Parable of the Scribe and the Master of the House

 TEXT: Matthew 13:51-52

Background

The Parable of the Scribe and the Master of the House is the last parable in the chapter of the parables (Matthew 13). This is the conclusion of all the teachings of the Lord depicting what the Kingdom of God looks like in the third discourse of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew. The parable is basically addressed to Jesus' disciples alone and not to the crowd who were at the beginning of the discourse. In verse 34 the author emphasizes that the crowd heard the first four parables (Sower, Wheat and Tares, Mustard Seed, and Leaven), then in verse 36 Jesus left the crowd. The rest of the parables (Hidden Treasure, Pearl of Great Value, Net, and the Scribe and the Master of the House) were only heard by His disciples, not outside the house, but inside the house (emphasis on v36). So then, this parable is basically heard by Jesus' disciples whom He was training that time for the Kingdom of God.

Parable of the Scribe and The Master of the House

The Question

Before Jesus proceeds to His final parable in this discourse, He asks the disciples who heard the seven parables about the Kingdom of God. The question is to affirm that His disciples have a thorough understanding of all the things that He taught them using the parables. The affirmative answer of the disciples led to Jesus' parable that will challenge those who answered affirmatively His question.

The Charge

The parable sets the challenge to the disciples who heard all the teachings of Jesus through the series of parables. This series of parables is all about the Kingdom of God. After feeding their minds of how wonderful, influential, victorious (for the believers), and terrifying (for the unbelievers) the Kingdom of God is, Jesus has given them a charge. Since they had been trained for the Kingdom of God, they are like the scribes who received the training and the charge as well. They must live for the Kingdom of God. The rest of the metaphors (master of the house, new and old treasure) picture out how to live for the Kingdom of God.

Comparisons 

There is a unique comparison in this parable. Usually Jesus uses one to one correspondence in terms of comparison. For instance, the soil represents only the heart, the seeds are the word of God, the wheat are children of God and the leaven is the Kingdom itself. However, in this parable Jesus uses a double comparison. He compares his disciples who understood his teachings about the Kingdom of heaven to a scribe and a scribe to a master of a house.

The first comparison is that the disciples are compared to a scribe. This is the first time that Jesus has used a scribe in a parable. Scribes are equivalent to the teachers of the law in the present time. Basically, they are lawyers. They are well-trained in terms of the Law (Law of Moses), and their lives revolve around it. It is their bread and butter. In like manner, the disciples are trained as well. However, they are trained not about the law, but for the Kingdom of God. Since they are trained for the Kingdom of God, the purpose of their lives from that time onward must be for the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is where their lives revolve around.

The second comparison is that a scribe is compared to a master of a house. There is one basic comparison between them―authority to dispense. While a scribe has authority to dispense all he has (knowledge), a master of a house has the authority as well to dispense what he has in his house. This leads to the third comparison between them.

The third comparison is the old and new treasure. What is the old and new treasures all about? Based on the information within the parable, the former is about the Law while the latter is about the Kingdom of God. More likely, they are all about the Old and New Covenant respectively. The intention of Jesus in using a scribe as a metaphor for disciples is to include the idea of the Law or the Old Covenant, which the old treasure represents. In the same manner, He emphasizes the training for the Kingdom of God, which is a new learning for the scribe (it is not his expertise). What he learned about the Kingdom of God is somewhat different from what he learned about the Law. The teaching of the Kingdom of God is all about the New Covenant that is represented by the new treasure. In summation, Jesus likened his disciples to a scribe who is an expert of the Law (represented by Old Covenant) and trained for the Kingdom of God (represented by New Covenant) who has an authority to teach the things not only about Old Covenant, but also, the New Covenant teaching.

Purpose

Jesus does not teach without an end-goal. What then is the purpose of Jesus in giving this parable? Since the parable functions as the conclusion of Jesus' discourse, which is all about the Kingdom of God, Jesus aim is to challenge His disciples after they listened and learned about the Kingdom of God through parables. The very challenge of Jesus to His disciples is since they are trained for the Kingdom of God, they are responsible to dispense the teaching about the Kingdom of God. The fact that the only people present are the disciples (13:36), more likely the twelve. While the scribes are devoted to the Law of Moses, Jesus' disciples are devoted to the Kingdom of God. Their devotion for the Kingdom of God is apparently seen in their lives after Jesus' ascension. They both lived and died for the Kingdom of God. 

Argument

The argument of this parable is crystal clear. Anyone who has been trained for the Kingdom of God must devote their lives in bringing out the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples have one advantage over a scribe in terms of learning. The scribe knows only the Law. However, the disciples learned not just the Law, which they learned on the Sermon on the Mount (chaps 5-7), but also, the big picture of what the Kingdom of God looks like. Thus, they have the responsibility with these treasures that the Lord has given to them through listening to Jesus' teachings.

This does not end in training. Consequently, the disciples who are trained for the Kingdom of God have the responsibility to spread out these teachings (old and new). This is the reason why they are called "The Apostles." Their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, commissioned them together with the other witnesses before His ascension. From that time on, their lives were devoted for the Kingdom of God. They spread out the teaching about the Kingdom of God―the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and turned the world upside down. They were persecuted to the point of death because of this responsibility.

Bringing out the old and new treasures is the very business of those who understand the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. The old treasures, as mentioned above, is all about the Old Covenant or the Old Testament teachings. On the other hand, the new treasures represent the New Covenant or New Testament teachings. The teachings in the Old Testament is the foundation by which the teachings in the New Testament is built upon. Therefore, the one who understands the Kingdom of God should devote himself in proclamation of this.

  

Pastoral Application

1. All Christians must have a clear understanding of the Kingdom of God

It is impossible that a person who claims that he is a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ does not know the Kingdom of God. The fact that a believer has been regenerated, he can see what the Kingdom of God is (as John 3:3 states). Acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior means that that person understands the Kingdom of God. This includes the attributes of God, the horrific status of man apart from God, salvation through the mighty works of God, the coming judgment and the like. The fact that the Gospel is about the Kingdom of God, it is absurd to think that a person is a Christian without knowledge of it.

2. All Church members must be trained for the Kingdom of God

Aside from living out the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, all believers should all be witness of Jesus Christ. Therefore, their training and equipping in the church is for the Kingdom of God. In Ephesians 4:11-12, God has put leaders in the church so that believers will be equipped for the work of ministry. The very purpose of ministry is to advance God's Kingdom here on earth. Thus, all believers are being trained for the Kingdom cause.

3. All Christian leaders must train church members for the Kingdom of God  

There are churches that do not have equipping of the saints for the ministry. Many church leaders are busy with many ministries like missions and evangelism. These are wonderful things for the glory of God. However, it is important not to neglect the equipping of the saints for the ministry. Jesus preaches the Gospel, but at the same time, He equips His disciples for the Kingdom. Balance is important in the church. If there is advancing the Kingdom, there must be training for the Kingdom. In addition, it is tragic if the equipping is not for the Kingdom of God, but for something else. There are seminary students whose aim is to have a higher love gift, be known, and other selfish motives. These seminary students are now leaders of the church. If they have not change their perspective, it is more likely that what they are doing in the church is not to advance the Kingdom, but rather, in pursuit of their selfish motive. It is very important the leaders must train their church members for the Kingdom of God and not for selves.