“THE MERCHANT MAN” (Mt 13:45-46)
Jan 8th, 2012

Int. Today, we shall consider the actions of this Merchant man.

I. CONSIDER THAT A MERCHANT SEEKS THIS PEARL AT THE BEST PRICE.
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A. THIS PICTURES THE DESPERATE SINNER WHO HAS BEEN QUICKENED.

1. Once quickened, he seeks to make religion his chief business. Hence saith

2. Paul to Timothy: “Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all men.” (1 Tim 4:15).

II. CONSIDER THE VALUE OF SOME THINGS A MERCHANT SEEKS IN LIFE.

A. CONSIDER THAT THIS MERCHANT SOUGHT A PEARL AT GREAT PRICE.

1. What is more valued than gold, silver, precious stones, and goodly pearl?

III. CONSIDER THAT THE MERCHANT SET HIS WHOLE HEART UPON THIS PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

A. So a spiritual merchant or believer sets his heart and chiefest thoughts upon heavenly things.

1. This merchant (or believer) sets his affection on things above, and not on things that are upon the earth.

IV. CONSIDER THE PLACES A MERCHANT WILL GO TO FIND SUCH A PEARL.

A. CONSIDER THE VARIOUS PLACES ONE MIGHT GO.

1. A merchant sometimes ventures to sea, and runs many dangers (in seeking goodly pearls, and after rich merchandise both by storms, rocks, sands, and pirates also.

2. So a true Christian is exposed to great difficulties, and runs many dangers, who ventures out into a visible profession of religion; on the sea of this world, what storm’s of reproaches, temptations and persecutions, is he oft exposed unto?

V. CONSIDER THAT A YOUNG MERCHANT IS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DANGER AND PROBLEMS HE MAY FACE IN THIS VENTURE.

A. OLD DEALERS HAVE MORE JUDGMENT AND GREATER EXPERIENCE THAN SUCH WHO HAVE NEWLY BEGUN TO TRADE.

1. So a man when he first begins to se ek after God, or to mind heavenly things, he hath not that understanding, that knowledge and judgment in religion, as an old Christian.

2. He may even encounter a crooked dealer who sells artificial pearls.

VI. CONSIDER THAT A MERCHANT NEEDS TO LEARN WHAT HE IS SEEKING TO ACQUIRE.

A. THE SINCERE MERCHANT WILL SEEK TO KNOW THE VALUE OF SUCH A PEARL.

1. Acquiring such knowledge may require a life time of learning.

VII. CONSIDER THAT SOME FOLK HAVE GIVEN THEIR ENTIRE FORTUNE FOR A BAD PRODUCT.

A. CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE PRODUCT THEN, IS VERY NEEDFUL.

1. A merchant, if he know not what pearls be, may soon be easily cheated by false and counterfeit pearls.

2. So many a spiritual merchant, if he know not what the person of Christ is, may easily be cheated of the true Christ, and believe in a false Christ.

IX. A merchant trades to foreign parts, they fetch their treasure from afar. So a spiritual merchant trades to heaven, a far country.

X. A merchant has his correspondent in those far countries to which he trades, who receives his merchandize, and makes returns. So all true Christians have their Blessed Correspondent in heaven, who manageth all their concerns; viz., the Lord Jesus.

XI. A merchant is very careful to attend the exchange, or place where merchants meet together, and where they hear, and learn how their affairs go abroad, and these have opportunities to sell or buy more goods.
Moreover, if they neglect or are remiss in their attendance, it gives cause of suspicion that they may soon break, and cease to be merchants. So spiritual
merchants are very careful to attend solemn meetings of the saints, where they hear of and from Jesus Christ, and as they there receive from Him, so they make returns of praise to Him.

XII. Merchants take great care to keep their books or accounts well, they are oft in their counting-house — that they may know whether they gain or lose; that they may see a good end of their affairs, and that they are not wronged.

And thus also do the saints, they labour to cast up their accounts, viz., examine and try their hearts. Secondly: I shall show you these are the best and chiefest merchandize in the world, or no merchandize like spiritual merchandize.

I. Because the nature of these things these merchants trade in, far excel all the things in the world. All other things are of little worth to the grace of God, the love of God, union and communion with God, to trade in gold
tried in the fire (Rev 2:3-18).

II. “All things of the world are vanity” (Ecc 1:2). But there is real substance in these merchandize.

III. These merchandize are best because incorruptible, neither moth nor rust can corrupt, fire consume, or thieves steal these goodly pearls.

IV. The rareness or scarcity of these merchandize, show their most excellent nature. Things are not only esteemed for their worth, but for their rarity. Now these things that spiritual merchants seek, are exceeding rare; hardly one man in a thousand finds these goodly pearls, the pearl of great price.

V. These merchandize were bought with a great price, by the Son of God. He first laid down the full sum that Divine justice demanded, and got them into His own hand for His elect.

VI. They are soul treasures such that suit with and answer all the wants of the precious and immortal soul of man.

VII. These merchandize are the best, because of their duration; all the things of this world are but momentary, sometimes gone in a moment — the world passeth away; but spiritual things, which are not seen, are
eternal.

VIII. Their correspondent, with whom these merchants trade, that manages all their concernments, and is engaged to make them sun- and safe, returns from afar. Now, as Jesus Christ is their correspondent, so he if such an undertaker that they need not fear anything can miscarry, which is in His hand.

IX. These merchandizes are the best merchandizes, and these merchants the wisest merchants doth appear in respect of the terms on which they trade. They are the best merchandize because their commodities are freely given, “without’ money, without price.” It cannot indeed stand consistent with the design of redemptive grace, which is to advance the glory of God in His goodness, and to cut off all boasting, and cause of boasting, to admit of anything of the creature that looks like money, to procure a right to these things.

X. These are the best merchandize — this the best trade — because of the returns these merchants have from Jesus Christ. They have quick returns (Isa 65:24). It is the best trade — they only trade for things of inestimable worth. The returns are certain — sure of growing eternally rich. Not only rich, but great and noble. These merchants are advanced to mighty honour (Pro 12:26). (B. Keach.)

What shall we buy: — When the pilgrims were in Vanity Fair, one chanced mockingly to say to them. “What will ye buy? “ But they, looking gravely on him, said, “We buy the truth.” At that there was occasion taken to despite them the more; some mocking, some taunting, and some calling upon others to smite them. Nevertheless, in spite of all the abuse, these good pilgrims would only buy the truth; and when they bought it, not for any price would they sell it again. Usually, in ordinary merchandize, what we buy we are at liberty to sell; but it is not so here, for the command is express, “Buy the truth, and sell it not.” And a most merciful provision it is; for, as one says, “Those who sell the truth sell their own souls with it.”
(Robert Macdonald.)