2.27.31 6.29.2025 Matthew 13 Scribes Trained for Kingdom Work

Start:

Entice: As Christians we should respond eagerly to the voice of Jesus. The success or failure of the Church is not measured by attendance, or conventional measures of church growth. Current research has made it clear that—as one should actually expect—high growth churches flourish in communities with growing populations. And it is actually possible to have high attendance and grow numerically without being faithful to scripture, clear about theology, or attentive to Jesus.  Ultimately the Christian faith is a relationship. We share the relationship with Jesus, and one another.

Again, We share it. He summoned a community of faith and in this time and place we are it. 

Engage: When Jesus called His very first disciples He did not envision this path as static. We are not spectators. We straddle Empire and Kingdom bearing His gifts of grace, peace, love, and forgiveness. We do this not only by preaching Jesus but by being His body in the world. He used many terms to describe us.

This summer will  consider some of New Testament descriptions of the Church.

Today we complete a long journey through Matthew. 

Expand: At this point in a series, I am always a little disappointed, particularly when I am finishing preaching from one of the Gospels. I did not hit as many of the parables as I could have.

We’ve been in Matthew for more than thirty weeks, and still, I skipped some things. I fully intended to end up where we are discussing what I think is a neglected image of discipleship.

Matthew 13:51–52 ESV

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And 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.”

Of course we expect our leaders to be properly trained. I think Jesus expects each of us to be a person who develops our understanding of Him and His gospel to the best of our individual ability, folding that understanding into our local church. The more clearly we hear the voice of Jesus the greater clarity we will have about what He expects. We will also have greater perspective regarding what saddens Him and disappoints Him about the contemporary American Church. 

Excite: This is not just something Jesus encourages us to do; He expects it.

Who better to be a fisher of men than someone who catches real fish?

Who better to gather the harvest than a farmer?

Who better to show love and compassion than a Mother?

In your sphere of influence you are the scribe Jesus sends with Good news. In your world you are there for all of us. 

Explore:

Jesus needs for us all to be the best,  well trained scribes we can be.

Expand: In a few words Jesus simplifies this notion into three very achievable attributes. 

Body of Sermon: The first attribute is that we must be 

1 Reflective.

Matthew 13:51 ESV

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”

This is  a question that is personal, maybe even invasive, but ultimately answerable by each of us. . 

1.1 We need to ask hard questions.

The central problem with hard questions is that we typically don’t like to be asked them—or ask them of ourselves. Hard questions expose us. Hard questions leave us with no where to hide.

1.2 We need to take inventory.

To really answer hard questions like “do you understand” we must examine our hearts, our minds, our understanding.

Then

1.3 We need to give honest answers.

The next attribute Jesus describes is that we must be 

2 Prepared.

Matthew 13:52 ESV

52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house,…

You are the master of the “house”  which is your personal ministry.

We talk about giftedness and that is important. We need to know what we are capable of doing. But the gift is useless if we won’t hone it and deploy  it. 

God uses the articulate,

the inarticulate.

Young and old. 

The ultimate question is whether you are willing to get ready to do what He equips you to do. 

2.1 Understand the task.

2.2 Accept Discipline.

2.3 Behave responsibly.

Finally, we must be

3 Creative.

Matthew 13:52 ESV

52 …who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

3.1 Lavishly investing.

3.2 Distributing.

3.3 Diversifying.

What kind of treasure are you gathering?

Do you maximize what you have?

Shut Down

In my years as student of scripture, my commitment to the task of preaching, and my personal walk with Christ this has become a formative text for me. Jesus had been teaching publicly. He has several times sequestered himself with the disciples. Yet here, the circumstances seem far different. He is opening up and including them in His mission. There is risk and He needs to know their level of commitment. It’s not just what Jesus has done that is at issue but what we do because of His finished work.

His disciples have

listened,

and watched,

and participated,

and come and gone with Him.

Do they get it?

Do we get it?

When I sit with this text I know what it means to have the Master gaze into my soul. The phrase “Scribe trained for the Kingdom” should describe each one of us. It defines our role as far more than just being religious. For some we are their only access to the words, deeds, and attitude of Jesus. Are you ready?