Matthew 13:52, commentary and pictures

Every person taught the truths of the kingdom is like a faithful householder entrusted with a storehouse to share with others, bringing out of the Scriptures both long-established truths and truths newly understood, with the Old Testament and the New Testament presented together as one complete gospel. Christ himself is the central treasure of that storehouse, especially in the truths of redemption, incarnation, atoning sacrifice, and the cross. Becoming such a steward requires diligent, prayerful searching of the Scriptures until the mind and heart are stored as a disciplined treasure-house of promises, warnings, doctrines, and practical lessons ready for every need. The treasure is not to be hoarded but to be shared as timely spiritual food in a fresh and uplifting way that meets the need of the moment and leads to lived knowledge of the truth. As it is shared it increases, giving deeper knowledge and new discoveries to the giver, and the faithful will continue bringing forth things new and old throughout eternity.

Images and Their Meaning

The instructed scribe is one who has been taught the truths of the kingdom of heaven, a disciple and continual learner whose part is to share what has been learned with others. Such a learner remains open to the Spirit's teaching, keeps growing in knowledge, receives fresh ideas and increased light from Scripture, and holds fast to truth already received without resting in limited knowledge or becoming suspicious of further light God may send. As the heart is opened to Christ, precious things are received to be given to others rather than merely repeating prepared words. The householder is the faithful steward of that trust, entrusted with truth and with place and gifts to be used for others, especially to help those for whom Christ died and to prepare the way for His second coming. To possess the treasure the steward searches the Scriptures earnestly, receives heavenly truth by faith that works by love and purifies the soul, and then shares what has been received as a responsibility and not as a matter of personal ease. As the truth is imparted its treasure increases, understanding and appreciation grow, habits and customs are conformed to Christ, and the learner is led to uplift the Saviour.

The treasure and storehouse are the Word of God and the Scriptures, the doctrines of truth and the riches of Christ, kept also as a treasure-house in the mind and heart. The mind is to be stored with knowledge of God's word, filled with precious things, promises, directions, warnings and reproofs, so that truths are ready to be presented when needed and to meet the need of the moment. For the physician this storing means diligent study until familiar with its promises, then drawing from the heart's treasure and from the mind's storehouse words of comfort and instruction that awaken need of Christ, directing the sick to the promises and to Christ as chief Physician, repeating His comforting earthly lessons and telling of His healing works, tenderness and love, teaching line upon line and precept upon precept and strengthening instruction with tears and prayer. The young are to be taught to hold these doctrinal riches firmly and to present them effectively.

Things new and old are the Old Testament and the New Testament together, neither complete without the other, and also truths long established and truths diligently studied and newly understood. The truths of the Old Testament are as valuable as those of the New, for Christ has been humanity's Redeemer from the beginning, people in every age are saved only through faith in Him, and in both dispensations He alone can grant pardon. Old truths of Scripture may be revealed by Jesus in a new light, and they must be received with humble, open hearts through diligent searching of the Bible, coming into harmony with inspired teaching rather than imposing human interpretations or shutting out further light. The true teacher learns from Christ and seeks the Scriptures earnestly, so the store is continually renewed and can supply both the familiar and the newly discovered, and the words do good because they echo Scripture and prepare hearers who take heed to testify. The truths of redemption are inexhaustible, including Christ's incarnation, atoning sacrifice and mediatorial work, so that each diligent search reveals further light and the faithful will continue bringing forth new and old truths throughout eternity.

Christ Himself is the central treasure and center of all truth concerning salvation, especially the truths of redemption, incarnation, atoning sacrifice, mediatorial work and the cross. He is the treasure of both Testaments, revealed to the patriarchs, foreshadowed in the sacrifices, portrayed in the law and proclaimed by the prophets, and revealed in His life, death, resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit, through whom humanity may partake of the divine nature and cooperate in restoring life to sanctified paths. Truth centered in Jesus and the cross is to be taught clearly and without compromise under the Holy Spirit's guidance. This teaching belongs to Christ's instruction in Matthew 13, faithfully recorded to shape believers' hearts and guide ministry to the end of time as essential to true education. It closes the parables with the call that God does not desire the wicked to perish but calls them to turn from sin and live, while those who perish do so because they reject His pleading and cling to sin.

