🫳 Matthew 13:45-46 | Same Parable, Different Perspective
PLUS: A challenge to give something up...
Kieran Lenahan & Jake Doberenz
March 06, 2025
Happy Thursday, everyone!
What you read today might surprise you. I pray that it stirs your heart and causes you to run to the feet of Jesus this morning.
In today’s email…
✝️ The surprise message in this parable
🫳 A challenge to give something up
🔦 Community spotlight
✉️ subscribe here | support our work 👐
MEMORIZE 🧠
_____, ___ _______ __ ______ __ ____ _ ________ __ search __ ____ ______,
who, on finding ___ _____ __ _____ _____, went ___ ____ all ____ __ ___ ___ bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46
(Use our free web app to help you memorize in your favorite translation. Instructions to set it up are at the bottom of this email.)
CONTEXT 📕
Yesterday, we covered the more obvious reading of this parable.
The pearl is the Kingdom.
The merchant is you and me.
And if we are wise, we’ll give up whatever it takes to obtain the pearl.
Because the Kingdom is infinitely more valuable than anything else in our lives.
It’s like Jesus is saying, “Be willing to give up everything for me and my Kingdom.”
It’s quite a statement.
And if we’re honest, it can feel like Jesus is asking for A LOT from us.
But there’s another way to read this parable that puts things in perspective.
Read it again through this lens..
Jesus is the merchant.
You and I are the pearls.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Jesus came in search of pearls — he came to earth in human form.
He found what was of infinite value to Him — you and me.
And he gave up everything to purchase us — with his death on the cross, he paid the price for our sin and ransomed us from the power of death.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
APPLY AND RESPOND
Sit in that reality.
You are the pearl of great price.
Jesus gave up all that he had - because you are of infinite value to Him.
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
When we let this penetrate our hearts, it puts this parable in perspective.
Yes, Jesus wants our wholehearted devotion to Him and the Kingdom.
But He has already demonstrated his wholehearted devotion to us.
Challenge
Today, give something up that competes with Jesus for your devotion.
It could be a distraction, an unhealthy pursuit, or even time spent on trivial things that could be used to seek him.
Start with a 24-hour fast and replace it with something that intentionally draws you closer to God, like reading Scripture, serving someone in need, engaging with Christian community, or sharing your faith with a friend.
What will you trade today to pursue the greater treasure of God’s kingdom?
TOGETHER WITH THE POUR OVER
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The end of week reviews are my favorite! Y’all spend 4 days fleshing out a verse, adding cultural, historical, social, religious context, and you do it so well! Friday is when you wrap it all up and tie a pretty bow on it and present it as the lovely gift that it is! Well done! I share this email with everyone I think would benefit from it. Malachi Daily is a real blessing. Thank you!
- Elli
SHOUT-OUTS 📣
HUGE thank you to Tamika, KR and Kyle for choosing to pay-it-forward so we can keep operating and help more people memorize and learn about God’s Word!
ANSWER KEY ✅
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46
Blessings,
The Malachi Daily team 🙏
Today’s Contributors
Jake holds two degrees in Biblical Studies and has a passion for making Scripture accessible. He helps Christians avoid cultural distractions through his podcast and newsletter Smashing Idols.
Kieran is a husband and father living in NJ. In addition to Malachi Daily, he writes a personal newsletter about the intersection of faith, fatherhood and entrepreneurship.
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