The Parables of Jesus - The Old and New Treasures

In the passage we are studying, there is one single reality composed of two elements. This reality is the treasure of God revealed in Jesus Christ, and this treasure is made of old things and new things, things past and things to come.

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Pastor Karim

Transcript

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Let's read the passage of the day. It's in Matthew 13, verse 51 to 53. I have put two versions on purpose just to see the different wording. So the first one is the NASV, and the second one is the ASV. So let's read. Have you understood all these things? They say to him, Yes. And 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 new things and old. When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. And the Easter says in one section, therefore, every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house. Amen. Have you understood all these things? Jesus explained to his disciples everything he taught in parables concerning the kingdom of the kingdom of God in the world through him. He was revealing to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. That is, things hidden for generations, but now revealed through his person and his work. The plan of redemption of God to save humanity would soon be accomplished at the cross of Golgotha. But his disciples and those around them could not fully know or understand it. As Jesus was the only, was only in the first year of his earthly ministry, out of three or three and a half. This was just the beginning of his ministry. So by asking them if they had understood all things, he was making sure that they understood the mysteries of the kingdom. The full revelation, who Jesus is, why he came, what he came to do, the reality of the kingdom, the judgment through separation, salvation, and our need for him. But this also could mean that he was testing their spiritual understanding, their understanding of the things of the heavenly kingdom. So sometimes we think we understand who Jesus Christ is. Or the word of God teaches about him. But we may actually be going into the opposite direction. This understanding is spiritual. It does not come only from our intellect. It is through the action of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. And these things are revealed to us, and that we can rejoice in them in our hearts. And then once we rejoice, we want to manifest them in our lives. For the plan of redemption of God through the sacrificial and redeeming work of Jesus to be understood fully. That is the mystery of the kingdom and everything the scriptures reveal about him. Who God is, why he came to earth, for what reason he came, and finally, why we need him in order to live on this earth and for eternity? This is all the counsel of the word of God. They say to him, Yes? Yes? Understand? But do you really think that his disciples truly understood the depth of the parables of the kingdom of heaven? Not even the full extent of these things to come, such as the parable of the dragnet, the separation at the end of judgment. I don't think so. How could they understand without the help and the work of the Holy Spirit in them? How? You see, we can say we understand, but actually we don't understand. Yes, the Holy Spirit was already at work on earth since the Old Testament, working among the people of God, but he did not yet dwell in them, but he will later. For God had announced through the prophet Jeremiah, I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. Jeremiah thirty-one, verse thirty-three. It is a promise. It is only later, after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus into heaven, and with the coming of the Holy Spirit, that the disciple would fully understand and be able to preach Christ in all his fullness. For the Holy Spirit will fully reveal to them who he was, who he is, and who he will be for all those who believe in him. This is the revelation. And therefore, Jesus said to them, Therefore, every scribe has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven. He's like a head of a household. First of all, a scribe was a disciple of a rabbi. That is a religious teacher. A rabbi is a religious teacher, he is a master. He was trained, then received a specific direction according to his calling. He was more than a simple copyist. A copyist is somebody who just copy. No, he was a scholar, a teacher, an interpreter of the law. He influenced and authority were considerable, especially in the religious and legal matters. This was a scribe. He was trained and then he became a master in his discipline. This is why Jesus uses this example. Because he, the supreme rabbi, the supreme master, was telling his disciples that the instruction he was giving concerning the kingdom of heaven was something they would have to transmit faithfully and with conviction. From the study of the scriptures that testify about Christ and the heavenly kingdom, to the manifestation of that written word in Jesus Christ. They would move from the statues of a scribe that has the to the house head, the head of the household, those who would lead the spiritual house, having their foundation the teachings and the works of Christ, revealed by him and also revealed in the word of God, testifying of his work of redemption for humanity. So this parable is not only for pastors or teachers, but for all the disciples of Jesus. Because Jesus says that every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household. This means that every disciple is called to grow, to understand the word of God and to share it with others. But not everyone is called by the Lord to be a pastor or a teacher in the church. But every Christian is called to be a believer who learns to become a disciple. The Christian life has a progression. First we believe, then we become a disciple, then we grow, and then we help others to grow. This is the divine pattern. And a disciple is someone who learns the word, who grows in the word, who lives according to the word, and