---

This is the last of a connected series of parables. It was intended to emphasize and fix upon the minds of the disciples the lessons of those already spoken. It has also precious lessons of its own.

I. CHRIST IS THE HOUSEHOLDER.

1. He is the Head of a spiritual family.

(1) He is the second Adam (cf. Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Ephesians 5:31, 32).

(2) He is the Founder of the new creation. "The Father of the everlasting age" (cf. Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14).

(3) His children are the sons of God. They are the children of the everlasting covenant. "Children of Abraham's faith."

(4) They are the "children of God, being children of the resurrection." Spiritually risen with Christ already. Entitled to the better resurrection of the last day.

2. He has an ample treasure for their maintenance.

(1) "His treasure." The allusion is to the householder's store for the maintenance of his establishment.

(2) The bountifulness of the store is expressed in the phrase, "things new and old." The old produce is not exhausted when the fruits of the new year are gathered in (cf. Leviticus 26:9, 10).

(3) The stores of Christ are the infinite treasure of his wisdom and knowledge. These he derived not from human sources. He never studied under the doctors of the Hebrew colleges. Yet even at the early age of twelve he could astonish them. He drew his resources from heaven (cf. John 3:36; Colossians 1:19).

(4) This store is for his children first (see Ephesians 1:6-8; Colossians 2:9, 10). The servants also have their nourishment. The dogs may be thankful for the crumbs. The world is indebted to the gospel for the better elements of its civilization.

II. HE BRINGETH FORTH OUT OF HIS TREASURE THINGS NEW AND OLD.

1. He discovers a monarchy, in humility.

(1) This was a new thing. The Jews expected the King Messiah to appear after the type of Solomon in all his glory. They had yet to learn that the "Greater than Solomon" is Jesus in his humility. The dignity and glory of suffering had never been so seen.

(2) Yet was this thing of the New Testament also in the Old. Messiah must first come in humiliation for purposes of redemption before he can appear, as he will in his second advent, "without sin unto salvation" (see Luke 24:25-27).

(3) In the depths of his humility he asserts Divine claims. He claims to be the Son of God (see John 10:36). To be the Lord of the sabbath day (see Mark 2:27, 28; Luke 6:5). To be David's Lord though David's Son (Matthew 22:41-46). To have power on earth to forgive sins (see Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21-26).

2. He proclaims a spiritual kingdom.

(1) This was a new thing. Secular kingdoms were old enough. So familiar were these that the Jews expected Messiah to establish a "kingdom under the Whole heaven" after their type (see Daniel 7:27).

(2) What, then, was their astonishment, while they were dreaming of release from the Roman yoke, and ruling the Gentiles with a rod of iron, to be told that the kingdom "cometh not with observation;" that it is a spiritual kingdom "within," in the heart?

(3) What was their astonishment when they heard the requisites which made it hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom?

(4) When they heard that love is the principle of the kingdom? Not only love supreme to God, but love also to the brotherhood. Love, moreover, to our neighbour, which is every man. Love even to our enemies. Such love as constrains us to bless when we are cursed, to requite hatred with benevolence, to answer persecution with supplication (see Matthew 5:43-45).

3. In his gospel he fulfils the Law.

(1) That Messiah should dignify and perfect the Law of Moses was nothing new to the Jews. They looked for this. But the manner of its accomplishment astonished them.

(2) They did not see that in his death he should become the autitype of all the sacrifices; that summing up in himself all their virtues, and infinitely more, they should disappear, and henceforth be seen only in his cross.

(3) It was new that henceforth the ablutions of Leviticus should be seen in the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(4) It was new that the gospel should so bring out the spirit of the "Law of commandments contained in ordinances" as to render obsolete the letter.

(5) Yet all these things were as old as the Law itself, and were likewise testified by the prophets (cf. Matthew 5:17; Romans 3:21; Romans 10:4; Romans 15:8; Galatians 3:24).

III. HE ENCOURAGES THE SONS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

1. He instructs them in his wisdom.

(1) Teaching:

(a) The doctrines of his gospel.

(b) The evidences of his religion.

(c) The practical ends for which it is instituted.

Without Divine illumination no man can attain to this knowledge.

(2) The question, "Have ye understood all these things?" suggests:

(a) That it is the will of Christ that those who read and hear his Word should understand it. This is an encouragement to study.

(b) That Divine truths must not be lightly passed over.

(c) That he is ready to explain to his disciples what may be obscure. This is an encouragement to prayer.

(3) The answer, "Yea, Lord," shows that the explanations which the disciples received of the parables of the sower and of the tares opened to them the meaning of the other parables (cf. Mark 4:13). Truth is the key to truth (see Proverbs 8:8, 9; Proverbs 14:6).

2. He commends their proficiency.

(1) He styled them scribes. The scribe among the Jews was a person versed in the letter of the Old Testament. Some of them had knowledge also in its spirit. Ezra was "a ready scribe in the Law of Moses." He "prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord" (Ezra 7:6, 10).

(2) But the disciples of Jesus were more. They were made "disciples to the kingdom of heaven." Herein they were greater than the greatest of the old prophets (see Matthew 11:11). Note: He who undertakes to preach Christ should know Christ. A minister may be a linguist, a mathematician, a scientist, a politician, but unless he is "instructed in the kingdom of heaven" he is not qualified (see 2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

(3) Like his Lord:

(a) He must have a "treasure."

(b) From it he must" bring forth."

He must not bury his talents. A good pastor must not, like a miser, hoard his knowledge. He must not, like a merchant, make gain of it.

(4) He too must bring forth "things new and old." No man can understand the Old Testament but by means of the New. The Old Testament is the best commentary upon the New. Old truths should come forth with new expression, and with new affection and emotion. - J.A.M.

---

---

KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

WEB: Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They answered him, "Yes, Lord."