Things New and Old – Part seven

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

The disciples answered, “Yes.”

Jesus spent much time preparing his followers for the work that lay ahead of them. They needed to grasp the significance of his teachings and understand how the Truth was to be spread. They needed to rethink the way they used to look at things. Earlier in the ministry, after his “sermon on the mount,” many had exclaimed, “Never man spake like this man.”

Every scribe

In the Jewish community of that time, many scribes devoted themselves to learning the rabbinical writings which they felt interpreted the scriptures. Now Jesus was preparing a new group of “scribes” who would be fit to proclaim the truth of the kingdom with accuracy, compassion and diligence. His disciples were to become much better teachers of the Truth than any of those who were students of the rabbis.

In the case of the followers of Jesus, everyone who taught in his name had to learn to express the Truth and make it relevant to the lives of his listeners. Some of those listening to Jesus would soon be ready to carry on his work; some would be ready in later years and some would fall away, not being able to endure to the end.

Developing in discipleship

The ones to whom Jesus was speaking were his closest disciples. “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him…” (Matt. 13:36).

For a couple of years, they had been given concentrated instruction in the things of the kingdom. They had passed the first stage of their training in becoming scribes of that kingdom. They were developing into teachers qualified to recognize opportunities and possibilities to bring the Truth to others (Matt. 10:11). Their learning was to continue as they followed Christ throughout the land observing how he shaped his teachings to fit the circumstances of his listeners.

Later, following the resurrection, they would be told to “go ye therefore, and teach all nations (make disciples of all nations)…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19,20). That would be a kind of graduation for them. From that time on, Jesus would be unseen and they would have to practice the skills they learned firsthand from the Master.

Householders

The disciples who were to take the lead in carrying forth the gospel would be like a “householder.” The Greek word means a “house despot or ruler.” They would have positions of responsibility and authority for guiding the house of God.

The significance of the term is underscored by the way it is applied to God in a later parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder…” (Matt. 20:1). This begins the parable of the laborers who are hired to work in the vineyard of the householder. The parable covers the history of the ecclesia right up to the final dispensing of “wages” to each worker. The final judgment, of course, is the Lord’s, but along the way, in the course of ecclesial life, ecclesial elders must make assessments and appoint those suitable for performing various functions in the household. This is a weighty responsibility and must be done with a mind influenced by God’s word. Being thus guided, the disciple can “bring forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

Things new and old

We may be inclined to defer the instruction of this parable to a class of elders in the ecclesia and not apply the lesson to ourselves. The words of Jesus, however, are not designed only fora few disciples they are intended for all who commit themselves to him. Each of us must be prepared to dip into the reservoir of our experiences and, using the teachings of scripture, find helpful ways to solve difficult problems. While we may have looked at things in one way, we must be ready to explore other possibilities.

What is meant by the expression, “things new and old?” It does not seem likely that it contrasts the old law with the new gospel. But it may represent an understanding of Old Testament prin­ciples as viewed from the perspective of the New Testament.

“New” is mentioned first, which is no doubt significant. Perhaps what is in mind is the new in light of the old; that is, the old as it is developed and fulfilled in the new. Perhaps it is the marriage of old experiences with new observations. The New Testament is essentially a commentary and amplification of the Old Testament. We must base contemporary decisions on the ancient foundations of truth.

The parable may apply specifically to the accumulated experiences of the disciple. The stores of his knowledge are ever increasing; experience brings out newer and deeper meanings to situations. As a disciple matures, he is able to bring from his wisdom, born of the word and faith-building situations, things new and old. The truly instructed scribe is thoroughly acquainted with the old and builds on it; he applies this to every new situation remaining ever resourceful in his approach.

This process cannot be confined to only a few in the ecclesia. All must be concerned that they develop in Christ. All have those who look to them for example and advice. No matter how young we may be in the Truth, there are those who are coming along behind us and to whom we need to give the benefit of our experience in living the gospel.

Elders

The most direct application, however, is to those who are elders in the ecclesia. They must be vigilant to observe what is going on around them. Having acquired a goodly amount of spiritual knowledge concerning the king­dom and its king, they should be ready to help in situations that are sometimes awkward and difficult to solve.

The ecclesia needs capable teachers. As it becomes necessary, the disciple brings forth out of his treasury things new and old. Each of us has an opportunity to study the life-transforming prin­ciples of the word. If we are influenced by them, we can add new perspectives to our old way of thinking. We can grow and develop so that we may bring forth from our treasure new things and old.