Matthew 13:51-52 Treasures New and Old
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” 52And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Before His final kingdom parable, Jesus asks His disciples if they understood all that He has said and they answer yes. Which seems like a bit of an overstretch…
However, even though their comprehension is not mature, it’s not altogether absent either.
One commentator explained that “Their yes did not actually mean that they understood all that Jesus was teaching, only that they believed all that they did understand and were prepared to act on it”
After all, every believer can see the truth, albeit through a glass darkly. Our knowledge will not be completely mature until we are with Christ in glory (1 Cor. 13:12).
Now, today’s final parable of the kingdom, tells us that those who have been trained for the kingdom are able to bring forth treasures both new and old.
You see, today’s verses, look at the Old Testament’s role in the new covenant era.
Only those trained for the kingdom — only those who have taken upon themselves the yoke of Christ — are able to bring forth new treasures along with the old.
The special revelation of Jesus allows His people to see in the Old Testament kingdom truths that have been there since the foundation of the world, but which have largely gone unnoticed.
These new truths are the key to the right understanding of Scripture, but they are not in opposition to the old truths as evident from the parables of Jesus.
The commentary in my Bible says that, “The disciples are not to spurn the old for the sake of the new. Rather, they are to understand the new insights gleaned from Jesus’ parables in light of the old truths, and vice versa. (The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p. 1150).
In other words, … discipleship precedes [comes before] understanding;
The new things taught by Jesus are loyal to the intent and purpose of the Old Testament.
Another commentator explained it like this: the old covenant revelation is not abolished, it is “judiciously integrated” into the new.
Nevertheless, apart from becoming a disciple of Jesus, we cannot see this precious truth.
We believe in order to understand, and so we must make sure we are following the way of Christ if we want to understand His teaching.
Life Happens -
The Bible is such a wonderful treasure. Many have died protecting it.
Others have been martyred making sure it is translated into everyday language for everyday people.
But for the Bible to be properly understood, the great key to this storehouse of knowledge is Jesus.
His Kingdom is the goal toward which Scripture moves.
He is the "Yes" to every promise God has made.
He is the most complete and greatest Word of God.
Because we know him and listen to his voice and let him help us understand what God has said and meant, we can know the great secrets of God's plan.
But this great promise and gift are ours only on one condition: That we are willing to not only study and learn the truth; we are also willing to put it into effect in our daily lives!
Truth becomes real when we live it.
God's grace becomes gracious to us only when we obey him and live in that grace. So let's enter the storehouse using God's key to receive the great riches of his Kingdom!
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