the Lord Jesus Christ. He sold all he had / gave his life to purchase the field / the world so that the treasure / Israel would be his eternal possession. He alone has right to the treasure having purchased it with his own blood. A treasure contains many different precious pieces. It represents the nation.
The “one pearl of great price” is a singular item of value that the merchant man realizes is of untold wealth. The Lord Jesus knows that he is the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15), and uses this parable to describe himself looking for a priceless pearl / a bride.
Matthew 22:1-12 is the parable of the wedding feast, and the call for guests to come and fill the house for the wedding. The guests receive wedding garments. We know the Old Testament saints, who were in Abraham's bosom / paradise before the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ will be guests. This is the first “come up hither” – Proverbs 25:7. He led them out of paradise into the glories of heaven when he resurrected (Ephesians 4:8-10, Luke 23:43). Jesus took the inhabitants of paradise to heaven, so that the third heaven became paradise for all the Church Age saints (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). This is also where the tree of life is!
Revelation 2:7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
There will also be wedding guests who come out of the great tribulation. In review, Revelation 6:9-11 describes the martyred saints under the altar of the fifth seal judgment. Their invitation to the wedding is accomplished by their deaths. They receive their wedding garments while under the altar, waiting to be called up to the wedding that is described in Revelation 19:7-9.
There is another group of guests described in Revelation 7:9-17 who come from all nations, tongues, and peoples; the number of which is beyond number. They, too, receive their wedding garments through martyrdom. They have washed their robes / wedding garments in the blood of the Lamb! In chapter 6, everyone is waiting to be called and in chapter 7 they are in heaven. This is clearly a time at the end of the tribulation, because they came out of great tribulation.
When are they called up? Revelation 11:1-12 describes the ministry of the two witnesses (Moses and Elijah / the law and the prophets / the two olive trees / the two lamp stands / the two who met Jesus on the mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-3). They expose the Antichrist as the false messiah. When their mission is fulfilled, they are killed and three and a half days later, a voice from heaven says “come up hither” and they come back to life and are taken to heaven. When this occurs, all those in paradise ascend with them, Jew and Gentile alike. These are the guests at the wedding.
The 144,000 virgin Jewish male missionaries described in Revelation 7, are the same ones described in Revelation 13:1-7, whom the beast makes war with. Amazingly they are in heaven in Revelation 14:1-5. This great attendance of peoples from before the cross and the tribulation is at the marriage supper of the lamb described in Revelation 19:7-9.
Jesus describes the bridegroom in the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The term virgins is a description of the Jews of the tribulation. There are five wise virgins and five foolish virgins. The wise virgins get to go to the celebration of the wedding, and five foolish are denied entrance with the declaration “I know you not!”.
The third “come up hither”, which is actually the second in order, is found in Revelation 4:1, representing the Church Age saints. This is the time of the rapture, because the church is not mentioned again until the end of the tribulation. This “come up hither” coincides with 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and 15:50-54, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This rapture / catching away of the Church Age saints will occur before the tribulation. We will be taken out of this world and into the presence of the Lord to receive the reward of our service to the Lord, as described in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. We will receive our rewards and our wedding garments as the Bride, which are made of fine linen clean and white that reveals our righteousness.
Please read Ephesians 5:25-32 that explains our relationship to Christ as the body of Christ / the Bride of Christ described as a marriage relationship. We are espoused to the bridegroom. We are the pearl of great price of Matthew 13:45-46! Although Jesus did not know who his bride was while in his earthly ministry, because it was a mystery, he did know that a wedding was in his future. A wedding requires two parties / a bridegroom and a bride, as well as guests who are invited to the wedding!
2 Corinthians 11:2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
We, the Church Age saints, are the bride of Christ as well as the body of Christ...the one chaste virgin being prepared for the marriage supper of the lamb.
We shall finish the Matthew 13 parables of the kingdom of heaven this coming Sunday!