Christ Himself drew from this inexhaustible store, bringing out things new and old to illustrate and strengthen His teaching, making truth clear, touching the heart and awakening sympathy. He did not force belief nor attempt to prove truth by long, farfetched, complicated reasoning, but illustrated truth in all its bearings and left hearers free to accept or reject it. Reading every heart as an open book, He came right to the point with clearness and earnestness that commanded truth to the conscience, as in the prodigal son and the lesson on forgiveness at Simon's house.

Old and New Scriptures

The gospel embraces both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and neither stands complete without the other. The instructed scribe therefore brings out of the storehouse truths that are old and truths that are new. The written Word is the great treasure-house of Christ's riches, holding both Testaments together as one provision.

The truths of the Old Testament are as valuable as those of the New. Christ has been humanity's Redeemer from the beginning, people in every age are saved only through faith in him, and in both dispensations he alone can grant pardon. He is the treasure of both Testaments.

The Old Testament reveals Jesus as the promised Messiah and explains his mission through its law and prophecies, through patriarchal revelation, through sacrifices that foreshadowed him, through his portrayal in the law and through proclamation by the prophets. It was written for every age and people as a witness to him. The New Testament records his personal teachings, his life, death and resurrection, the fulfillment of what was foretold, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The two Testaments are inseparable, for both teach Christ, and each depends on and illuminates the other. Faithful teachers of the gospel therefore diligently search both, study both, and present them together. Each is to be presented in its true light, with the old treasures searched out for their testimony to Jesus and his mission.

To reject either Testament is to reject essential testimony about Christ and leaves a teaching that cannot lead to salvation. Presenting both in their true light includes the commandments and the Sabbath. God's commands are to be regarded as unabolished, unchangeable truth given from the beginning, conforming habit and custom to Christ. Earnest, reverent study also brings to light truths long obscured by superstition and false doctrine, including truths about God's law, giving light and joy even to babes while learned interpreters may miss them.

Stewardship of Truth

Everyone taught the truths of the kingdom is accountable to pass on what has been received, like a householder drawing valuable items from a storehouse, for the treasure is never to be hoarded but to be communicated to others. The old treasures to be shared are the Old Testament with its testimony that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in prophecy and its explanation of His mission through law and prophecy, and the new treasures are the New Testament with its record of His personal teachings and their fulfillment, the two being inseparable so that each depends on and sheds light on the other. Rejecting either Testament leaves out essential witness about Christ and cannot bring salvation, so faithful teachers of His doctrine diligently search both and present them together in their true light, including the commandments and the Sabbath. Those enlightened by the Holy Spirit hold the truth of God's word as an important talent entrusted to them, to be received into the heart, kept growing in knowledge, preserved, rightly handled, and presented in fresh and helpful ways rather than by merely repeating prepared words. They treat the Scriptures as messages from God, receiving and believing them, living by every word, and sharing their blessing with others, with genuine faith producing earnest prayerful study and hunger for the life-giving Word as bread from heaven and as the tree of life.

Householders are to employ their place and gifts to help those for whom Christ died and to prepare the way for His second coming, with Christ Himself as the central truth of salvation through whom humanity may partake of the divine nature and cooperate in restoring life to sanctified paths. The treasure represents truths entrusted to disciples instructed in the kingdom, and the figure calls them to labor as Jesus' representatives by bringing both new and old things from their store. Those entrusted with intelligent knowledge of God's kingdom are to walk in the light as Christ is in the light, using that knowledge as a householder uses treasure by bringing out what is old and new and sharing the privilege of the kingdom with others.

Sharing what has been received is a binding responsibility and not a matter of personal ease, requiring earnest searching, reception of truth by a faith that works through love and purifies the soul, and imparting to others what has been gained. As the treasure is imparted it increases, changing habits and customs into conformity with Christ, leading the learner to uplift the Saviour, and showing God's commands to be unchangeable rather than abolished, so that truth possessed by the whole person can be presented in a fresh and appealing way. In preaching this stewardship means sharing what God has entrusted while giving other appointed workers room to bring their own gifts and messages, for the work is not to depend on one person alone since God works through many servants and gives the increase, and teaching should give timely spiritual food without crowding more into a discourse than is needed. God's people are as purified vessels who draw on the storehouse of truth with both its old and new treasures, receiving what is there and then imparting what they have received.

