Contemplations #148
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:52
In continuing our look at Matthew 13 and Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God, we have this verse which concludes the parables. It is assumed that a good teacher would bring out old treasures, well-founded, and familiar – but why new? Why isn’t what was good enough in the past, now sufficient for the present? Why did Jesus have to bring anything new, and why would Matthew record this saying for the church? The truth we need to hear is that the very nature of God’s world or reality is that there is constantly more to discover, and that it will always be fresh and new. Thinking that God’s reality is only found in old treasure is a sure way to miss it.
Contemplation #149
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:52
It is interesting that Jesus actually talks about a “scribe” who has been instructed about God’s kingdom. Scribes were the experts in the Old Testament scriptures, and would be consulted for anything regarding their meaning or interpretation. That a scribe would bring not only the old, but the new as well, is about as revolutionary as one could imagine. Such is the power of becoming aware of the nature and essence of God’s kingdom, that even those known as experts in teachings of the past will begin to bring out the new as well as the old. Living in God’s reality entails an orientation toward the new God will present— always a challenging prospect.
Contemplation #150
I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world. Matthew 13:35
Matthew is quoting Psalm 78:2, a psalm of Asaph that recounts the mighty works of God in the history of Israel. Matthew sees Jesus engaged in the same work as Asaph, of pointing out how God has been active in the life of his people. One could say that showing this is revealing the kingdom of God, his reality, which co-exists within and among our realities. The story is old, the insight is new, and the call is to switch our world for God’s— entering and accepting the kingdom of God. Asaph’s work was Jesus’ work as well, and we too have been called to become those who seek and find God’s kingdom.
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:52
In continuing our look at Matthew 13 and Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God, we have this verse which concludes the parables. It is assumed that a good teacher would bring out old treasures, well-founded, and familiar – but why new? Why isn’t what was good enough in the past, now sufficient for the present? Why did Jesus have to bring anything new, and why would Matthew record this saying for the church? The truth we need to hear is that the very nature of God’s world or reality is that there is constantly more to discover, and that it will always be fresh and new. Thinking that God’s reality is only found in old treasure is a sure way to miss it.
Contemplation #149
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:52
It is interesting that Jesus actually talks about a “scribe” who has been instructed about God’s kingdom. Scribes were the experts in the Old Testament scriptures, and would be consulted for anything regarding their meaning or interpretation. That a scribe would bring not only the old, but the new as well, is about as revolutionary as one could imagine. Such is the power of becoming aware of the nature and essence of God’s kingdom, that even those known as experts in teachings of the past will begin to bring out the new as well as the old. Living in God’s reality entails an orientation toward the new God will present— always a challenging prospect.
Contemplation #150
I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world. Matthew 13:35
Matthew is quoting Psalm 78:2, a psalm of Asaph that recounts the mighty works of God in the history of Israel. Matthew sees Jesus engaged in the same work as Asaph, of pointing out how God has been active in the life of his people. One could say that showing this is revealing the kingdom of God, his reality, which co-exists within and among our realities. The story is old, the insight is new, and the call is to switch our world for God’s— entering and accepting the kingdom of God. Asaph’s work was Jesus’ work as well, and we too have been called to become those who seek and find God’s kingdom.
posted by Greg at 9:52 AM
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