51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “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 13:51–52 ESV)
When Jesus concluded His parabolic teaching, He asked the disciples if they understood all the things that He had said. To understand (συνίημι; syniemi) means to intelligently comprehend. It is to realize to the point of insight. They responded that they did understand and comprehend. One wonders if this was true.
“Before His final kingdom parable, Jesus asks His disciples if they have understood all that He has said (v. 51). They answer yes, which is an overestimation of their insight since the disciples later have no clue about the nature of the kingdom and the suffering it entails. For example, Peter will object to the Lord’s crucifixion (Matt.16:21–23) and all the disciples flee upon Christ’s arrest in Gethsemane (26:47–56). Still, the Twelve are not wholly wrong to say that they have understood our Savior’s teaching, for He has explained His parables to them (13:18–23, 36–43, 47–50). Their comprehension is not mature, but it is not absent altogether,” states R. C. Sproul.
“Their yes did not actually mean that they understood all that Jesus was teaching, only that they believed all that they did understand and were prepared to act on it,” explains Dr. James M. Boice.
Jesus then said, ““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.” What did Jesus mean by this cryptic statement?
Discipleship precedes understanding. God converts and then consecrates sinners. By the act of conversion, followed by the process of consecration or sanctification, the believer progresses from a rudimentary understanding of theology to an increasing knowledge of God; His person and His work. This involves an understanding of the Old Testament revelation and how it applies to the New Testament.
“The special revelation of Jesus allows His people to see in the Old Testament kingdom truths that have been there since the foundation of the world, but which have largely gone unnoticed (vv. 34–35). These new truths are the key to the right appropriation of Scripture, but they are not in opposition to the old truths evident apart from the parables of Jesus,” continues Dr. Sproul.
“The disciples are not to spurn the old for the sake of the new. Rather, they are to understand the new insights gleaned from Jesus’ parables in light of the old truths, and vice versa,” concludes Dr. John MacArthur.
Recently, well-known pastors have suggested that the Old Testament is no longer necessary for the church. A study of the New Testament is all that matters. Jesus’ words from today’s text belies that postmodern perspective.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 