4-4-2026          Three pearls: Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding   

                            

Just what does a pearl represent?

The word ‘pearl’ or ‘pearls’ is used nine times in the New Testament and the same words used Each time appears as either:

Margarites G3135 – pearl (as in from an oyster)

Gabiyah H1378 – pearl or ice-like - Job 28:1-18, Job explains the value of wisdom,  appears once in the Old Testament.

Matt.13:44-45            Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, when a man finds it and hides it, it he sells all that he has so he can buy the field.  He becomes like a merchant who seeks only the best pearls.  Wisdom is ls like a pearl and should be sought after as the most precious thing which exists.  Why?  Because it is precious and desirable.

Okay so we understand the ‘value’ of the pearl.

Job tells us that wisdom is more precious than the finest metals or most exquisite gems.  To be desired more than anything.  He tells us that the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and that departing from evil is Understanding (Job 28:1-29).

Pearls know no race, gender nor age and guess what?  Neither does wisdom, nor does knowledge nor does understanding. 

Now let’s take a look at wisdom.

Wisdom

The Hebrew word chokma H2451 – is wisdom, skillful, wisely or wit.  It appears in the Old Testament over 200 times, mostly in the Book of Proverbs (The Book of Wisdom). 

No, this not a study of the Book of Proverbs, but let us look at a few examples of wisdom.   Proverbs starts off with the right phrase: To know wisdom and instruction and to perceive the words of understanding (Prov. 1:1, 1 Chron.22:12).  So the Book of Proverbs, in part, is about how Father teaches us wisdom.  Get wisdom and understanding and never part from what God says (Prov. 4:5).  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7).  Should we lack wisdom, ask God for He will give it liberally and not look down on us for asking (James 1:5).  The world’s wisdom is foolishness with God for He judges the world by their own deceit (James 3:19).  The world gains its wisdom via the prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2).  Satan is the Prince and power of the air for when God cast him out of heaven, it was down to the earth to deceive the world (Rev. 12:9).  Don’t Fret, Satan’s earthly rule is not eternal for he will be cast out (John 12:31).  So we see that God is the only true source of wisdom and those who don’t seek Father and His wisdom are foolish (Prov. 12:15).  (read the whole book)

Knowledge

God is Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  To get to know God, our hearts and minds must be directed towards Him.

So to find wisdom, we need to have knowledge of God the Father.

Daath H1847 – know, be aware of (Gen. 2:9)

Gnosis G1108 – knowledge (scientific) (Romans 11:33)

Epignosis G1922 – full discernment, knowledge (2 Peter 1:2)

Sunesis Gl4907 – intellect, understanding, knowledge (Eph. 3:4)

 To gain knowledge, we must have resources and there are various means of communication sources available to us.

Going to a church which preaches God’s love is a good beginning.  After all, faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).  However, reading or hearing the bible preached is not the initial source for most people.  Family, friends and neighbors are possible sources.  Even media might publish something that ignites a spark for the Lord in us.  Perhaps a Christian concert or a rally or gathering where Christ is promoted, the ‘light’ comes on.   

However, once we commit our lives to Jesus, we have to learn about Him.  We have to learn what type of relationship does He want and that, my friends, is a life-long experience.  Father shows us that He does desire a relationship with each and every one of us.  He came to visit with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:8-10).  Is this the only time God came to talk with Adam and Eve.  Scripture doesn’t say, but I personally believe that God communed with Adam and Eve on a regular basis. And I know that He communes with His creation, as often as we let Him.  Think about it.  As a child we had a favorite toy. Did we play with it just once and then forget about it?  No.  We played with it a lot.  Have we met someone with whom we would like be friends with, then never talk with them after that initial meeting?  Of course not.  We pursue the relationship because we enjoy their fellowship.

As we submit ourselves to God and draw near to Him, God will draw near to us (James 7-9).  When we open the door to Jesus, He will come in and ‘sup’ (fellowship) with us (Rev. 3:20).

As believers, God is always with us and His right hand holds us up, He councils us, then receives us into glory.  He is the strength of our heart (Psalm 73:23-26).   After all, didn’t Jesus give His life for us on Calvary, while we were till in our sin (Romans 5:8)?

We need the knowledge knowing that God does cares for us and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 3:16, Heb. 13:5).

Understanding

We’ve gained knowledge through the words we are looking at, but we need understanding of what those words are really saying to us in order to gain wisdom from what are discovering.

In order to grow in our relationship with the Lord, we have to understand so we can truly grow in our relationship with the Creator of all things.

In my reading of the bible, Father has shown me that how we understand a word today may not carry the same intent as it did 2000 or 3500 years ago. 

I’ve used two Hebrew and two Greek words translated as understanding to help us to ‘understand’ what we’re talking about.

Tabuwa H8394 – intelligence, reason, discretion, wisdom, understanding (Exod.31:3)

Biyn H995 – teach, inform, instruct, help to understand (Deut. 1:13)

Parakoloutheo G3877 – attain, fully know, understand (Luke 1:3)

Sunesis G4907 –  intellect, knowledge, understanding( Mark 12:33)

As an example, in Matthew 16:18  Jesus says “…You are Peter ,  and upon this rock I will build my church …”.  Here, Peter’s name means rock, petros (G1074) which means a ‘piece’ of a rock, whereas the rock upon which the church is built is petra (G1073) a mass of rock).  The bible rightfully  translates them both as ‘rock’ but petra would seem to be a bigger than petros, much bigger, which could change our perception of what this passage is saying. 

Another example are the Greek words exousia  and dunamis.  Exousia is the Greek word G1849 used in Matthew 10:1.  It is translated ‘power but carries the connotation more of authority, jurisdiction, as well as power or strength.  In Acts 1:8, dunamis is explosive strength, violent, or mighty (wonderful) work, we might even say ‘absolute’ power.  In Jesus’ name, the apostles had the authority to do mighty works but Jesus was the power. because the Holy Ghost had not yet infilled the Apostles.  In Acts 1:8, the Holy Ghost becomes Jesus’ power in us, a promise to accomplish tasks He did (John 14:12-13).  The Holy Ghost has been made available to us from the upper room until now (Acts 2:1-16).

We also have to look at the context within a passage in which words are used.  We may even have to read the full passage, or perhaps a whole chapter or a whole book to obtain a more complete understanding.  Understanding is not just knowing what the word says, but come to know their application and intention in the passage.

SO

Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding all help us to attain what Father wants us to know and how He expects us to accomplish our tasks

Knowledge works so we can grow in wisdom so we can use the words properly.  But understand that as we grow in wisdom, wisdom increases our knowledge, knowledge increases our understanding.  And as wisdom, knowledge and understanding grow, they feed off of each other, working in a circular fashion to become a perpetual growth within us.  This will help us reach our full potential to which Father has planned for us.

Love, peace and joy become byproducts as our wisdom, knowledge and understanding increase.  Why?  Because we are growing in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We grow in His love so we can truly come to know who Father, Yahweh, the Great I AM truly is.

So ‘rest, reset and recalibrate’ move into our crossroads which sets us at a turning point so we can have the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to understand our direction as we draw ever closer to our Lord.

And every time we experience growth, we experience a crossroad and a crossroad brings a need to make a decision and decisions bring the need for wisdom knowledge and understanding so we make right decision to continues our Spiritual growth. 

Amen