also to help other people grow in the word. Of course, if we believe that the word is coming from God. This can be in our family, with our children, with a new believer, with a friend, with a brother or a sister in the church. The treasure we have received is not only for us, it is also for others. We share this treasure. We are all called to learn the word of God, to leave the word of God and to share the word of God. Each according to the place God has given to him or to her. We all have a place. Speaking about God and the Lord of hosts, the Almighty whose merciful and compassionate, but also unreachable for man. He was unreachable. The thrice holy God, holy, holy, holy. The new things are the biblical truths of the law and the prophets that are no longer written only on parchment or scrolls, but are written on the heart of man and woman who believes that God sent his only Son to save the souls that belong to Him. It is not a burden. We rejoice in the Word. Jesus is not come to abolish the law, not to invent or create another one. He came to fulfill it, to manifest what scriptures say about him among men, so that they would be saved not by works of the law, but by the saving work of faith in Christ, which justifies us before the Father. The Old Testament is the shadow of the new. However, for the new to be accomplished in the manifestation of Jesus, the old had to be written and told. This is what the revelation of the old served for. So that the plan of God will be understood in spirit and truth. When it was fulfilled by God Himself at the appointed time. It was written and now it's manifested. So God created men. Man disobeyed. God separated men from his presence. God led the people set apart. God gave the law and the prophets, which his people disobeyed and rejected by their behavior. Then God manifested himself in Jesus, the Messiah of His people, confirming the scriptures in order to reconcile his creation with himself. This is the gospel. This is what the kingdom of heaven came to bring to man. This wonderful reconciliation through Jesus Christ, and by extension to the Holy Spirit, who lives in each of the children of God. The treasure is all the revelation of God. The old and the new, which means the whole word of God. The entire Holy Bible is the treasure. If this treasure is the word of God, then we have to learn to read it, to meditate on it, and to study it. For the word of God isn't just it's not just a book. It is the truth that set us free. Jesus said, if you abide in my word, then you are truly my disciples. And you will know and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. It is by abiding in the word that we know the truth. And it is this truth that set us free and help us to grow spiritually. That is why God also gave pastors and teachers to the church to explain the word, to answer questions when we do not understand, and to help each person grow in the knowledge of God and the truth in his word. Amen. However, this treasure can only have value for us if we are aware that God, through his word, through his word manifested in Jesus Christ, loves us. And from this conviction comes a deep desire to know this truth that's come to us. Why? How and how much God loved us and loves us and will love us forever. When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. This verse marks the end of his teaching about the revelation of the kingdom of heaven given by him through the parables. Finished parables means that these parables had a specific function and a purpose. To reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and to establish. That the time of God had come to manifest himself to men so that his reign will come on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus now would enter into a new phase of teaching about the kingdom of heaven. How the kingdom of heaven will act in the world, and how it will be seen through the lives of those who are redeemed by the grace of God. Children of the heavenly kingdom and ambassadors of Christ. This move of Jesus was deliberate because he was now leaving the crowds around the Sea of Galilee, where he had been teaching in parables to a large and simple rural population. And he was going toward another audience, especially in the synagogues, among the religious community, who knew the scriptures and the law, and who would openly question his authority and his identity. So we will go into another section of parables, which is leaving the kingdom of God. Twenty-five parables. It's a long journey, but a beautiful journey. So to conclude this passage, we can see that the Lord Jesus Christ asks us to understand what he has said to his disciple, but also to us. Those who belong to him. Not in a blind or religious way, but with a firm conviction that we belong to Him and that we allow ourselves to be led by His Word. Knowing that this is the truth, the way that leads to Christ. If we truly belong to Him, let us make His word our treasure. The treasure that has the first place in our hearts, in our lives. And in this way, the Holy Spirit will lead us through green pastures. Not without trials and persecutions, no. But with the hope that is greater than the hope of the world offers. The hope of a heavenly kingdom which will be our final home for eternity. Amen. I just want to end with one question. Everyone has a different answer in his heart. So Jesus asked us the same question today. Have you understood all these things? Let's close in prayer. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. Heavenly Father, Almighty and Sovereign God. We thank you for your word, for your grace that allows us to know you and worship you in the spirit and in the truth. We thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, O Lord and Savior, and the head of this church. We ask that you open our hearts and work in us by your Holy Spirit. That we may love your word, walk in your truth, and live for your glory. Keep us on a narrow path and continue to sanctify and transform us. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah. Praise God.