Research on “the priceless pearl” “无价的珍珠”宗教比较研究——从圣经故事，守基阿芬第到买椟还珠

Research on “the priceless pearl”

2013-9-18

Imagine in Bible times, pearls were fished by divers around Persian Gulf and Red Sea. They commanded a high price.

Part I Talmudical (Judaisam) from Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

A story very like this is found in the Talmudical tract Shabbath: "Joseph, who sanctified the Sabbath, had a very rich neighbor; the Chaldeans said, All the riches of this man shall come to Joseph, who sanctifies the Sabbath. To prevent this, the rich man went and sold all that he had, and bought a pearl, and went aboard of a ship; but the wind carried the pearl away, it fell into the sea, and was swallowed by a fish. This fish was caught, and the day before the Sabbath it was brought into the market, and they proclaimed, Who wishes to buy this fish? The people said, Carry it to Joseph, the sanctifier of the Sabbath, who is accustomed to buy things of great value. They carried it to him, and he bought it, and when he cut it up he found the pearl, and sold it for thirteen pounds weight of golden denarii!"

Part II Bible

In Matthew 12, Jesus declares Himself the Messiah, predicts His future resurrection and states emphatically that the kingdom of heaven has come – but not in the way the Jewish leaders were expecting. Rather than as a political and military machine, the kingdom has come quietly and with great spiritual power. The Jewish religious leaders clearly reject Jesus as Messiah since He does not fit their preconceived mold.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells eight parables about the kingdom of heaven to help those who trust in Him as Messiah better understand this “mystery” of the kingdom.

44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.

His business is to seek. He starts without delay; he sells irrevocably; he purchases at once. All his worldly wealth is reckoned.

In John's vision at Revelation 21:21, the gates of heaven are actual pearls: huge ones that cover the 12 entrances to the city.

Part III  Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

“Salutation and praise, blessing and glory rest upon that primal branch of the Divine and Sacred Lote-Tree, grown out, blest, tender, verdant and flourishing from the Twin Holy Trees; the most wondrous, unique and priceless pearl that doth gleam from out the twin surging seas; upon the offshoots of the Tree of Holiness, the twigs of the Celestial Tree, they that in the Day of the Great Dividing have stood fast and firm in the Covenant; upon the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God that have diffused widely the Divine Fragrances, declared His Proofs, proclaimed His Faith, published abroad His Law, detached themselves from all things but Him, stood for righteousness in this world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in the very hearts and souls of His servants; upon them that have believed, rested assured, stood steadfast in His Covenant and followed the Light that after my passing shineth from the Dayspring of Divine Guidance—for behold! he is the blest and sacred bough that hath branched out from the Twin Holy Trees. Well is it with him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth all mankind.”

It is not only to describe the Guardian, but a calling for every Baha’i (who have recognized the two seas) and every human beings to recognize the center of the Covenant, walk on the Straight Path and gain one’s only salvation. Also, it tells the station of Shoghi Effendi and the attitude we should have toward his station.

 
Part IV Chinese proverb: Buy a Case and Return a Pearl

During the Spring and Autumn Period in the kingdom of Chu, there was a pearl merchant who often traveled between Chu and the kingdom of Zheng on business. He was a shrewd businessman with a very good reputation and anyone wishing to buy pearls would soon seek him out.

One day, the merchant purchased a very rare and valuable black pearl. To ensure he could sell the pearl for a high price, he asked a respected local carpenter to craft an exquisite case for it out of high-quality wood, and fumigate the case with expensive perfumes. When the case was finished, the merchant put two layers of soft silk in it, and then carefully lowered the black pearl in on top.

With everything in order, the merchant headed for the kingdom of Zheng. He chose a spot in a busy market and set up a display of his prize pearl. Then he sat down and called out “Come and have a look at one of the rarest treasures in the world! A black pearl! Don’t miss this opportunity!” The merchant’s hawking attracted many people. Some of the wealthiest appraisers in Zheng came to look at his merchandise and discuss prices.

The richest man in Zheng, Zhu Liu, came forward to consider the pearl. After bargaining with him for awhile, the merchant eventually sold it to him for three thousand liangs* of silver.

Zhu Liu noticed the fine workmanship, ornate carving, and alluring scent of the box containing the pearl, and couldn’t bring himself to part with it. He opened the case, took out the pearl, and said to the merchant, “You can keep the pearl, but I’m taking the box.” Then he tucked the box into his sleeve and was gone.

The merchant watched Zhu Liu walk away, thinking to himself, “You can’t judge things by appearances. This pearl may be small, but it is worth several hundred times what that case is!”