Roger Thrower

Matthew 13:35-36 - “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

At first glance this parable seems to tell us that we are on a search in life for something of great value and when we find it we sell out like this merchant and by in. When someone encounters the love of God in a powerful way I could definitely see how this might be a parallel to how I have felt about the love I have found in Jesus Christ.

But a deeper perspective about this parable is that Jesus is the merchant looking for you.
In God’s eyes you are the pearl of great value.
Jesus has come to make a trade. If fact, Jesus indeed sold out. His price was all that he was.

1 Corinthians 6:20 AMP - You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

Matthew 9:35-38 - And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Harassed = to be made feeble through exhaustion, to grow weak and weary, to be tired out, to become faint hearted
KJV – faint hearted

How many of you have been made feeble through exhaustion? How many of you have grown weak and weary at times? How many of you have become tired out and faint hearted?
How many of you see people around you in this condition?

Helpless – to set down (with the suggestion of haste and want of care); to throw to the ground.
KJV – scattered abroad

How many of you have had to have days to recuperate?

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Verse 37- “Harassed and helpless people are everywhere. Faint hearted folks are scattered all around.” Are there not enough people restored to help meet their needs? Let’s pray earnestly.

The pure love of God awakens hope in the human heart.

Until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change, you will not change.

Here is the point: It does not matter to Jesus how long you have been hurting. He is here to heal you.

Luke 23:26 - And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.