We have food programs, we have educational programs, our culture has set in place safety nets to try to protect our children, to make sure that they receive the essential things they need to thrive and flourish.
In the Church our children memorize a Bible verse each week, but we adults, well...we don't need to do that do we? I'm being sarcastic, it is a divine attribute, check out Elijah at Mt. Carmel:)
I want to propose a new ministry, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, but I am referring to every child of God. That as HIS children we will continue a life long pursuit of HIM through HIS precious Word...memorizing, meditating, praying. I was stunned with these words of Jesus, "every student of Scripture." I hope you burn to be a student of scripture! Consider the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:32 They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" TODAY Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, longs to open the scriptures to you and to me! We must press on to be "students of the scriptures."
Mt 13:51-52--HCSB (Hard Core Southern Baptist Bible:))
51 “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they told Him. 52 “Therefore,” He said to them, “every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old.”
Mt 13:51-52--NLT-- Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.” 52 Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”
As I read Matt 13:52 in the HCSB translation I was taken back with something that I had never seen or noticed before...the phrase "every student of scripture." Admittedly, the other translations get the technical word correct, in the Greek the word is scribe, but I believe that the HCSB has nailed the connotation. If you consider the context I believe you will agree. Jesus just finished sharing several "Kingdom of heaven" parables and asks HIS disciples if they understand, they reply "yes" and HE follows with verse 52.
13:52 “every scribe who has become a disciple” A scribe was a legal expert in the oral and written Law. A believer will be able to draw truths from the Old Testament as well as Jesus’ teachings (cf. Rom. 4:23–24; 15:4; I Cor. 10:6, 11; II Tim. 3:16).
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 9: The First Christian Primer: Matthew. Study Guide Commentary Series (121). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.
Ro 4:23-24 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
If you are not a student of Scripture you will not discover what has been recorded for your benefit!
Ro 15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
If you are not a student of Scripture you will not find hope and encouragement as you patiently wait for God's promises to be fulfilled...you won't be patient either:)
1 Co 10:6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,
You will not receive the warning...like the warning that the bridge is out!
1 Co 10:11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.
2 Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
If you are not a student of Scripture of all scripture, like reading through the Bible in a year, you will not receive the correcting, teaching, rebuking and encouragement that comes from being a student of Scripture .
What are some of those new and old things that the "Landowner" the student of Scripture may bring out? Don't be a spiritual quadriplegic, don't depend on others for your spiritual care when God has made you in HIS image and equipped you to be a student of Scripture .
13:51, 52 Things new and old refers to truths about the kingdom that were found in the OT and those that were freshly revealed in these parables. What were some of the new things?
(1) Rather than the immediate coming of the kingdom, an age would intervene (compare Acts 1:6, 7) when good and evil would coexist, even among the ranks of those who professed to be heirs of the kingdom (13:37–43).
(2) The number of the heirs of the kingdom would be very small at the inception of this new age. However, they would grow into a large group (13:31, 32).
(3) Evil would invade this group and ultimately make it apostate (13:33).
(4) The treasure of the kingdom though seen as near in the ministry of Christ would be hidden. He purchased it; it will yet be revealed.
(5) The body of the redeemed is not just Jewish; it will be like a pearl and be comprised of many peoples in one group.
(6) The anticipated judgment will occur at the conclusion of the present age.
Just as the parable of the sower was used as an introduction to the six “kingdom parables,” so this parable is a conclusion. It calls for action in view of what they have learned. They are to be responsible stewards and dispensers of these kingdom treasures (thesaurou).
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Mt 13:51-52). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
I like the way he states this...It calls for action in view of what they have learned. We see faith in action. Scripture is the food of faith, how often do you feed your faith
How is your faith? Is it strong, weak, anemic? Have you ever known a strong Christian who did not memorize scripture. In God's plan HE designed faith to feed on the promises of Scripture all day. Scripture is the food of faith. Look at how Proverbs 22:18-19 puts this: For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the Lord.
What are you trusting in? Where is your confidence? Are you at peace? God says that he has given us his word so that it will be within us and that we may trust in him. Your faith and my faith rises or falls based on our constant feeding on the treasure of God’s truth that we have hid in our hearts.
Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
NO CHILD OF GOD LEFT BEHIND...let's encourage one another to be passionate, burning students of Scripture .
Father in heaven...make it so...in Jesus name, Amen!