“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Matthew 13:52 ESV
NLT: Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.
HELPS WORD_STUDIES reveals that our word here for ‘trained’ is the Greek word #3100 ~ disciple. The Greek uses the past tense of 'having been,’ and so translates this as having been discipled, and gives us the following definition and explanation ~
3100 mathēteúō (from 3101/mathētēs, "disciple") – to disciple, helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured disciple (literally, "a learner," a true Christ-follower); to train (develop) in the truths of Scripture and the lifestyle required, i.e. a believer learning to be a disciple of Christ in belief and practice.
Our life and work in the Kingdom reveals the level of our growth in discipleship. As we grow in the knowledge of God, we become equipped with understanding and wisdom to project Kingdom realities.
Matthew chapter thirteen deals with Jesus’ method of teaching through parables. When the disciples ask, ‘Why parables?’, Jesus responded, so you will know the secrets of the kingdom. He begins his answer by explaining his purpose (verses 10-16) and restates the explanation again in verses 51-52. Highlighting their need to understand, he has taken the time to thoroughly explain to them Kingdom realities through parables, thus learning ‘new gems of truth as well as old’.
We learn the parable of the sower is foundational to understanding all parables. The condition of the heart is the measure of fruit-bearing. Always assigned to do greater works, it is paramount that a disciple purge himself from all things that would prevent the fullest measure of fruitfulness. The parable of the sower explains the need for examining and guarding one's heart, which becomes foundational to all activities in Kingdom work.
Continuing with Matthew chapter 13, mindful that the purpose of all the parables was to train the disciples with new gems of truth that gave them understanding (secrets) of the Kingdoms operation; we come to the parable of the weeds and the parable of the nets.
First we learn from the parable of the weeds that we have an enemy who sowing corrupt seeds in the fields we are working in. Bad seeds grow with the good. Then the parable of the net explains how the Lord will separate the good fish from the bad at the end of the age. It is important to note, in both of these parables, who, how and when the unprofitable is dealt with.
The parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leaven both teach us that this new Kingdom penetrates everything it touches, growing into fruition. The Mustard seed shows us how the smallest of seeds grows into a tree that can provide a dwelling place of rest and security for the birds of the air. The leaven shows us the ability and the power, the kingdom has to impact and influence all it penetrates. Growth and increase are the natural state of this Kingdom.
With Jesus’ words to his disciples, ‘I give you all authority over all the power of the devil… and nothing shall by any means harm you,’ (Luke 10:19; Matthew 28:18), and His final recorded expression, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…Go therefore and # 3100 disciple all nations. Having been trained, discipled, they were ready to go and do His work, holding treasures of truth, both old and new.
To be continued…..