Introduction
This is the fourth parable that Jesus taught his disciples in private. It is sometimes called the Parable of
the Householder. It is only found in Matthew 13:52.
The Story
"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." (Matthew 13:51-52, New International Version).
"Do you understand these things?" Jesus asked them. "Yes," they answered. So he replied, "This means, then, that every teacher of the Law, who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who takes new and old things out of his storage room." (Matthew 13:51-52, Today's English Version).
Jesus asked his disciples if they understood the previous parables. They affirmed that they did. He then gave the fourth and last parable of this series to them in private. The parable is a statement about a scribe (a teacher of the scriptures) who becomes a disciple (learner) in the kingdom of heaven [God] is like a housemaster who gives forth both new and old things from his treasury.
What Jesus is in effect saying is this: "You are able to understand, because you came to me with a fine heritage. You came with all the teaching of the law and the prophets. A scribe comes to me with a lifetime of study of the law and of all its commandments. That background helps you to understand. But after you have been instructed by me, you have the knowledge, not only of the things you used to know, but of things you never knew before, and even the knowledge which you
had before is lit up and illuminated by what I have told to you." [William Barclay, DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES, MATTHEW (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), p. 100].
This parable was directed to his disciples. His disciples had been taught Old Testament truths. Jesus was now their teacher. He was teaching them the meaning of the Old Testament and explaining what parts were to be superseded by his coming death. He was also bringing new truth to them. Jesus did not do away with the Mosaic Law. Ralph Earle comments that Jesus both fulfilled the Law and "Filled it Full." Jesus himself says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone
who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom
of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew
5:17-19, New International Version).
Central Truth
JESUS' DISCIPLES HAVE A RICH UNDERSTANDING
OF BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.
Conclusion
As disciples of Christ, we must be about our Father's business of sharing the good news of the Word of God to
people who are spiritually needy and hungry.
END