Becoming a Faithful Householder

The instructed scribe is one who has learned lessons from Jesus Christ, the great Teacher, for the purpose of bringing them fully into personal life. True teachers are daily learners of that Teacher, and therefore possess a most precious treasure-house from which to draw things new and old and teach successfully. Their store is continually renewed by earnest seeking of the Scriptures and learning from Christ, supplying both familiar truths and truths newly understood, and their words do good because they echo Scripture and prepare hearers who take heed to testify. Such learners do not see the heavenly Father except with the eye of faith, yet having learned of Jesus they can read His love in the most trying dispensations, partake of the divine nature, and trust Him who gave His only begotten Son and with Him will give all things for spiritual and eternal good.

Becoming such a householder requires diligent, earnest, prayerful searching of the Scriptures to understand doctrine and Christ's practical lessons, uncovering truth like ore dug from a mine. The mind is to become disciplined and stored with the precious lessons of Christ — promises, directions, warnings, reproofs, prophecies, and practical subjects — so that at any time and in any emergency the minister can draw from the treasure-house of knowledge to feed the church, giving each person the portion of meat in due season. Those enlightened by the Holy Spirit are entrusted with God's Word as a talent to receive, keep, grow in, and share, opening the heart to Christ to receive precious things, presenting truth in fresh and helpful ways rather than merely repeating prepared words. The wise householder thus recognizes truth as Christ presents it in both Old and New Testaments and faithfully shares the message of grace, even when ridiculed and denounced by religious teachers.

The mind itself must be a stored treasure-house where each thought is brought to its rightful place and held there by persistent effort, so that precious gems are ready in time of need and the heart is sanctified through the truth, with those who ask in faith never failing of rich blessing. The treasure is possessed by receiving heavenly truth through faith that works by love and purifies the soul, and by sharing what is received. It is received by eating and drinking Christ's words and living by them with vigorous faith, by treating the Scriptures as messages from God to be believed, lived by, and shared, with earnest prayerful study and hunger for the life-giving Word as bread from heaven and the tree of life. It must be enshrined in the heart with whole trust in God and the simplicity of a little child, with the mind cleansed of what is cheap so that the Word of life comes from the lips, then given to others line upon line and precept upon precept, planting seeds of truth without sowing doubt in order to win souls.

Everyone who teaches must remain a learner through this whole life until changed for the future life, and then keep learning through all eternity, with hearts always open for the Spirit to rest upon them and no time spent in indolence. This requires continually growing in knowledge, sinking the shaft deep in the mines of truth to find new precious ore beneath the surface and recover buried treasure, drawing from the infinite treasury of both Testaments to feed God's people, point them to eternal rather than earthly treasure, and impart both newly discovered and long-established truth by plain teaching and Bible readings. Workers are to hold fast to truths already received without becoming satisfied with limited knowledge or suspicious of new light and greater light God opens to the willing, but keep searching the Scriptures to give fresh truth and new beauty rather than repeating the same things. Understanding comes not chiefly from intellectual power but from a teachable, single-minded desire for righteousness, with humble open hearts willing to practice truth, receive old truths revealed by Jesus in new light, and come into harmony with inspired teaching rather than imposing human interpretations or shutting out further light.

The worker must dig for himself by hours of earnest daily study to know the truth and earnest prayer poured out before God to know hidden mysteries, bringing forth to the people what he himself has dug by painstaking effort rather than flippantly reproducing arguments that are the product of other brains, which in self-sufficiency turns away from truth unto fables. Mysteries hidden for ages are to be revealed in these last days to a humble people leaning upon infinite power, with truth opened to the humble seeker whose life is hid with Christ in God. Sanctified intellect that so brings forth new and old grows out of study of the law of God, the instruction given to Moses, sacred history tracing God's dealings, the great truths taught by the types in the sanctuary service with faith grasping Christ as the Lamb to take away sin, sacred music and poetry, and training in how to pray and approach God, how to exercise faith, and how to understand and obey the teachings of His Spirit, with devotion cherished. Its manifestation is prophecy and sacred song from minds in whom the Spirit of God works out of the treasure-house of God. Bringing forth new and old includes linking the best and strongest Scriptural truths together and combining them as a perfect whole in harmonious order, especially all the light on Daniel and Revelation, which cannot be done by one mind alone but requires uniting with others who know the Scriptures, helping one another with united talents in most earnest supplication with humility of mind and oneness of spirit.

