Scribes for the Kingdom

Kate Stevens • March 9, 2021

Summary of sermon on Matthew 13:51-58 from Pastor Lance Shumake..

We want to pay attention and understand what Jesus says because we truly want to be hearers and doers of the Word.

In this parable, Jesus is talking about scribes—another name for a scribe is a disciple. 



A disciple understands


In verse 51 Jesus asks the disciples if they understand, and they respond with “yes.” They weren’t saying yes to the whole of Jesus’ ministry, but for that moment they understood what was in front of them. 


We don’t know everything and we aren’t supposed to—that’s not the point. 


The point is for us to become more like Jesus every day. The understanding is synonymous with the belief in him, the trusting of him. 


We believe and trust even when we don’t understand. 



A disciple learns 


One job of the scribe/disciple was to learn. Specifically, they were to learn God’s Word so that they could become more like Jesus. 


The same is true for us. I should be more like Jesus now than I was a year ago, or even a month or a day ago. 


They also were to teach God’s Word



A disciple teaches


All throughout the book of Matthew, he is setting us up for the finale at the end of the chapter:


Matthew 28:18-20 is the Great Commission

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”


We spend the whole book learning about Jesus so that we can then teach others. 


We learn so that we can teach and make more disciples. 


Mark Dever says this:

“Being a disciple of Jesus means orienting our lives toward others, just as Jesus did.”

—Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus 


The most natural thing for anyone to do is to only consider themselves—especially in light of the worldwide pandemic. But Jesus constantly and consistently gave himself for others.



Biblical discipling: intentionally helping others follow Jesus

  • Teaching: specific, intentional times set aside for teaching
  • Also teaching as you simply do life
  • Correcting: sin deceives us, and we have blind spots that need speaking into
  • Modeling: we demonstrate what it looks like to follow Jesus
  • 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ”
  • Loving: when we understand Jesus’ love, we can then love others


Let’s not just be a church that’s an audience.  Let’s be a disciple making community.



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In case you missed it, watch this sermon on our website.

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