Matthew 13:45-46 says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
It is the companion illustration to the kingdom as hidden treasure.
One of the books (New Bible Commentary: Revised. Edited by Guthrie, Motyer, Stibbs and Wiseman) I was browsing offered this analysis: in the hidden treasure story, the man stumbles onto the treasure and then sells everything to buy the land where the treasure is. In the second story, the merchant is specifically looking for pearls and when he finds one, he sells everything to buy it. Thus, the analogy is that when people are living their life, sometimes they "stumble" upon Jesus and the hope of the kingdom. While others are looking for something in their life and finally they come across the kingdom and Jesus.
I had previously mentioned two possible interpretations of the parables: (1) Jesus seeking the treasure/pearls and giving up everything for them or (2) us, upon realizing the value of the kingdom, sacrificing what we have and ourselves for it.
I'm inclined to think the second explanation makes the better sense.
Is it worth it to give everything up for the kingdom? For Jesus?
Reminds me of the story of Jim Elliot, who went to South America to share Christian faith to the natives. Within days, he and his team were killed by spears and hacked to death. His wife Elisabeth went to the same tribe of Aucas and shared with them about Jesus and many of them turned to Christ.
One of his famous quotes is: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
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