Parable of the House Owner

Parable of the House Owner

Matthew 13:52 (NIV)

52He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

This parable is a discipleship lesson.  This is one of the parables from the middle of the Galilean ministry period.  It is also contained with this listing of Matthew’s Kingdom parables.

One of the overall messages of this short parable is that as we gain deeper understanding and discipleship we are to impart that knowledge to others.  We are to repeat the process and grow new disciples.  With this parable we can see Jesus laying the foundation for the coming Great Commission and the work that is to come.

This parable is the close to a series of parables in Matthew Chapter 13.  Those in this chapter are some of Jesus’ simplest, yet most profound parables in the Bible.  These are the parables of Matthew that illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus had asked the disciples in verse 51 if they understood the parables, and they responded that they do.  That is when Jesus offers this quick parable to close the teaching.

Jesus is Preparing New Scribes or Teachers

Every minister of the Gospel should be properly trained.  Remember that Jesus’ disciples had no formal training or teaching to rely upon.  For 3 years Jesus trained and mentored His disciples.  By doing this in this way through a variety of teaching methods, the disciples would be equipped not only to understand the Gospel, but also defend it, live it out, and teach it to others.

The traditional scribe restates only the old, stale message.  The scribe or disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven offers teaching that is fresh, but yet values the older knowledge and teaching. 

Scribes had a duty to share what they had learned and what they knew with others.  Jesus is explaining that the disciples (as these new scribes or teachers) have a responsibility to share what they know with others.

We can look to Ezra as an example of the scribe that Jesus is readying.

Ezra 7:10 (NIV)

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

With this short parable Jesus is continuing to teach the disciples that they are going to be teaching others what He has shared with them.  Through His teaching they are learning how to take what they have known about the Law and add new understanding.  Jesus is readying a new type of scribe or teacher.

We are not to hold the knowledge of Jesus Christ to ourselves, we are to share it with others.  We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus is telling the disciples not to keep the treasure of the Gospel to themselves, but we are to teach it and bring it forth.

Jesus brought together the things of the Jewish Law (Old Testament, old) and His new vision and wisdom.  With and through Jesus Christ we learn new lessons from the past teachings.  As those preparing to serve in ministry it is important to be well versed in the truth and knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be prepared and able to teach that.

We cannot give or teach what we do not live out.  God wants us to construct our “being” before our “doing.”  (Maxwell) Ezra shows us this example.  Ezra prepared for it, lived it, and taught it. We need to understand the old before we can convey a new message.  The old treasure is understanding the Law and the new treasure is understanding how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven and be able to teach it.