Things new and old
“Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old” (Matthew 13:52).
In Acts 17:21 Luke records that “all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing”. Things have not changed that much. The world is still obsessed with news about celebrities, royalty, sport, politics, art, music, and much more. But there is uncertainty about the news. What we first hear and repeat often turns out not to be entirely factual. The primary emphasis can be on telling or even inventing “some new thing”, rather than its truth. Once circulated, a false story is all but impossible to withdraw.
The Gospel expresses the good news of salvation in Christ. It is still good news after more than 2000 years, and there is no uncertainty about it. It creates a new song in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus Christ, expressed in transformed lives. It is based on the Saviour who is “the way, the truth and the life “(John 14:6) and was demonstrated in His gracious life, sacrificial death, powerful resurrection and glorious ascension.
In John’s Gospel, just before laying down His life for us, the Lord Jesus outlined the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who He also called the Spirit of truth. He promised the Holy Spirit would dwell with us and be in us, and through Him we would know the presence of Christ (John 14:16-18). In chapter 15, Jesus explains the work of the Spirit of truth is to witness to Him (v. 26). Then in chapter 16, the Lord says, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-14). This is a remarkable promise. The Holy Spirit revealed to the apostles the whole counsel of God, to build up Christ’s Church and continually bless it. The Church does not add to this truth but receives it and upholds it.
The word of God is a life-giving and life-sustaining treasure that never ages and always has fresh application to our lives. We need to be constantly reminded of what we have learned, heard, and taught about: “the truth … in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:20-21). Scribes studied the word of God. Ezra was an outstanding example of a true and faithful scribe: “Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
At school, my art teacher taught me there are two ways to look at a great work of art. One is to stand and drink in the beauty of the whole painting. The other is to study the same well-known painting and see in the tiniest brush strokes a beauty you had never seen before but which was there all the time. In our verse today, the “old” treasures illustrate profound and well-known truths of Scripture that we need to be constantly reminded of and overwhelmed and empowered by. The “new” treasures have always been there for us to see. We just needed God to open our eyes to a new understanding of the wonder of His Person, His love and His grace. We have the privilege of encouraging each other by sharing the treasures we have discovered in Christ. Like David, our prayer is,
Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:17-18).
