New Treasure

I am thinking of continuing my study of the "new" things announced by Jesus, or found in the New Testament.  I am continuing on Matthew's Gospel, and the next mention of something new is "new treasures".  The verses below provide context for Jesus' comment n the last verse, which provides my focus this morning - Matthew 13:44-52 NIV:

[44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

[45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

[47] “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. [48] When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. [49] This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous [50] and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[51] “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.

[52] He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

That last line really makes me stop, "new treasures" has such a mysterious and enticing sound to it (maybe its just me!)!  Jesus is clearly laying the groundwork for new revelation, new understanding and expanding the description of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is His most mentioned topic, and yet something we rarely hear from the pulpit.  I think it is critical that we understand His teaching on the Kingdom, for that was a key theme to the good news He was proclaiming. 

Interestingly, Jesus is speaking here of those that are learned in Law, the original Greek "grammateus" would be translated scribes, who normally would be grouped with the Pharisees, and yet here Jesus is speaking of them becoming disciples "matheteutheis".  The Greek help defines this as "helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured, growing disciple (literally, "a learner," a true Christ-follower)".  I love that He is laying out an invitation to the learned to become students again, this time of Him and the Kingdom of Heaven.   We sometimes think that Jesus was at war with the Pharisees and such, but He loved them and came to save them just as much as any sinner.

The application here, for us, is to recognize two things.  First, being a disciple requires learning new things, a new discipline.  This is a progressive work, one that takes dedication and application.  We are following Jesus, and we must learn and apply His teachings that we might represent Him to the world.  If we aren't applying ourselves to study, one could argue we aren't embracing discipleship.  Secondly, there is treasure in the Old Testament, and we must not exclusively read from the New Testament. There is much to be learned and understood about the Father in Old Testament, and we must be willing to bring out the treasure from those books.

Finally, the new treasure relates to the revelation of the Kingdom of Heaven.  We would be well served to really study the Kingdom, as described by Jesus, for He is imparting critical understanding to those that will listen and learn.  In the preceding verses, Jesus was speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven, and clearly that is the context of his final statements.  Summarizing His first two descriptions, the Kingdom of Heaven is of greater worth than everything we possess.  When Jesus went through the land, He pronounced the Good News of Kingdom of Heaven being present or at hand, and then demonstrated this reality by healing and working signs and wonders.  This is our call too, so we must understand the Kingdom, learn the ways of the Kingdom, so we can demonstrate this new reality to those in the world.  This is clearly part of the "new treasure".

I was just thinking, that part of the surprise of Jesus' ministry, was that ordinary people, normal humans, could have access to the treasures from the storerooms of heaven, to the very power that flowed from the throne of God (see Ezk 47:1-12).  I am reminded of Jesus' commissioning the disciples found in Matthew 10:1,7-8 NIV:

[1] Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

[7] "As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

This is our call, and our invitation.  We have access to the new treasures, that we might proclaim and demonstrate this Kingdom of Heaven!

Amen and Amen!