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“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he
replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom
of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his
storeroom both the new and the old.” Matthew 13:51–52
At times, Jesus’ words are difficult to understand. How well do you
understand what He teaches you? He often teaches in figures of
speech, as well as with parables. The passage quoted above
concludes a section in which He speaks three subsequent parables.
The third of these parables, the parable about the fishnet, is
contained in the beginning of today’s Gospel passage. But just
prior to that parable are the parables about the pearl of great
price and the treasure buried in a field. Upon the conclusion of
these three parables, Jesus asked His disciples, “Do you understand
all these things?” After they affirmed that they did understand,
Jesus gave an overview of the mission to which they had been
entrusted. These soon-to-be bishops would become the new scribes
who were instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Their mission would
be to bring forth both the “new and the old.”
Many Church Fathers identify the “new and the old” as a reference
to the Old Testament and the New Testament. Thus, the Twelve are
being entrusted with the mission of being the scribes of the full
revelation contained in what will become the full Bible as we have
it today. Other commentators suggest that the “old” refers to the
old life of sin and the “new” refers to the new life of grace. It
will be the mission of the Twelve to instruct people in the full
Gospel message, so as to draw them from their old life of sin to
the new life of grace.
Though Jesus’ words can be difficult to understand from the
perspective of a biblical scholar, the first of His words quoted
above are very straightforward. “Do you understand all these
things?” As we ponder that question in particular, try to hear our
Lord asking that question of you. Though many scholars and saints
of old have offered much clarity on what Jesus’ teachings actually
mean, the question that Jesus posed to the Twelve must be answered
in a more personal way for each of us. As you hear Jesus ask you if
you understand these things, the answer you give is not primarily
based upon whether or not you have sufficiently studied the text of
His teaching and can rationally explain it as a scholar. Instead,
the answer He is seeking is whether or not you can respond from
faith. He wants you to say, “Yes, I hear You speaking to me, Lord.
Yes, my heart is convicted by the words You have spoken. Yes, I
understand what I must do. Yes, Lord, I believe.” The Word of God
is alive and can only be “understood” properly when we allow our
Living Lord to speak to us, personally, as we listen to His holy
Word.
Reflect, today, upon this question that Jesus posed to the Twelve.
As you do, hear Him asking you this question. How fully do you
understand what God is saying to you, right now at this moment in
your life? As you read the Scriptures, do you sense God revealing
Himself to you? Do you understand what He wants of you? If hearing
the voice of God is a challenge at times, then spend more time
prayerfully pondering His holy Word so that His Living Voice will
more clearly resonate within your soul.
My revealing Lord, You speak to me day and night, continuously
revealing Your love and mercy to me. May I learn to become more
attentive to Your voice speaking within the depths of my soul. As I
hear You speak, please give me the gift of understanding to know
Your will and to embrace it with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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