Sermon for Sunday, January 29, 2023

A “PEARL” of Wisdom about the Kingdom of God

Matthew 13:45-46 and Job 28:12-19

Matthew 13:45–46 (NLT): 45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

Job 28:12–19 (KJV 1900): 12 But where shall wisdom be found?

      And where is the place of understanding?

      13 Man knoweth not the price thereof;

      Neither is it found in the land of the living.

      14 The depth saith, It is not in me:

      And the sea saith, It is not with me.

      15 It cannot be gotten for gold,

      Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

      16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,

      With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

      17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it:

      And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

      18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls*:

      For the price of wisdom is above rubies.

      19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it,

      Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

*

גָּבִישׁ– gâbı̂ysh -‘gaw-beesh’- From an unused root (probably meaning to freeze); crystal (from its resemblance to ice): – pearl.  This word is used only ONCE in the entire Old Testament and therefore, it is translated differently in different versions of the Holy Bible.  However, the Hebrew is clear, this is supposed to mean pearl.

Peninnah – Older Hebrew

Means “precious stone, pearl” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the wives of Elkanah, the other being Hannah.

Dar – Hebrew

Means “mother-of-pearl, nacre” in Hebrew.

Margalit – Hellenized Hebrew

Means “pearl” in Hebrew, ultimately from Greek μαργαρίτης (margarites).

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