Matthew 13:45

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman - The meaning is, that the proper seeking for salvation, or the proper conduct in reference to religion, is like the conduct of a “merchantman.” In his searches he found one pearl of great value, and sold all his possessions to obtain it. So, says the Saviour, people seeking for happiness and finding the gospel - the pearl of great price - should be willing to sacrifice all other things for this. Pearls are precious stones found in the shells of oysters, chiefly in the East Indies. See the notes at Matthew 7:6. They are valuable on account of their beauty and because they are rare. The value of them is greatly increased by their size. The…”

“The kingdom of heaven - That is, one who earnestly seeks for it: in Mat 13:47 it means, the Gospel preached, which is like a net gathering of every kind: just so the Gospel, wherever it is preached, gathers at first both good and bad, who are for a season full of approbation and warm with good desires. But Christian discipline, and strong, close exhortation, begin that separation in this world, which shall be accomplished by the angels of God in the world to come. Matthew 13:52”

“like: Mat 16:26, Mat 22:5; Pro 3:13-18, Pro 8:10, Pro 8:11, Pro 8:18-20 seeking: Job 28:18; Psa 4:6, Psa 4:7, Psa 39:6, Psa 39:7; Ecc 2:2-12, Ecc 12:8, Ecc 12:13 Matthew 13:46”