THE LEARNING PARADIGM
Matthew 13:51-52
“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you understood all these things?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.’ ”
A basis educational principle is that new knowledge is based on old knowledge. The teacher takes the student from what he already knows to new information. A person can’t understand calculus unless he has mastered basic math, algebra, and trigonometry. There is a growth process. Jesus taught new spiritual insights based on the disciples’ common knowledge. They knew the Old Testament teachings; now He was teaching them new things about His kingdom. He wanted to know if they “got it.” God wants to teach me new spiritual insights based on my understanding of basic concepts. I don’t want to be like the people the writer to the Hebrews chided when he said, “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). God has so much to teach me if I will only learn the basics. I don’t want to stay in 1st grade forever. “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection [maturity]” (Hebrews 6:1). “Oh, the depths of the riches [treasures] both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). “But grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). Paul prayed, “...that God … may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him … that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe...” (Ephesians 1:17-19). I want to know Christ (Philippians 3:10).
TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: God desires His disciples to grow in their knowledge of Him and His kingdom.
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Have a growing day. Love you.
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