Thoughts for the Day

(Jesus said to his disciples): ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus has been teaching his disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven, using parables - the parables of the grain of mustard seed and the yeast (Matthew 13.31-33) and the treasure, the precious pearl, and the net full of fish (Matthew 13.44-50). At the end of these he asks his listeners if they understand him, and then follows this up with a rather strange illustration, about scribes - which is only found in Matthew's gospel.

Among other things in the time of Jesus scribes were also teachers of the law, and Jesus says that as a master brings out old and new treasures from his store, so a scribe (and a disciple) should bring out old wisdom and new knowledge to teach others. The old learning will be illuminated and revitalised by the new things Jesus has taught them. They are not to forget what they have learnt from their forefathers, but allow Jesus' new teaching to amplify and enhance it. The great theologian Spurgeon once said that a person "is not weary of the old", neither "is he afraid of the new".

As Christians we do not need to forget the Old Testament bible stories we first heard perhaps as children, but we should allow God to continue teaching us, so that we begin to see extra significance in them through the lens of the teaching of Jesus.

Holy Spirit, Wisdom of God,
help us to continue learning about our faith,
allowing Your teaching to enhance and
illuminate what we have already been taught..
May we learn to keep an open mind,
becoming neither weary of the old
or afraid of the new,
but continuing to grow in knowledge
and in faith to become the people
You would have us be.
Amen.