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- As shared by Rev. Don Schink, (C) 2004

""[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."" [Matthew 13:51-52]

This question likely relates to not just "The Parable of The Dragnet," but to all the parables as are recorded in Matthew, chapter 13, that we have been studying these past several weeks.

1. THE PARABLE ITSELF:

Jesus is making a point about a "scribe"…"teacher" (of the Law): "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven…"

According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, a teacher/scribe was "A person trained in writing skills and used to record events and decisions [Jeremiah 36:26; 1 Chronicles 24:6; Esther 3:12]. During the exile in Babylon educated scribes apparently became experts in God's written Word, copying, preserving, and teaching it. Ezra was a scribe in this sense of expert in teaching God's Word [Ezra 7:6]. A professional group of such scribes developed by New Testament times, most being Pharisees [Mark 2:16]. They interpreted the law, taught it to the disciples, and were experts in cases where people were accused of breaking the Law of Moses. They led in plans to kill Jesus [Luke 19:47] and heard His stern rebuke [Matthew 23]."

They were more than simple copyist. They were students and instructors as well. It would be assumed, therefore, that a scribe would be expected to understand the finer points of the Law of Moses.

A scribe/teacher "instructed about the kingdom of heaven…." Jesus point is not about a normal scribe, who would understand the whole law. His point was about the scribe/teacher who would be instructed about the kingdom of heaven [via the parable].

Such a scribe/teacher is "like the owner of a house"… a homeowner with "treasure," something of great value… Treasure that is both "new" and "old." The "old" treasure would be his understanding of the Law. The "new" treasure would be his understanding of the law of the kingdom of heaven.

The parable and its "explanation" appear simple enough to understand. But there are also implications from the parable that are worthy of our consideration… Let's consider:

2. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PARABLE:

1. Because the parable was told in response to a question asked of Jesus' disciples…
2. Because His disciples had been told that only by understanding the Word can one bear good fruit - Matthew 13:23, "But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." They had also been asked whether they "understood these things?" [VS 51].
3. This implication is a fair one to make because understanding God's Word was a fundamental aspect of being a scribe/teacher, so it was to being a disciple!

Elsewhere Jesus makes it clear that His disciples must be like scribes… The very word "disciple" means "a learner," which requires one to be like a scribe/teacher. In the Great Commission, Jesus told His apostles to "make disciples" [learners] - Matthew 28:19. Jesus' disciples would then be "taught" all that Christ commanded - Matthew 18:20.

Another implication from the parable is that every disciple is like the owner of a house with treasure… That treasure is the Word of God, which even the partial revelation of the Old Testament was… "More to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold" - Psalm 19:7-11… Better than silver, find gold, and rubies; and "all the things you may desire cannot compare with her" - Proverbs 3:13-18. The value of that treasure is enhanced with the full and final revelation of God's will through His Son Jesus Christ [Colossians 2:2-3].

So do we dare throw away the old treasure just because we have been blessed to receive new? No! Absolute not! That which is "old" can help us to appreciate more fully that which is "new." It can make us "wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ" [2 Timothy 3:16-17].

Of course we must "rightly divide the Word of truth" [2 Timothy 2:15]. We "rightly divide the Word of truth" by observing the distinction between Old and New Covenants [Hebrews 8:6-13]. We also do so by remembering that it is the fuller revelation provided by the Old and New that helps to explain the "mystery" of the Old [Luke 24:25-27; 44-47].

But we must be like the scribes of old to enjoy these treasures… emulating [following] especially the example of Ezra, as seen in Ezra 7:10, where we read: "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observation of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." We need to prepare our hearts to seek the Word, to do it, and then to teach it!

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