The Pearl of Great Price Parable Quiz — Questions and Answers
All 10 questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the King James Version reference. Use this page as a study guide, an answer key, or a quick review sheet.
Q1.To what is the kingdom of heaven likened?
- A. A merchant man, seeking goodly pearls ✓
- B. A farmer sowing seed
- C. A shepherd with sheep
- D. A king on his throne
Answer: A merchant man, seeking goodly pearls
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls. (Matthew 13:45)
Q2.What did the merchant find?
- A. One pearl of great price ✓
- B. Many small pearls
- C. A chest of gold
- D. A diamond
Answer: One pearl of great price
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:46)
Q3.What did the merchant do when he found it?
- A. Went and sold all that he had, and bought it ✓
- B. Kept it a secret
- C. Showed it to the king
- D. Hid it in a field
Answer: Went and sold all that he had, and bought it
Went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:46)
Q4.What does the pearl represent?
- A. The kingdom of heaven, found in Christ ✓
- B. Material wealth
- C. Earthly power
- D. Human wisdom
Answer: The kingdom of heaven, found in Christ
The pearl represents the kingdom of heaven and the incomparable value of salvation in Christ, worth any sacrifice to obtain. (Matthew 13:45-46)
Q5.What does the merchant's selling all represent?
- A. The complete surrender of all for Christ ✓
- B. A foolish investment
- C. A business transaction
- D. A temporary sacrifice
Answer: The complete surrender of all for Christ
Selling all that he had represents the complete surrender of everything — possessions, reputation, former life — to gain Christ and His kingdom. (Matthew 13:46)
Q6.How is this parable similar to the Hidden Treasure?
- A. Both show the incomparable value of the kingdom and the willingness to give all for it ✓
- B. They contradict each other
- C. They are about different things entirely
- D. One is for Jews, one for Gentiles
Answer: Both show the incomparable value of the kingdom and the willingness to give all for it
Both the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price teach the same truth — the kingdom of heaven is worth any cost, and those who recognize its value joyfully surrender all to obtain it. (Matthew 13:44-46)
Q7.What kind of pearls was the merchant seeking?
- A. Goodly pearls ✓
- B. Any pearls
- C. Only large pearls
- D. Only cheap pearls
Answer: Goodly pearls
Seeking goodly pearls — pearls of beauty and value, representing the search for truth and meaning in life. (Matthew 13:45)
Q8.Why is the kingdom likened to a pearl rather than just wealth?
- A. Because pearls were formed through suffering and irritation, as Christ's kingdom came through His suffering ✓
- B. Because pearls are common
- C. Because pearls are cheap
- D. Because pearls are large
Answer: Because pearls were formed through suffering and irritation, as Christ's kingdom came through His suffering
A pearl is formed when an irritant enters an oyster, and the oyster coats it with layers of nacre — a picture of how the church and kingdom come through Christ's suffering and sacrifice. (Matthew 13:45-46)
Q9.What must a person do to obtain the kingdom?
- A. Recognize its value and be willing to surrender everything ✓
- B. Pay money
- C. Be born of noble lineage
- D. Perform miracles
Answer: Recognize its value and be willing to surrender everything
The parable teaches that obtaining the kingdom requires recognizing its supreme value and being willing to let go of everything else to possess it. (Matthew 13:46)
Q10.What does this parable say about the seeker's attitude?
- A. There is joy in the discovery and no regret in the cost ✓
- B. There is reluctance
- C. There is sorrow
- D. There is doubt
Answer: There is joy in the discovery and no regret in the cost
The merchant went joyfully and sold all — there is no regret when the value of what is gained far exceeds what is surrendered. (Matthew 13:46)