Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome, let’s delve into the Scriptures together.
Matthew 13:51-53
51 “Jesus asked them, ‘Have you understood all these things?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’
52 He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there.”
Question: Why did Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven to a householder who takes out both new and old things from his treasure?
In this parable, Jesus is teaching that those who are skilled in the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven, like scribes or teachers, must understand both the Old and New Testaments. The “treasure” refers to the riches of wisdom and revelation found in God’s Word. The “new” refers to the revelation given through the New Covenant (the life and teachings of Jesus Christ), while the “old” refers to the wisdom and prophecies of the Old Covenant (the Law and the Prophets).
A wise person’s house, particularly their storage area, will always contain both new and old things. The reason for keeping old things is for future use, either for repair or reuse when needed.
For example, after building a house, a person might be left with leftover nails, paint, or metal sheets. They don’t throw them away; instead, they store them for future use. Later, they might use these materials to repair the house or build something else. Similarly, even if they don’t immediately need these items, they keep them for future use or for someone else’s need. In the same way, the Old Testament prophecies and laws were kept for the fulfillment of God’s plan in Christ.
The Old Testament is foundational for understanding the New Testament. It contains prophecies, types, and shadows that point to the coming of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27). The Law and the Prophets prepare the heart and mind for the New Covenant, which is fulfilled in Christ. Without the Old Testament, we would lack the context for understanding the New Testament’s revelation.
The same principle applies to the spiritual life. As we walk with Christ, we often encounter old wisdom—traditions, teachings, and scriptures—that have lasting relevance. These can shape and deepen our understanding of the “new” teachings of Christ. Without this integration, we risk misunderstanding or misapplying God’s full revelation.
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
In this verse, Jesus makes clear that He did not come to discard the Old Testament but to fulfill it. He is the fulfillment of the prophecies, and His life and death complete the Old Covenant.
Just as a person keeps things in storage for future use, the wisdom of the Old Testament is essential to understanding Christ’s mission. The Old Testament points forward to Christ, and the New Testament illuminates the fulfillment of the promises made in the Old Testament.
Similarly, a wise person who wears shoes until they wear out does not throw them away. Instead, they store them because they know they will be useful again, perhaps for another person or for a practical use like farming or construction.
The same principle applies to clothes: when clothes wear out, they aren’t thrown away but stored for future use. They might be given to someone in need or repurposed as rags for cleaning. This is not wasteful but shows the wisdom of keeping something useful, even after it has lost its original purpose. This mirrors how the Old Testament is not discarded but is still valuable, even as the New Testament fulfills it.
Mark 2:21-22
“21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If they do, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
Here, Jesus emphasizes the need for new understanding and new structures for the new covenant. However, this does not mean the old is useless—it is the foundation upon which the new is built. The “new wine” is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the “old wineskins” represent the old systems of the Law and sacrifices, which were not designed to contain the fullness of the new covenant. Yet, both old and new are crucial to God’s redemptive plan.
This passage illustrates the necessity of understanding the distinction between the Old and New Covenants. The Old Testament serves as the preparation for the New Covenant. It was not designed to save but to point to the need for Christ. The new wine (Jesus and His salvation) requires new wineskins (a new way of relating to God through grace, not the Law). The old does not become obsolete but finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Luke 24:44-47
“44 He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.’ 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’”
Jesus explains here that the entire Old Testament pointed to Him. He fulfilled all the prophecies and types within the Old Testament, and only in light of His resurrection can the Scriptures be fully understood.
Without the Old Testament, the New Testament cannot be fully appreciated. The Old points forward to Christ, and the New reveals His coming and fulfillment. The two are inseparable in God’s plan of redemption. Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to see the connection between the two, revealing that the Old Testament is not obsolete but is fulfilled in Him.
2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
This verse underscores the importance of rightly dividing the Word of God, which involves understanding both the Old and New Testaments. A believer must handle the Scriptures with care, using them in a way that aligns with God’s will and His revelation of truth through Christ. To do this, one must be diligent in studying the Word, discerning how the Old Testament points to Christ and how the New Testament reveals the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Maranatha.