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| Out of the filthy mud come the gorgeous lotus flower. |
"Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 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." Matthew 13:51-52.
Below are some helpful comments on the passage by John Gill.
A householder is a man that has an household or family under his care, as the ministers of the gospel have, and which is the church of God; called the household of God, the household of faith, a spiritual house, and a family (1 Tim 3:15); consisting of fathers, young men, and children (1 Jn 2:13); of which indeed Christ is properly the Householder and Master. Nevertheless gospel ministers are deputies and stewards under him, and under Him preside over the household, and have the government of it, provide food for it, and protect and defend it; all which require large gifts and abilities, great love and affection, both to Christ and his people; much wisdom, prudence, and knowledge; and great faithfulness and integrity, courage and firmness of mind.
A householder brings forth out of his treasure things new and old:
By "his treasure" is meant, either Christ, who is the great treasury and storehouse of grace and truth; from whence his ministers receive all their gifts, grace, light, and knowledge; or the word of God, the Scriptures of truth, by which the men of God are thoroughly furnished for every good work; or the treasure of the gospel, which is put into their earthen vessels, (2Cor 4:7), into their own hearts, and that stock of gospel knowledge and experience they are blessed with; a large competency of which is necessary to these householders since they are to give out, not niggardly, but largely, and plentifully, and in great variety.
Things new and old:
"Things new and old" are not the new gospel and the old law, for the law is not old, nor the gospel new; the gospel is much older than the law, being hid of God, and ordained before the world was, to our glory; and was even promulgated, long before the law was on Mount Sinai: nor things out of the Old and New Testament, for the New Testament was not yet in being; though it is right, and is the business of gospel preachers, to bring forth such truths and doctrines, as are contained in both.
Rather they are truths that are old in themselves, but newly discovered to them, and therefore new. Every new acquisition of knowledge and experience added to the former stock and fund. The phrase seems to denote the plenty and variety of gospel provisions, which the ministers of it are to bring forth, suited to the various cases of such who are under their care. The allusion is either to a good provider for his family, who lays up stores for them of all sorts, and upon proper occasions brings them forth for their nourishment and relief.
Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Sometimes even the entire Scriptures are neglect while a form of religion continues, just as in the days of King Josiah, 2Kings 22. Such ancient truths, when rediscovered and learned anew are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths. Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned them to His people.
Apostle Paul commanded Timothy thus, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." A student of God's word will find many old gems that have been obscured or completely lost. Studying to show himself approve unto God will enable a student of the word of truth to discover many new things to fill his treasure store. Studying to rightly divide the word of truth will lead to the discovery of lost truth. But new things that are not old truths rediscovered are most likely heresies. However, ancient truths recovered anew are often rejected as error. May our Lord help us to have wisdom and boldness to reject human traditions, but embrace the truth of His word.
Apostle Peter exhorts the believers, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen." Growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ involves the acquisition of 'news things' - discovering ancient truths anew.
Occasionally, some old stuff in our treasury has to be consigned to the dunghill, when they are shown to be counterfeits. This is a difficult thing to do, but keeping counterfeits that were sincerely mistaken for the truths of the gospel is not only foolish but are positively harmful.
May our Lord Jesus Christ grant each reader a great measure of the Berean spirit, “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
