Pearl of great price

Tavita

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I've had it come to my attention recently that the pearl of great price in the following scriptures refers to the gentiles, and not the Messiah as I've been taught. I've been shown that pearls are not kosher and not seen as valuable in the eyes of the Jews, is this correct?

(Mat 13:45) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,

(Mat 13:46) and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
 

plum

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Yeshua said:
Matthew 7:6
"Don't give to dogs what is holy, and don't throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, then turn and attack you.

If pearls were unclean, wouldn't it be all right to throw them to the pigs? :)
 
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Tavita

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visionary said:
What were you reading that brought this to your attention, may I ask?


I posted something in another forum in a thread concerning giving things up for Christ and used those scriptures. Someone told me I had used those scriptures in the wrong way, and said that the Jews considered them unkosher, that's why I thought to ask in the Messianic forum. This is part of what was said:

"If we interpret the pearl as being Jesus and the merchant as us, then we are being inward looking. Rather than glorifying Christ and his work, we are glorifying our own sacrifice.

BTW the pearl is us becos pearls to the Jews are non-kosher. ie the Messiah cannot be non-kosher. so he cannot be the pearl. but the gentiles can be. "
 
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koilias

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Pearls are certainly not unkosher! You don't eat them, helloo!Pearls were quite valuable to Jews (and still are to some today). :D Jews treated them as the definition of "beauty" as far as priceless objects were concerned. Sarah's radiant beauty was compared to pearls (not gold!) in the midrash. Jews also used other products from the sea (the blue dye in the priestly garments was taken from oyster-like creatures for example).

By the way, this is a kingdom parable. In Jewish literature, kingdom parables are about Torah. It's the Torah that Yeshua is talking about...the practice of Torah is the pearl of great price. You must cede everything that you once considered valuable to obtain it (like the rich young ruler).

Also Rabbis had a technique of stringing scriptures together according to keywords. When you put two or more scriptures together which have similar words that is called "stringing pearls". Yeshua and Paul do this quite often when they handle scripture. There is a word-play going on between this technique and the word for "swine"...I forgot the word,...but I'll get back to you.;)
 
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koilias

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Some snipets from David Bivin's article on this topic:

On the priceless value of Torah:

Rabbi Pinhas ben Yair11 opened his exposition with the text, "If you seek for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure" [Prov. 2:4]. [He explained this text as follows:] "If you search for words of Torah as for hidden treasure, the Holy One, blessed be He, will not withhold your reward. This could be compared to a man who loses a coin, even a small coin, in his house. What does he do? He lights lamp after lamp and wick after wick until he finds it. If for the transitory things of this world a man will light so many lamps and wicks until he finds them, how much more ought you to search, as for hidden treasure, for the words of Torah, which are life in this world and life in the world to come."12

In his Hidden Treasure and Valuable Pearl parables, Jesus emphasizes that being among his disciples (being in the Kingdom of Heaven) and having the opportunity to learn Torah at his feet is a great treasure. Using slightly different words, Pinhas ben Yair is making the same point: since the words of Torah give life in this world and life in the world to come, one should search for them as one searches for hidden treasure. Like ben Yair, Jesus taught that the words of Torah are life in this world and life in the world to come. As Jesus’ puts it in Luke 18:29—30, those who have left home to study Torah with him will receive "much more [life] in this world and eternal life in the world to come."

Pearls in Yeshua's day were even more valued that diamonds:


pearls of fine quality. In biblical Hebrew, the word for pearls is peninim. It was replaced by margaliyot; (singular: margalit) in rabbinic Hebrew.14 The Greek expression found here, kalous margaritas (beautiful pearls), apparently represents the rabbinic margaliyot tovot, (good pearls),15 that is, pearls of fine quality.

Pearls were the most valuable of all gems until the early nineteenth century when diamonds exceeded them in value.16 Pearl mania reached its height in ancient Rome. The historian Pliny the Elder (23—79 A.D.) wrote that in his time pearls were first in value among all precious things.17
 
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koilias

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Yes...the Hebrew word for "stringing pearls" is Haraz (or "charaz" for those of you into ashkenazic transliteration).

...And the Hebrew word for swine is Hazer (or chazer).

You just switch the zayin and the resh:

חזר --- חרז

IOW, don't make your teachings into food for swine.

Cheers,

Eric
 
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Tavita

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Thank you Eric, for your teachings, and the teaching on Torah being the pearl of great price, but as much as I love and respect Torah, I feel that Yeshua is greater than Torah. That's MHO. However, I truly appreciate the insight you've given me.

Blessings
Tav's
 
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koilias

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Tavita said:
Thank you Eric, for your teachings, and the teaching on Torah being the pearl of great price, but as much as I love and respect Torah, I feel that Yeshua is greater than Torah. That's MHO. However, I truly appreciate the insight you've given me.

Blessings
Tav's

Your welcome. Most definitely I respect Yeshua by calling his teaching Torah! :) ...His teaching of the "Kingdom of G-d" if what he is comparing to the pearl (in context). It's his kingdom he is talking about. A renewal of Israel's covenant and relationship with G-d.
 
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Sephania

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Another place that hasn't been mentioned to which almost every Jewish woman is familiar is Proverbs 31. A woman of valour is to be considered more precious than pearls. Some translations say Rubies, but I believe pearls to be the correct translation.

the CJV says: Her value is far beyond that of pearl(s), indeed that is very valuable. :)
 
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koilias

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Zayit said:
Another place that hasn't been mentioned to which almost every Jewish woman is familiar is Proverbs 31. A woman of valour is to be considered more precious than pearls. Some translations say Rubies, but I believe pearls to be the correct translation.

the CJV says: Her value is far beyond that of pearl(s), indeed that is very valuable. :)
Yes...it definitely says pearls (paninim).

And that's the verse that the Rabbis probably attribute to Sarah (each verse represents a different biblical heroine).
 
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Tavita

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Koilias and Zayit,

I love what you guys are sharing. Do you know of any online teaching having to do with Prov 31 and the verses being attributed to different heroine's?


I agree with this ..

koilias said:
Most definitely I respect Yeshua by calling his teaching Torah! :) ...His teaching of the "Kingdom of G-d" if what he is comparing to the pearl (in context). It's his kingdom he is talking about. A renewal of Israel's covenant and relationship with G-d.

He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.
 
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koilias

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Tavita said:
Koilias and Zayit,

I love what you guys are sharing. Do you know of any online teaching having to do with Prov 31 and the verses being attributed to different heroine's?

Here is one site that talks about the links to the heroines. I was wrong...the first verse is attributed to the wife of Noah.
 
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