Sunday, December 22, 2019

THE PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER


THE PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER
Matthew 13:51–52
Building the Kingdom series
ME Many times when I was growing up my mom and dad would give me instructions and correction. They would invariably end the session with, “Do you understand me?”
As a principal when students were brought to the office for instruction, after they had received, as the KJV says, “the just recompense of their error which was due”, I would ask them, “What part of this do you not understand?”
As a teacher I have often looked out over a classroom of eager young minds full of mush and poured all my accumulated wisdom and knowledge into them. Only to look out later into eyes that are glazed over and devoid of any understanding! They were listening; they may have been hearing; but they were not understanding. How did I know? They couldn’t pass the test!
WE Perhaps we have all had similar experiences. The truth is that we all have a lack of understanding about the critical issues of our life. We have never been quite able to “put 2 and 2 together” and see the cause and affect relationships that hinders our progress as spouses, parents, leaders, workers, and men and women of the Kingdom of God. We fail the tests that come up in our lives. We get our papers back and there is big fat “F” staring at us.
GOD Jesus was always concerned that His disciples don’t understand. Many times, He would ask, “Do you understand?”
He asked them after the parable of the soils. He asked them after he fed the 5000. He asked them after He washed their feet.
The disciples lack of understanding comes up at least five times in the Gospel of Mark. On one occasion Mark writes, “They didn’t understand Him but were afraid to ask!”
In the passage before us this morning Jesus asks the question again.
Matthew 13:51 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
We don’t know if they do or not, but at least in this instance they acknowledge they do. The test will come later.
The word used here for understand, syníēmi is a word that we get our English word “synthesize” or “synthesis” from. It means to pull together from many streams. In education synthesis is considered a higher level thinking skill. The high-level thinking of synthesis is evident when students put the parts or information they have reviewed together to create new meaning or a new structure.
Jesus goes on to describe it in the next verse.
Matthew 13:52 (NKJV) Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Wow! When we live in understanding we take everything we have learned and apply it to new situations that arise. We are able to create new insights or applications that can help others also. New wine for new wineskins!
I love the way Eugene Petersen says it in The Message translation:
Matthew 13:51–52 (MSG) Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?” They answered, “Yes.” He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”
One of my friends described it this way. When I am in a situation or talking to someone in need, my heart is like a library. The Lord opens my heart, reaches in, and pulls out the volume that relates to the new situation.
YOU Now for the last ten weeks we have been looking at the Kingdom of God through the parables of Matthew 13. So allow me to ask you the same question Jesus asked the disciples, “Do you understand what you have heard? Are you starting to get a grasp on it? Are you able now to put two and two together?”
I hope the answer is yes. The reason? Because I want you to be “like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”
When someone or something comes into the store of your life you are able to go into your storage room and bring out exactly what they need. It’s all about the Kingdom. It’s all about the expansion of the Kingdom. It’s all about bringing others into the Kingdom.
WE How do we get there
“Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like an owner…”
You have to be trained in the Kingdom.
1. Consume God’s Word, especially the Wisdom books
2. Value experiences. “Training for reigning”, Paul Bilheimer
3. Don’t waste your sorrows. Also Bilheimer.
2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
4. Commune with Jesus.
1 John 5:20 (NKJV) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
“Is like an owner" You are a joint heir with Jesus. You are a Prince with God. You have been given the “keys to the Kingdom”. Use them!
Matthew 16:19 (NKJV) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.