Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matthew 13:51-52)
Having taught His disciples many parables, in public and in private, about the kingdom of Heaven on Earth, Jesus asks them if they understand. The Greek word for “understand” means to put together, to comprehend. Yes, they had connected the dots.
Jesus then likened them to scribes. A scribe was a scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures. The disciples already had an understanding about God’s purposes in the Old Testament. Maybe not all the ins and outs, but enough to know about Messiah and His kingdom. Now they were being instructed — “discipled” is what the Greek word means — by the King Himself. They were receiving fresh revelation on important aspects of the kingdom they had not known before. They were witnessing the fulfillment of what the ancient prophets had spoken.
Every student of Old Testament promise who has also been discipled concerning its fulfillment is like the master of the house who “brings out of his treasure things new and old.” The treasure, or treasury, is his storehouse; he has laid up for himself treasure in heaven, that which speaks of Heaven on Earth. He “brings out” things “new and old.” The Greek word for “bring out” is ekballo, which means to fling or hurl forth. It is active, not passive. The master of the house does not wait to be asked, but is passionate about taking these things to others.
The Greek word for “new” refers to that which is fresh; the word for “old” speaks of that which is ancient, antique, worn by use. For where there is a promise, it must be fulfilled, or else it will become stale. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire [that which is hoped for] comes, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). The “scribe” discipled about the kingdom of heaven not only brings the hope, but is also able to show the fulfillment.
Just as Jesus came preaching the good news of the kingdom of heaven, He prepares His disciples to do the same — to offer the hope of Heaven on Earth, and the fulfillment of that hope through faith in Messiah.
The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
Keys to the Kingdom of God
in the Gospel of Matthew
by Jeff Doles
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Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.
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