Two views of how scribes are trained for the kingdom of heaven
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The disciples were trained by Jesus to understand this form of teaching about the mysteries of the kingdom, but their knowledge was, like ours, still incomplete (see 1 Corinthians 13:9). The Greek word for scribe, grammateus, in Matthew 13:52, does not mean only a professional scribe, but, more generally, is one who has been trained to be a teacher in the kingdom. The disciples would be not only preachers of the gospel, but also teachers of God’s people (Matthew 23:34).
Here in Matthew 13:52, Jesus says, strikingly, about the scribes that when a scribe is converted by the preaching of John the Baptist and becomes a follower of Jesus, he is like a householder who brings out treasures both old and new. Note that he does not speak of disciples of the kingdom, but of disciples for the kingdom. These scribes are preparing themselves for the kingdom proclaimed by John and Jesus: men like Nicodemus, and like Joseph of Arimathea, who awaited the coming of God’s kingdom (Mark 15:43). The possibility of a scribe becoming a disciple of Jesus contrasts to the position of most scribes of his own day, who demanded a sign from him (Matthew 12:38) and endorsed the Beelzebul slander. Jesus confronts the people with the truth that these scribes did not become disciples in search of God’s kingdom. And what they bring forth are evil and malicious things from the evil treasure of their hearts (Matthew 12:35)
Interpretation 1:
The disciples were trained by Jesus to understand this form of teaching, through which he revealed to them the mysteries of the kingdom. Their knowledge of God and his plan of salvation was however, like ours, still incomplete (see 1 Corinthians 13:9). The Greek word for scribe, grammateus, does not here in Matthew 13:52 strictly refer to someone belonging to the class of scribes, but in a more general sense to someone who has been trained to be a teacher in the kingdom of heaven. The disciples would not only be preachers of the gospel, but also become teachers of God’s people (Matthew 23:34).1
Interpretation 2:
Here in Matthew 13:52, Jesus makes a remarkable statement about the scribes. He says that when a scribe is converted by the preaching of John the Baptist and becomes a follower of Jesus, he is like a householder who brings out treasures both old and new. The phrasing is striking—it does not speak of disciples of the kingdom of heaven, but of disciples for the kingdom. These are scribes who prepare themselves for the kingdom of God proclaimed by John and Jesus.
Men like Nicodemus belong to this group. Like Joseph of Arimathea, he awaited the coming of God’s kingdom (Mark 15:43). The possibility of a scribe becoming a disciple of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the common position of scribes of his own day—those who demanded a sign from him (Matthew 12:38) and endorsed the Beelzebul slander. He confronts the people with this sobering contrast: that these scribes did not become disciples in anticipation of God’s kingdom. And what do they bring forth? They draw out evil and malicious things from the evil treasure of their hearts (Matthew 12:35).2
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”