2006-04-30 Communion Dedication – Baldwin Christian Church
Jesus taught many parables about the “Kingdom of heaven” on this day, and then He asks His disciples if they understood His teaching. They replied, “Yea, Lord”, so He teaches them one more parable here in verse 52.
Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
When we think of a scribe, we think of someone who writes things down, but everyone considered the scribes as teachers in that day and time. They didn’t just write, they read, and had an understanding of the Law of Moses. They were Scripture authorities whenever difficult questions arose, that is, until the Author (Jesus) came along. Anytime you feel tempted to think that our heavenly Father doesn’t have a sense of humor and irony, just re-read those passages where the scribes and Pharisees tried to trip-up Jesus on matters of Law.
The disciples had listened to Jesus teach about the Kingdom of heaven all day, no doubt some of them scribing down notes, but Jesus had one more parable for them, for you, and for me. A responsibility comes with His teaching. If my heart (the house of the Holy Spirit) fills up with the good things He gives me, but I don’t share, I have failed Him. If He gives me an understanding that helps me make it through a cloudy and dark day, it might help someone else make it through his or her day. New and old treasures from my storeroom, from my heart of understanding, need to be freely given to help others.
On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).
The “new treasure” we find in the New Testament is enough to convince anyone of God’s love, but you know there are always some hard-headed people like me that need something more to help their unbelief, more basis for faith, and that’s where the Old Testament treasure of understanding can help.
After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to a couple of disciples on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him, but they listened to Him as they walked…
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
He taught them from the Old Testament, and what a lesson that must have been!
You and I are like the householder, and the treasure is our understanding of Jesus. He freely gives us this wisdom if we would just seek after it, and He gives us the opportunities, in turn, to give it freely to others.
Just how long can a candle hiding under a bushel stay lit? When the air runs out, the flame dies. Jesus comes in the volume of the book (Hebrews 10:7, Psalm 40:7). He has no desire to see us getting dressed-up, piling in our cars and going to church on Sundays if we go the next six days without making any mention of Him, or even opening up His Book. Out of our love for Him, we need to be generous householders, knowing the right treasure for the right situation, and giving it freely when we’re called upon.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Timothy 4:13-16 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Hebrews 5:12-14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.