MATTHEW 13:52KING JAMES VERSION (KJV) 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
REFLECTION
In response to the disciples’ affirmation concerning their understanding, Jesus likens them to a householder able to integrate the new with the old. The disciple who has been properly instructed has at his command both Judaism (old) and Christianity (new).
Shall we go back to the basics? If you’re anything like me, you really need to know the background to this parable; let’s go: Scribes were people in the Old Testament who wrote down the laws to preserve them. They also interpreted them for the people to follow. They were quite like the Pharisees of the New Testament who taught the laws and kept them up to date. The trouble was: that while God originally gave His prophet, Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws, the religious leaders placed more emphasis on their Books of Interpretation of the Laws, than the actual words spoken to Moses by God.
This is what angered Jesus the most about the religious leaders. They set hard rules for the common people but broke these same rules themselves. Jesus publicly called them hypocrites: the blind leading the blind!
Essentially, a scribe was to bring new truth into the Word of God to make things relevant and applicable to the current generation. Scribes brought modern-day applications to something that was old. They had to carefully and painstakingly copy all the Scriptures slowly and carefully by hand with total accuracy. Otherwise, they needed to start all over again. There were certainly not any modern computers to delete or add things, or to easily change the size and type of font. It was an extremely specialized and arduous occupation but the authority that it generated among the people was well worth the associated stress and pain.
If they were to bring something new, that was not based on the written Law, or that couldn’t be found in what was already written: the scribe would be called a heretic and his reputation ruined as an expert Bible scholar. But if his comment was based on something Jesus taught, then the new application and insight would bring life to the teaching.
So, the proper teacher of the Word, the real Christian today should be able to know the Word of God and apply it according to what is currently going on around them, similar to what their Master did on earth. Hallelujah!
However, some human characteristics, like selfishness, do not change in people.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart of man is deceitfully wicked.” But, we do not have to continue with the old heart of man. Jesus can give you and me a new heart. Life has changed; the way we do things has changed. You and I, as believers, are to bring modern applications to something that was taught in the Bible by the Prophets, the Apostles and Jesus Himself. Today, we need to understand and apply it in order to gain some sustenance for our day to day life.
The principles behind the parables do work! Here, Jesus said He is like a householder who brings out his treasure—things old and new. There are certain things which are old, but have modern things mixed into them. An example would be a sixteenth century ring with a stone in it that is fashionable today and deemed “modern”. You can imagine this old craftsmanship as something fabulous and admirable—a modern stone in an old gold ring.
- Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The words of Jesus are true. Jesus does not change yet He likes His truth to be relevant and contemporary, which is what this parable is all about. There is great wisdom in keeping some of the old truths in the parables, but there is a great use for modern understanding. Jesus is always up to date. He is relevant. If He were here on earth today, He would be using parables that were talking about things we know and do today.
Jesus said that a good scribe is able to do this, just like a proud mother or wife presents a meal with the best of her plates and dishes. She may serve a meal on antique plates that were given to her by her great grandmother but when she serves the food, you can be sure it will not be a hundred years old.
MEDITATION
Which is better, the old or the new? The parable of the householder's treasure is similar to the parable of the patch and the wineskins (remember last Friday’s parable from Matthew 9:16). Are we to throw away the old for the sake of the new? Or renounce the new, because we prefer the old? The "scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" is certainly privileged. A scribe in Jesus' time was noted for his learning of the Jewish scriptures (the Old Covenant). He was a teacher of God's law and wisdom. The scribe (and disciple) who recognizes the new teaching and law which Jesus brings, does not need to abandon everything he learned. He can now use it in a new light which Christ reveals to those who listen. The words "old" and "new" are often used in the New Testament to refer to the Law of the Old Covenant and to the Gospel. So, a scribe or disciple who is trained by Christ understands and teaches both the Law and the Gospel. Consider how impoverished we would be if we only had the Old Testament or the New Testament, rather than both.
The Lord gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both the old and the new. He doesn't want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new work of his Holy Spirit in our lives. We all eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God's word and plan for your life, aren’t we?
Prayer: "Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Help me to seek you earnestly that I may conform my life more fully to your will. And please Lord, help me to remember and commit to my heart that_"
1. Jesus Christ is the true Treasure; in him there is an abundance of all that which is rich and useful, and will be a portion for us: all fullness (Col. 1:19; John 1:16): treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3), of righteousness, grace, and peace; these are laid up for us in Christ; and, if we have an interest in him, it is all our own.
2. The gospel is the field in which this treasure is hid: it is hid in the word of the gospel, both the Old-Testament and the New-Testament gospel. In gospel ordinances it is hid as the milk in the breast, the marrow in the bone, the manna in the dew, the water in the well (Isa. 12:3), and the honey in the honey-comb. It is hid, not in a garden enclosed, or a spring shut up, but in a field, an open field; whoever will, let him come, and search the scriptures; let him dig in this field (Prov. 2:4); and whatever royal mines we find, they are all our own, if we take the right course.
3. It is a great thing to discover the treasure hid in this field, and the unspeakable value of it. The reason why so many slight the gospel, and will not be at the expense, and run the hazard, of entertaining it, is because they look only upon the surface of the field, and judge by that, and so see no excellency in the Christian institutes above those of the philosophers; nay, the richest mines are often in grounds that appear most barren; and therefore they will not so much as bid for the field, much less come up to the price. What is thy beloved more than another beloved? What is the Bible more than other good books? The gospel of Christ more than Plato’s philosophy, or Confucius’s morals: but those who have searched the scriptures, so as in them to find Christ and eternal life (John 5:39), have discovered such a treasure in this field as makes it infinitely more valuable.
4. Those that discern this treasure in the field, and value it aright, will never be easy till they have made it their own upon any terms. He that has found this treasure, hides it, which denotes a holy jealousy, lest we come short (Heb. 4:1), looking diligently (Heb. 12:15), lest Satan come between us and it. He rejoices in it, though as yet the bargain be not made; he is glad there is such a bargain to be had, and that he is in a fair way to have an interest in Christ; that the matter is in treaty: their hearts may rejoice, who are yet but seeking the Lord, Ps. 105:3. He resolves to buy this field: they who embrace gospel offers, upon gospel terms, buy this field; they make it their own, for the sake of the unseen treasure in it. It is Christ in the gospel that we are to have an eye to; we need not go up to heaven, but Christ in the word is nigh us.
And so intent he is upon it, that he sells all to buy this field: they, who would have saving benefit by Christ, must be willing to part with all that they may make it sure to themselves; must count every thing but loss, that they may win Christ, and be found in him. Amen.
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
info@biblestoriestheatre.org
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