In the early part of His ministry, Jesus spoke plainly, proclaiming:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17).
He offered Israel the Kingdom and called the nation to receive Him as their promised Messiah. But as opposition intensified—especially when the Pharisees attributed His miracles to Satan (Matthew 12:24)—Jesus shifted His teaching approach. He began speaking in parables, a deliberate act of both mercy and judgment.
His disciples asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10). Jesus answered:
“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” (Matthew 13:11)
Parables revealed truth to those with believing hearts, while concealing it from those who had rejected Him. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15) and marked a transition in God’s Kingdom program. From a dispensational perspective, the parables of Matthew 13 unveil the mystery phase of the Kingdom—the period between Christ’s rejection and His return, when the Kingdom’s visible glory is postponed but God’s plan continues to unfold.
These parables were not given to lay out Church doctrine—that would come later through the apostles. Rather, they reveal how the Kingdom would operate in its hidden, interim form during the King’s absence.
Words: 1306 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Householder
Matthew 13:52
“Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Exposition of the Parable
The Scribe Turned Disciple
Jesus speaks of a scribe (Greek: grammateus) who has become a disciple of the Kingdom. Scribes were respected scholars in Jewish society, tasked with copying, preserving, and teaching the Law. They were regarded as experts in the Old Testament Scriptures. However, many of these learned men rejected Jesus as Messiah, clinging to tradition while missing its fulfillment in Him.
Here, Jesus describes a scribe who not only understands the old revelation but has also embraced the new truths of the Kingdom. Such a person is uniquely positioned to teach both. The imagery points to someone who sees the connections between God’s promises in the Law and Prophets and their fulfillment in Christ.
This would resonate deeply with early believers like Matthew himself, once a tax collector but now a writer of Gospel truth, and later Paul—a former Pharisee who became the Church’s foremost teacher of grace.
The Householder and His Storeroom
Jesus likens this disciple to a householder (Greek: oikodespotes)—the master of a house responsible for managing its resources. The householder’s storeroom (thesauros, meaning treasure or storehouse) contains both old and new treasures.
The message is clear:
- The old treasures represent the truths of the Old Testament, rich in prophecy, law, and promise.
- The new treasures represent the fresh revelation given by Christ concerning the Kingdom’s mystery phase and God’s unfolding plan.
The householder brings out both, showing that the old is not discarded but illuminated and fulfilled by the new. The disciple’s task is to teach both with accuracy and balance, showing their unity in God’s redemptive plan.
Dispensational Significance
From a dispensational perspective, this parable teaches:
- The continuity of revelation. God’s truth is progressive. The new does not replace the old but builds upon and fulfills it (Matthew 5:17).
- The transition from the old order to the new revelation. The Law and the Prophets pointed to Christ; now that He has come, their full meaning is revealed in Him (Romans 10:4).
- The unique responsibility of Kingdom disciples. Those who understand both Old Testament and new Kingdom truths must faithfully teach and steward them.
This parable anticipates the coming Church Age, where apostles and teachers would be tasked with proclaiming the whole counsel of God, connecting Old Testament promises with their fulfillment in Christ and the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Comparison to Apostolic Teaching
Paul describes himself as a steward of God’s mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1) and emphasizes the unity of Scripture:
“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed…” (Romans 16:25–26)
Likewise, in 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul exhorts Timothy to correctly handle the word of truth, showing that teaching God’s Word requires diligence, balance, and care in presenting both old and new revelation in light of Christ.
Cultural and Historical Context
Scribes as Teachers of the Law
Scribes were entrusted with preserving and teaching the Scriptures. They were trained to interpret the Law in minute detail. However, without faith in Christ, their knowledge remained incomplete. Jesus’ parable calls scribes who become disciples to embrace their responsibility as teachers of both fulfilled prophecy and fresh revelation.
Householders as Stewards
A householder’s role was to manage resources wisely. The image of bringing out both old and new items reflects generosity, care, and readiness to meet the needs of those in the household. Spiritually, it pictures the Kingdom disciple who draws from the whole of God’s Word to nourish others.
The Application for Today
This parable challenges every believer, and especially every teacher of God’s Word:
- We must value both Old and New Testament truth. God’s plan is seen in its fullness only when both are studied and taught together.
- We are stewards of God’s revelation. Those entrusted with knowledge bear responsibility for teaching it accurately and faithfully.
- We must understand the Old Testament in light of Christ. The Law and the Prophets point to Him; their full meaning is revealed in His person and work.
Warnings Against Misinterpretation
Some wrongly use this parable to justify blending Old Testament ceremonial law with New Testament faith. But Jesus’ point is not that we are to return to Mosaic ordinances. Instead, we are to see how God’s plan unfolds through progressive revelation, culminating in Christ. The old is fulfilled and surpassed, not reinstated as a binding code for New Testament believers (see Galatians 3:23–25).
