After having laid out the parable of the sower, which gives the basis of God’s dealings with man in the kingdom of heaven, and then six of the similitudes of the kingdom, our Lord asks His disciples, “Have ye understood all these things?” (Matt. 13:5151Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. (Matthew 13:51)). They immediately reply, “Yea, Lord.” No doubt they did have more intelligence than those around them, for they not only heard the parables, but were privy to the explanations which our Lord gave to them. He could say to them, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Matt. 13:16-1716But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Matthew 13:16‑17)). However, when the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost and indwelt those same disciples, they must have realized how little they really had understood. It was not until the Holy Spirit came down and indwelt every true believer that there was real intelligence in divine things.
Thus our Lord was looking on to that day when they, being “instructed in the kingdom of heaven,” would be able, out of their treasures, to bring forth “things new and old.” This is a remarkable expression, which ties together the revelations God had given in the Old Testament and those He has now given consequent upon the full display of His grace in His beloved Son. The “old things” had already been given, but now God was going to utter “things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 13:3535That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 13:35)). Another has expressed it very well:
“Earthly” and “Heavenly”
“Now we know that the Lord Jesus Christ took the place of the distinguished Prophet — the Prophet of new things, and so, in measure, does every one instructed in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:35,5235That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 13:35)
52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. (Matthew 13:52)). In this sense the least one there (in the kingdom of heaven) is greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:1111Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11)). Paul was eminently among these instructed scribes, being conscious that he was bringing forth the new things (see 1 Cor. 2; Eph. 3; Col. 1), things kept secret, or hidden mysteries. And no scribe is duly instructed in the kingdom of heaven or a due teacher in the present dispensation who does not discern between the things ‘new and old.’
“But the old things as well as the new are of grace. The difference is rather in the old being Jewish or earthly; the new being of the church or heavenly (John 3:1212If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3:12)). This is the difference. But the old or Jewish things very distinctly tell of final grace and salvation. Israel having destroyed themselves through disobedience, God at the last will arise in grace for their help and recovery. They are now a scattered and judged people, but again they will be gathered and blessed under the true David, the true King of Zion, the true Lion of Judah. And in the integrity of a heart that never can swerve and in the skillfulness of a hand that never can err, He will keep and feed His Jewish flock on their native mountains” (J. G. Bellett).
New Things
These new things are mentioned later, when we read, in Ephesians 3:88Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Ephesians 3:8), the phrase “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Surely they are unsearchable, for all eternity will not exhaust those riches! How much less can we get to the end of them during our lifetime down here! However, in another sense, those riches were unsearchable in the Old Testament, for they were not revealed until an ascended Christ gave them to Paul by divine revelation. They are searchable now, for they have been revealed, although our apprehension and enjoyment of them may be very limited. But we are entitled now to have all those treasures — “things new and old” — not only for our own enjoyment, but to be brought forth for the blessing of others.
Instructed in the Kingdom
It is important to be “instructed unto the kingdom of heaven” in things both new and old. But we notice an order here; the new are mentioned before the old. This makes it clear to us that, while there are indeed many treasures in the things which are old — the things given to us in the Old Testament under Judaism — they are fully revealed only by our having a knowledge of the new things — those things now revealed by the Holy Spirit, while the rightful King is absent. Many principles and truths given to us in the New Testament are illustrated for us by various lives and incidents recorded in the books of the Old Testament. Likewise, the prophecies given in the Old Testament dovetail and complement those given in the New Testament. However, in order to understand and put those prophecies in their right place, New Testament truth must be understood.
Thus Daniel, when he had received the wonderful prophecies about the future of his people, had to say at the end, “I heard, but I understood not” (Dan. 12:88And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? (Daniel 12:8)). The only answer he received was, “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Dan. 12:99And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Daniel 12:9)). It remained for those of a future day, who would understand the new things, to be able to put Daniel’s prophecies into a right perspective. Truly we, who live in this time of the kingdom of heaven and in the time of God’s grace, are a most privileged people! All things, both new and old, are there for our instruction and enjoyment.
W. J. Prost