gain, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, Seeking goodly pearls, Who, when he found one

pearl of great price, Went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Matthew 13:45, 46

The Kingdom of Heaven is the mystery hidden in the Old Testament, but revealed in the New: the Church, the called out, the Ekklesia, formed of the land and the sea, the Jew and Gentile.
Forbidden for consumption by law but permitted for commerce, the oyster in the parable of the pearl must have been confused the Jewish followers of Jesus as it does many today. Consider this mollusk, this oyster. On the fifth day, before Adam, were the creatures of land and sea created, and the oyster would dwell in the

depths, the lowest place on the surface of the Earth, the floor of the seas, far beneath turbulent waters with no

comeliness that man should desire.

Of all jewels, the pearl is the only gem formed by a living organism, and while all other life responds to irritation by mounting defensive protection, the lowly oyster not only responds to insult, but embraces it, and covers

whosoever will with exquisite iridescent nacre, subsequently growing as the covering is repeated.
As Eve was taken from the side of the sleeping Adam, the iridescent pearl is removed from the pierced side of the

sacrificed oyster, and worn as reflective adornment, most frequently, by brides.

A gemstone is graded in value by weight, flawlessness and receives a substantial portion of its worth from its cut -the work of man's hand. God does not live in temples made by human hands; the altars were to be made of whole

stone, uncut.

The radiant pearl is the only gemstone that has more worth when it is untouched.
This Church continues to grow, a collective body of once condemned irritants, listening for the voice of the archangel to announce the coming of Bridegroom, and then, they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that

day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

The God of Glory, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, left the splendor of eternity to claim this pearl, a pearl purchased by the very blood of its Creator: at a price no other human could ever pay or dare to try. Such is this Pearl of Great Price , covered, protected, growing and removed: prepared as a bride for her

husband, without spot or wrinkle, clothed in the immaculate righteousness provided by this glorious Bridegroom.