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Householder is a fitting conclusion to Jesus’ Kingdom parables in Matthew 13. It reminds us that those who have been given understanding bear the responsibility to teach, steward, and proclaim God’s truth—old and new. As Charles Ryrie notes:
“The disciple who understands both the old and the new is prepared to fulfill his stewardship in the mystery form of the Kingdom.”
It is a call to handle God’s Word with care, reverence, and joy, bringing out all that He has revealed so that His people may be nourished and His purposes fulfilled.
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related
The Parable of the Householder – Matthew 13:52
Published by Brother Woody BrohmIn the early part of His ministry, Jesus spoke plainly, proclaiming:
He offered Israel the Kingdom and called the nation to receive Him as their promised Messiah. But as opposition intensified—especially when the Pharisees attributed His miracles to Satan (Matthew 12:24)—Jesus shifted His teaching approach. He began speaking in parables, a deliberate act of both mercy and judgment.
His disciples asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10). Jesus answered:
Parables revealed truth to those with believing hearts, while concealing it from those who had rejected Him. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15) and marked a transition in God’s Kingdom program. From a dispensational perspective, the parables of Matthew 13 unveil the mystery phase of the Kingdom—the period between Christ’s rejection and His return, when the Kingdom’s visible glory is postponed but God’s plan continues to unfold.
These parables were not given to lay out Church doctrine—that would come later through the apostles. Rather, they reveal how the Kingdom would operate in its hidden, interim form during the King’s absence.
Words: 1306 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Householder
Matthew 13:52
Exposition of the Parable
The Scribe Turned Disciple
Jesus speaks of a scribe (Greek: grammateus) who has become a disciple of the Kingdom. Scribes were respected scholars in Jewish society, tasked with copying, preserving, and teaching the Law. They were regarded as experts in the Old Testament Scriptures. However, many of these learned men rejected Jesus as Messiah, clinging to tradition while missing its fulfillment in Him.
Here, Jesus describes a scribe who not only understands the old revelation but has also embraced the new truths of the Kingdom. Such a person is uniquely positioned to teach both. The imagery points to someone who sees the connections between God’s promises in the Law and Prophets and their fulfillment in Christ.
This would resonate deeply with early believers like Matthew himself, once a tax collector but now a writer of Gospel truth, and later Paul—a former Pharisee who became the Church’s foremost teacher of grace.
The Householder and His Storeroom
Jesus likens this disciple to a householder (Greek: oikodespotes)—the master of a house responsible for managing its resources. The householder’s storeroom (thesauros, meaning treasure or storehouse) contains both old and new treasures.
The message is clear:
The householder brings out both, showing that the old is not discarded but illuminated and fulfilled by the new. The disciple’s task is to teach both with accuracy and balance, showing their unity in God’s redemptive plan.
Dispensational Significance
From a dispensational perspective, this parable teaches:
This parable anticipates the coming Church Age, where apostles and teachers would be tasked with proclaiming the whole counsel of God, connecting Old Testament promises with their fulfillment in Christ and the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Comparison to Apostolic Teaching
Paul describes himself as a steward of God’s mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1) and emphasizes the unity of Scripture:
Likewise, in 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul exhorts Timothy to correctly handle the word of truth, showing that teaching God’s Word requires diligence, balance, and care in presenting both old and new revelation in light of Christ.
Cultural and Historical Context
Scribes as Teachers of the Law
Scribes were entrusted with preserving and teaching the Scriptures. They were trained to interpret the Law in minute detail. However, without faith in Christ, their knowledge remained incomplete. Jesus’ parable calls scribes who become disciples to embrace their responsibility as teachers of both fulfilled prophecy and fresh revelation.
Householders as Stewards
A householder’s role was to manage resources wisely. The image of bringing out both old and new items reflects generosity, care, and readiness to meet the needs of those in the household. Spiritually, it pictures the Kingdom disciple who draws from the whole of God’s Word to nourish others.
The Application for Today
This parable challenges every believer, and especially every teacher of God’s Word:
Warnings Against Misinterpretation
Some wrongly use this parable to justify blending Old Testament ceremonial law with New Testament faith. But Jesus’ point is not that we are to return to Mosaic ordinances. Instead, we are to see how God’s plan unfolds through progressive revelation, culminating in Christ. The old is fulfilled and surpassed, not reinstated as a binding code for New Testament believers (see Galatians 3:23–25).
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Householder is a fitting conclusion to Jesus’ Kingdom parables in Matthew 13. It reminds us that those who have been given understanding bear the responsibility to teach, steward, and proclaim God’s truth—old and new. As Charles Ryrie notes:
It is a call to handle God’s Word with care, reverence, and joy, bringing out all that He has revealed so that His people may be nourished and His purposes fulfilled.
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related