Good evening.  Well, last week we had a break as we had the revival, but this week we are going to pick right back up with our series, “The Parables Of Jesus.”

Before we move on though, let’s open with a word of prayer

Let me start by asking you a question: When you get something new, what usually happens to the old things that you have?  (New Car?, New Couch?, New Dishwasher?)

Well, as we look at the parable for tonight, we find that that may not be the best thing to do in all circumstances.  The last time we were together looking at the parables, we looked at the Parable of the Dragnet.  Following Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Dragnet, the Bible records a conversation in Matthew 13:51-52.

Tonight I would like to read this from a different translation than the NIV.  It says, “Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”  They said to Him, “Yes Lord.”  Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings our of his treasure things new and old.”

Before we did into this passage, what do you think this parable is about?

Let me read the NIV and see how it tells the parable.  Matthew 13:51-52 says, “1”

Well, the other parables that we have studied thus far have been concerned with the Kingdom of Heaven, and what it is like.  But with this parable, Jesus  is more concerned with the people who have been instructed about the things pertaining to the Kingdom.  This parable is about people like me and you.

So, What is a scribe?

Well here is the Biblical definition of the word scribe.  A scribe was originally a person trained in writing skills who recorded events and decisions.  During the Jewish exile in Babylon, educated scribes became the experts in God’s written word, copying, preserving, and teaching it.  A professional group of such scribes were developed by New Testament times, most of them being Pharisees.  They were considered experts in cases where people were accused of breaking the law of Moses.

We need to understand that they were more than just copiers, they were both students of scripture and teachers of it as well.  They also happened to be some of the leaders in the plans to kill Jesus.  More than once they were on the receiving end of Jesus’ stern rebukes.

But, this scribe that Jesus is talking about in this parable is not an ordinary scribe who understood only the law of the Old Testament.  Jesus was talking about a scribe who had also been instructed about the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the parable, Jesus compares the scribe to a householder.  This particular individual had a treasure that was both old and new.  The old treasure would be his understanding of the Old Testament, and his new treasure would be his understanding of the New Testament.

Now, this parable is very short and it seems simple enough to understand doesn’t it?  But there are some implications that we need to consider very carefully about this little parable.  In fact, there are 3 aspects that I want to cover before we close tonight.

First, Every Disciple Is Like A Scribe

Everyone who claims to follow Jesus is in a way a scribe.  How are we all scribes?

Okay, now that we have that idea established, let’s look at the idea that every disciple is like a scribe.  In Matthew 13:23 it says, “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.”

In that passage, Jesus told His disciples that only by understanding the word could they bear good fruit.  Understanding God’s Word was a fundamental aspect of being a scribe, just as it is a fundamental aspect of being a follower o Jesus.  We are all followers of Jesus, and thus we should try to understand His word.  We are all called to be disciples for Christ, and the word “disciple” means “LEARNER”.  And in order to be a learner we must be like a scribe.

Jesus made this aspect very clear in the Great Commission.  Matthew 28:19-20 says, “2”

In order to be like a scribe, we need to teach what we know to others.  In order to teach what we know, we have to know what we know, and the only way to know what we know and teach what we know is to learn what we know.  That was a lot of knowing there, but you know what I am saying, we have to study the word of God in order to teach others about Christ.

So the first aspect is that every disciple is like a scribe.

The Second Aspect is that Every Disciple Is Like A Householder With A Treasure

What is the treasure that we have?

Of course the treasure that we are talking about tonight is the Word of God.  In the Old Testament, God’s word was considered a great treasure.  In Psalm 19:7-8 David writes, “3”

Everything that comes from God is a great treasure, and that is especially trues when it concerns His word.  Also the value of this treasure is enhanced with the full and final revelation of God’s will through His Son Jesus Christ.  Because in Colossians 2:2-3 it says, “4”

So, because of all that the Lord provides us with though His word, we have a great treasure.  So the second aspect is that every disciple is like a householder with a treasure.

And finally, Every Disciple Has Both Old And New Treasure

Now some people may try and downplay the importance of the Old Testament.  They may say that it was done away with when Jesus came, so it isn’t important anymore.  However, we must realize that it is very valuable to us yet today.  It was written for our learning, and to provide us with patience, comfort, and hope.  Look at Romans 15:4 with me.  Here in Romans 15:4 it says, “5”

Everything that is in the Old Testament is not there by mistake, or to make the Bible a bigger book.  It is there for us to learn from and to gain some wisdom from God’s word.  It was also written for our admonition.  What does that word mean?  Admonition

Well in this case it serves as a warning to us.  In I Corinthians 10:11 it says, “6”

I think that it is important that the disciples had both old and new treasure.  Let me ask you a question: If you were given 5 brand new $100 bills, would you throw away the old money that you had?

Of course not.  Because the old treasure is still valuable to you.  Well, in the same way, the Old Testament is still valuable to us today as well.  That which is old can sometimes help us appreciate more fully that which is new.  I mean think about it, an old car, helps you to value the new one that you buy.  And when you see an old worn out coat, you tend to appreciate the new one that you wear.

Well, in II Timothy 3:16-17 it says, “7”

So, the 3 aspects that we need to gain form this little parable are: Every Disciple Is Like A Scribe, Every Disciple Is Like A Householder With A Treasure, and Every Disciple Has Both Old And New Treasure.

Now before we close tonight, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?

Well as we close this evening, I think that the main point that we want to remember is that we have been richly blessed by God.  We need to ask ourselves if we really appreciate the great treasures that have been given to us, both old and new.  You see, Jesus intended for us to live an abundant life with Him.  But we can’t do that if we let the temporary treasures of this world become more important to us than the eternal treasure of Heaven.  Let’s keep that in mind as we go about the week to come.  May we begin to focus more on the eternal treasure of Heaven than on the temporary treasures of this world.                        Let’s Pray