The Gospel of Saint Matthew tells us that Jesus announced the Kingdom of God not only by doing signs and wonders, but also by announcing mysterious parables. These stories narrated by Jesus, although some are framed in a very fantastic description, serve to describe or emphasize some spiritual characteristic of the Kingdom of Heaven, the dominion or empire of God's perfections.
But not everyone understands the teachings of Jesus, because reason is insufficient to reach the truth: "This is why I speak to them in parables: ´Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand´" Matthew 13:13.
And this is also so, because Jesus is clear, to understand his message we need the grace of God.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus, after instituting his twelve disciples, announced the Kingdom through seven parables, and among them the parable of the pearl:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" Matthew 13:45-46.
This parable is very similar to the parable of the treasure and its purpose is to teach us the importance of the Kingdom of Heaven. And this parable has some connections with the teachings of the sapiential books: "Wisdom is the summit; get wisdom, and with all your possessions purchase understanding" Proverbs 4:7.
The pearl of great price or the hidden treasure is essentially the spiritual gift of eternal life, this gift is the same contemplative life. A gift that is a consequence of the new spiritual birth: "No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again" John 3:3.
Through the contemplative life, the meditation on the attributes of God, we receive the gift of longevity and the happiness as a state of the mind, the happiness of the heart. Aristotle in his studies defined contemplation as the most perfect virtue for man and thus worthy of the greatest happiness.
For more information visit my profile follow the link and download for free my ebook.