“51 Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.  Yes, they replied.
52 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.”

CHRISTIAN TRUTH IS INEXHAUSTIBLE

This short parable occurs only in Matthew.  At the conclusion of his teaching about the Kingdom, he asked his disciples if they understood.  His question related to the disciples’ earlier private request for an explanation (verse 36).  Rather surprisingly, they claimed to comprehend “all these things” i.e. the “secrets of the kingdom of heaven” (verse 11) including the series of parables. 

Jesus realized that the disciples over-confidently claimed more understanding than they actually had, so he likened them to the Jewish teachers of the law.  He made a comparison between a “teacher of the law”, or a “scribe” (AV), and a householder who brings out of his “treasure-house” (Barclay) truth both new and old.  This parable is addressed to “every teacher of the law” or every member of the Church.  Jesus not only taught high moral and spiritual principles, he lived them!

The Bible is a record of the spiritual “treasures” of the revelation of God.  As such, Christian truth is inexhaustible and even subject to centuries of fierce debate by rival schools of theology!  We can never come to the end of what God has revealed in Christ no matter how serious a student we are of biblical truth.  The eternal truth of Jesus continues to apply to new situations in every generation. 

JESUS FULFILLED THE OLD TESTAMENT

Jesus indicated that his gospel was founded upon the Old Testament or the “old treasures”.  He was the fulfillment of the Old Testament types and prophecies.  He declared, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)  The phrase “the Law or the Prophets” refers to the entire Old Testament.  He fulfilled the Law by living up to its standard of righteousness, by fulfilling its predictions regarding the Messiah, by emphasizing an inner righteousness based on love rather than the ritual and external demands of the Law, and by his death he paid its penalties.

THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The NT writers included about 250 OT quotations, especially from the book of Psalms.  If indirect or partial quotations from the OT are included, the figure is over 1,000.  The writers of the NT combined “new treasures as well as old.”  In this way they demonstrated the continuity between the OT and the new faith they proclaimed.  They were convinced that the true meaning and interpretation of the OT was to be found in Jesus Christ. 

The New is in the Old Contained.
The Old is in the New Explained.
The New is in the Old Enfolded.
The Old is in the New Unfolded.
The New is in the Old Concealed.
The Old is in the New Revealed.

However, it is not a case of new things added to the old, but “things new and old” (NASB) or “what is new and what is old” (RSV), that reminds us that the new gospel of the kingdom takes precedence over the old revelation and is its fulfillment.  The Old Testament must be interpreted by the New Testament and not vice versa.  There is only one revelation of God, and Jesus focused on the “new” that was fulfilled and in this way renewed the “old”, which has in a sense also become “new”.   New truths must be loyal to old truths.

THE CHRISTIAN SCRIBE TEACHES TRUTHS NEW AND OLD

The disciples were for the kingdom of heaven, as Christian teachers able to teach God’s ways, what the scribes, experts in the Law of Moses, were for Israel.  The parable of the house-owner challenged the disciples to fulfil this responsibility.  They were to be like a householder who gave out supplies to meet the needs of people.  The parables of Jesus contained new insights and, linked with old truths, were a rich diet of spiritual food.  The truths the disciples were to teach included both the “new treasures” of Jesus’ teaching, and the subsequent New Testament (or Second Testament), and the old truths of the Old Testament (or First Testament).  Matthew refers again to Christian scribes in 23:34.

As a teacher, the Christian scribe is “instructed” (NIV) or “has become a disciple” (NASB; GNB).  Submission to the rulership of Christ is a prior condition to understanding the spiritual “treasures” of the kingdom.  The Christian has a heart that is devoted to God and true understanding comes from knowing and doing the will of God with whole-hearted devotion: (John 7:17).

THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW

The “teachers of the law” explained and taught the Old Testament.  However, Jesus said their righteousness was inadequate because, despite its zeal, it was a human interpretation of God’s law.  The religious leaders buried the Law under a weight of burdensome tradition based on rules and regulations that had to be carefully observed and closed their minds to any new experience of God such as Jesus taught.  The result was moral and spiritual decay in Israel. 

In this age of grace, all believers should be taught by the Holy Spirit and find spiritual insight and knowledge (Colossians 1:9; 2 Peter 3:18).  In contrast to the scribes, “living by the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:16, 25) means living in a constant fellowship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit, not by following religious rules.  When the Spirit of Christ lives within us, we have Christ’s interpretation of the Law written on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3).

A BALANCE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW

Jesus likened a disciple to the master of a house who distributed his truth: “things new as to quality and also things mellowed with age by reason of use” (Wuest)[1].  Christianity is an ever-new experience of God in Christ that is built on the revelation of God from the past.  Without openness for God to do new things, Christianity usually decays into a legalistic religion without a living relationship to Christ.  The religious leaders of Israel were mired in the old and blind to the new.  All Christian teaching should find a balance between the old and the new; a combination of past revelation and present experience. 

As we face new circumstances, we can look back to basic doctrine that should never change, and also discern how to apply biblical truth to new situations and to new issues in fresh and alive ways.  Each generation should preserve and pass on the “old” that has been taught by godly teachers, and to seek God for the “new” that corrects past misunderstandings, and gives living answers to the new questions of another generation.  Above all, we must remember that the centre of Christianity is the person and work of Christ on the cross, and our relationship with him.

Today Jesus asks us the same question, “Have you understood?”  If so, we must share the treasure of spiritual things with others.  The Word of God is a treasure store of spiritual food: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  The origin of Scripture is said to be “God-breathed” i.e., the words of the Bible are to be received as from God himself.  All disciples should have a store of spiritual treasures such as an understanding of the Bible and an experience of God, which they can share with others. 

FOR REFLECTION

• Jesus Christ is our greatest treasure.  How often do you share him with others?
• How can your church find a balance between the new and the old
• Is there something new that God is doing today which your church is ignoring because of its traditions?
• How can a Christian bring out of his or her storeroom both old things and new things?
• Am I ashamed of old truth?  Am I blind to new truth?  Do I have insightful new meanings to old truths that interpret the changing times?
• Have I rejected a biblical truth because it does not fit my system of theology?
• What would you say to someone who, like the ancient Athenians, was constantly interested only in what were “the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21)?
• The ancient Jewish scribe was carefully instructed.  Am I adequately prepared as a disciple of Christ?

PRAYER

Father, we pray for grace to maintain the eternal and unchangeable truths of your Word; yet make new insightful applications of them to contemporary society.  Amen. 

Jim Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Education.