Matthew 13:51-54

Mat 13:51 (KJB)
Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

The understanding of these principles taught in the parables are crucial to the understanding of the Christian faith. Jesus asks them if they had understood what He was teaching them and the multitudes. The word “understood” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of “comprehend or take hold of something in the mind.” Their response to Him was in the affirmative since Jesus had made sure that He explained to them in private the meaning of the parables. There would come a time when they would also speak the principles that Jesus spoke in the parables.

Mat 13:52 (KJB)
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.

The Scribes among the Jews were scholars in the law and were part of the Jewish hierarchy which was opposing Jesus. What Jesus had in view here was the fact that disciples, having understood what Jesus was teaching, were now scribes of the New Covenant. The word “instructed” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of “one who was discipled.” Then Jesus likens the disciples unto a man who is a householder, that is, one who is the head of a house. He would be not only the head of the house but he would also have a family that he would take responsibility by providing for them. In the same manner, since the disciples had been with Jesus for three and a half years, they being considered scribes would also supply the Gospel to all those who come into their presence. The treasure which we give to the people is not a treasure of diamonds and gold, or something in that category but we give them the treasure of the Gospel. (2 Cor 4:6-7 KJV) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. {7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. The treasure is given to us by the Holy Spirit and we carry it around in earthen vessels. One thing about a vessel is that not only does it get filled but it also pours out to give drink and that is what we are to do. We are to give them the drink of the Gospel. Then Jesus says we are to give them something new and old out of that treasure. That would be the Gospel, which is the old, old story but is presented in new forms. (Jer 6:16 KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. In the Old Testament times, the Gospel was shrouded but now the Gospel which was shrouded in the Old Testament, may now be preached as something new coming out of something old. When one looks at Isaiah 53, we can now preach the Old Testament in a new Testament light because it is pointing to the Messiah.

Mat 13:53 (KJB)
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Once Jesus had finished the lessons contained in the parables, He departed from the place where He was. Now this is very important because there are many who just study the Scriptures and never seem to have a ministry. They just continue to learn and never impart to others what they learn. Once Jesus finished the parables, He departed. This means there must come a time when the learning must stop and a Christian must give out what they have learned. It is good to continue learning because the Christian life is all about learning and dispensing. If we give out, like the householder, all the knowledge we possess, then we are making an impact for Christ in this world. If we just study and go from one lesson to another without dispensing the information, then we are nothing but professional students without a cause.

Mat 13:54 (KJB)
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Jesus had left the area of Galilee and headed south to the city of Nazareth. According to Jewish custom, any able Jewish man had the right to speak in the synagogue. Jesus had grown up in their midst so they knew Him and His family. It seemed their question was not about what He was teaching, which was a big mistake, but more focused on how did He acquire such wisdom in the understanding of the Scriptures and where did He get the ability to do mighty works. They knew that since Jesus grew up among them, He had no special theological training being a carpenter. It was probably another case of envy because they saw that Jesus had good understanding and the ability to do mighty works and they did not.

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