“The owner of a house…brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matt. 13:52).
Part One
This is a balance verse. It tells us that we do not have to choose between old and new. We can have both. In a world given to choosing up sides, it is good to know that we can reap the benefits of both sides. The kingdom of God is not an either/or proposition. It is both old and new.
Old is a good word because it means “time-honored, time-tested, time-proven.” In this setting, old doesn’t denote that which is obsolete, archaic, or worn out. Rather, it suggests paths that are well trodden; truths that have stood the test of time; ways, customs and traditions that are familiar, meaningful, and dependable.
A geyser is called “Old Faithful.” A dog lover calls his faithful pet “Old Shep, ” and a proud nation symbolically calls its flag “Old Glory.”
The householder, representing the Christian, brings out of his pantry old, basic, reliable staples for his menu. The Lord does the same for us: the blood of Jesus, the name of the Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit, the effectiveness of prayer, the preciousness of worship, the warmth of fellowship.
If fasting and prayer brought revival 150 years ago, they will do the same today. If songs of praise produced the presence of the Lord in the Welsh revival of 1904, they will do that for us today. The message of this verse is: “Don’t discard the old in order to be ready for the new. God’s treasures are like new edifices laid on the old foundations!”
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers