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Matthew 13 · a question people ask

"every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things" (13:52). What are the new and old things?

In the text

Jesus doesn't say. Here are the verses together. He asked, "Have you understood all these things?" (13:51), and they answered him, "Yes, Lord." (13:51). Then: "Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things" (13:52). Then "When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there" (13:53). Jesus doesn't say who the scribe is, what the treasure is, or which things are new and which are old, and these notes don't say either.

The verses

“Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.” He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.” When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.”
Matthew 13:51-53 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 13

Matthew 13: Treasure hidden in the field

In Matthew's telling of the farmer's parable, the one sown by the roadside "doesn’t understand" the word (13:19), and the one sown on the good ground "understands it" (13:23). And when the parables are over, Jesus asks, "Have you understood all these things?" (13:51).

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Last reviewed October 1, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions