St. John's Lutheran
Your Treasure - Jesus' Grace and Forgiveness!

Matthew 13:51-52 New International Version (NIV)
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “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.”
Wed. July 22 - Matthew 13:51-52
The Old Testament of the Bible is filled with little glimpses of the Gospel and
prophecies about Jesus. Jesus even said that everything in the “Law and the
Prophets” was about himself (Luke 24:27, 44). But all the religious leaders focused
on and paid attention to was the “old” Law! They completely missed Jesus and the
“upside” down kingdom of God that is filled with mercy, grace, forgiveness and
sacrifice. The Law of God is good, righteous and important. It teaches us what God
expects of us and how we should live our lives in relationship with one another.
Why did God say “You shall not steal”? Because when we steal from others we
destroy trust and create division, anger, resentment and pain. All things that God
does not want in this world. However, the Law is not enough to make us pure,
clean, righteous and good. The Law cannot fix our relationship with God. We cannot
earn our place in heaven. The “new” treasure is the grace and forgiveness of Jesus!