Presenting Truth Effectively

The instructed teacher presents the treasures of the word in a fresh, agreeable and helpful way that uplifts the Saviour, rather than merely repeating prepared words or confining labor to a few subjects. Such freshness comes because truth has taken possession of the whole person, working by love, purifying the soul and conforming habits and customs to Christ, while the teacher keeps receiving from Christ with an open heart, relying on God in prayer for the Spirit to fill mind and heart with hope, courage and biblical imagery. The word so presented remains ever fresh and desirable, like bread that never grows old and sunlight that continually gives brightness and warmth, and the teacher's store is continually renewed with truths both familiar and newly understood so that words echo Scripture and do good.

The householder feeds the church by giving each person timely spiritual food, the portion of meat in due season, drawing from promises, directions, warnings, reproofs, counsel and Christ's lessons to meet the need of the moment and the emergency. Discourses are not to be crowded with more than is needed, but the minister keeps improving and offers a fresh, living experience, speaking here and there the words of comfort and instruction that are longed for and expected. For the physician this same feeding means making the mind a storehouse of fresh thoughts by diligent study until familiar with the promises, then using precious opportunities with the sick to direct them to those promises, repeating Christ's comforting words from His earthly lessons and healings, telling of His works of healing and His tenderness and love, and never neglecting to direct minds to Christ as chief Physician, giving instruction line upon line and precept upon precept, moistened with tears and made strong with prayers, since failure to speak brings much disappointment.

Faithful presentation teaches doctrine and Christ's practical lessons, exposes dangerous errors, warns against soul-harming error, and educates step by step in prophecies and the practical lessons of Old and New Testaments, using plain teaching and Bible readings. Overseers and ministers who do this are intelligent students of Scripture with lived experience in faith and patience, able to teach others and with meekness to instruct even those who oppose the truth, teaching the truth while living it so that character, words and conduct honor Christ. The preacher must keep searching Scripture so as to share its riches, including new light, rather than being satisfied with what is already known or repeating only a few subjects.

Truth is taught clearly and without compromise under the Holy Spirit's guidance, with Jesus and the cross as the center of all truth, leading people to personal, lived knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus through humble searching and living according to God's will. When believers accept Scripture as it reads rather than twisting it or substituting human ideas and fables, they draw nourishing richness from its treasure to strengthen themselves and those they serve, in contrast to teachings that leave people spiritually starving. Teachers need fresh supplies of both new and old truths from the storehouse to give life and power to hearers and keep work from becoming exhausted, lifeless and dry, while also preserving health and strength for effective labor.

Christ's own way illustrates the verse, for He did not force belief or try to prove truth by long, farfetched, complicated reasoning, but illustrated truth in all its bearings and left hearers free to accept or reject it. Reading every heart as an open book, He drew from the inexhaustible store of His treasure-house things both new and old to illustrate and enforce His teachings, coming right to the point with clearness and earnestness that commanded truth to the conscience, touching the heart and awakening sympathy, as in the parable of the prodigal son and the lesson on forgiveness at Simon's house. The work is to speak what is written and communicate what is good and lovely from the soul's treasure store, instructing line upon line and precept upon precept here a little and there a little, enshrining truth in the heart with whole trust in God and the simplicity of a little child, then laboring with unwearying endeavor to plant seeds of truth in open minds without ever sowing a seed of doubt, with the highest aim of winning souls to Christ.

Those with a living connection with God, sanctified souls who have drunk at the fountain of salvation and draw daily from the exhaustless storehouse, bring a living, fresh experience that cheers, strengthens, encourages, edifies and refreshes others. Such a leader whose own soul is made alive by God's Spirit is earnest, full of zeal and unselfish interest, praying short and to the point and speaking short and interestingly, not offering old stereotyped prayers, dry prosy exhortations, hymns and labors; without personal fellowship with God he cannot lead others to salvation, and presenting living testimony to teachers and pupils requires this vital connection with Christ who gives grace. Thorough work under the verse requires discipline, order and concentrated labor that proves itself by organizing a church and binding off the work, not only preaching but following up by ministering personally, becoming acquainted with interested ones, going to their homes, opening the Scriptures around the fireside, making plain essential points of present truth, removing objections that arise when truth meets error, and presenting every person perfect in Christ Jesus, rather than work that strains the voice, destroys order and leaves no time for close personal effort.

Bringing forth new and old is the appointed work of presenting the truth in clear lines before many people, not serving tables, benefiting the whole family of God by giving each person food suited to the time through writers and speakers who receive instruction from Christ by eating and drinking His words and living by them with vigorous faith. This householder work calls for unselfish service in which householders respect one another's work and do not treat their own voice, knowledge or judgment as supreme. God's messengers are to make their minds a treasury and storehouse of good things, ready to draw out God's word whenever needed, presenting things both new and old and continually holding up the covenant of peace God made with Israel between God and humanity. Solid, impressive, instructive preaching that reveals deep study of the Word, efficiency in labor and the Lord's presence with the speaker shows the speaker is instructed for the kingdom.

Blessing of Sharing Truth

Sharing the treasure causes it to grow, for giving out the riches of grace brings still more grace and a deeper knowledge of truth to the giver, and as the truths are communicated the understanding and appreciation of them increase and new discoveries are added to what is possessed, opening an ever-growing store of old and new truth. Rightly used, the treasure does not lessen, for receiving truth enriches and develops the mind. The truths received are a refining power that develops mind and spirit, and searching them out in order to teach others brings fresh treasure to light.

Truth received takes hold of the whole person, working by love and purifying the soul, conforming habits and customs to Christ and leading the learner to lift up the Saviour. What is in the heart's treasure is then seen in words and conduct that reveal Christ's likeness, for right speech lifts Him up and lets the Spirit impress minds, and a sanctified heart brings out pure, sympathetic words with loving service of the hands to match, while dwelling on Jesus brings forth pure, elevated, sanctifying thoughts. Drawn from the soul's store, such words communicate what is good and lovely to others in daily labor. Presented in this way, truth comes forth fresh and agreeable rather than stale.

The truths of redemption are inexhaustible, including incarnation, atoning sacrifice, and mediatorial work, so that every diligent search reveals further light and the faithful will keep bringing forth things new and old throughout eternity. Those who receive Christ's instruction gain increased knowledge of God to give to others from the treasure house of the soul. When the Bible is opened in this way, earnest reverent study brings to light truths long obscured by superstition and false doctrine, including truths about God's law, giving light and joy to those who receive them, so that familiar Scripture sounds like a new book even to babes in Christ while learned interpreters may miss it through ignorance of Scripture and God's power.

Faithful stewards who share the message of grace to benefit others may be ridiculed and denounced by religious teachers. The same bringing forth belongs to young men trained to preach the gospel and instruct and edify the people from the inexhaustible treasury, to overseers and ministers who are intelligent students of Scripture with living experience in faith and patience, able to teach others and with meekness to instruct even opposers while their character, words, and conduct honor Christ, and to all who know the truth and are enabled to help people wherever they go. It belongs also to physicians and medical missionaries instructed for the kingdom, who keep a treasure-house of truth in mind and heart by diligent study until familiar with its promises, and use precious opportunities with the sick to speak the needed words of comfort and instruction that are longed for, teaching line upon line and precept upon precept, directing minds to the promises and to Christ as chief Physician and healer of soul and body, telling of His tenderness, love, healing works, and power to heal the maladies of the soul with the love of the sin-pardoning Saviour while using God's simple remedies for the body as evangelists and messengers of mercy, strengthening instruction with tears and prayer that souls may be saved from death, and failure to speak brings great disappointment. It belongs as well to managers of publishing houses, who are to bring forth precious treasures from the heavenly storehouse by publishing books of real, sound, glowing Christian experience showing converting power and the Holy Spirit rather than trusting outward display, rivalry, and embellishment, and to converted people of large business ability and means who believe and obey the Scriptures and, controlled by the Spirit, clear away obstructions so the large cities may be warned of the Lord's soon coming.