The Drag-net! Matthew 13:47-52

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net ... - This parable does not differ in meaning from that of the tares. The gospel is compared to a net dragging along on the bottom of a lake, and collecting all - good and bad. The gospel may be expected to do the same; but in the end of the world, when the net "is drawn in," the bad will be separated from the good; the one will be cast away, and the other saved. Our Saviour never fails to keep before our minds the great truth that there is to be a day of judgment, and that there will be a separation of the good and the evil." Barnes

48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 

The bible tells us that the gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth to all people and then the end will come.  God desires all people to be saved. The bible continues to be translated into many new languages every day.  But someone still has to go and bring the message to those who don't yet know of and have not heard of Jesus. 

"The Bible has been translated into many languages from the biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. As of September 2020 the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages, the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,551 languages and Bible portions or stories into 1,160 other languages. Thus at least some portions of the Bible have been translated into 3,415 languages." (wikipedia)

49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous.

It is interesting that angels are the ones who do the separation of the wicked and righteous.  Angels are both messengers of God for the good news and the bad news.  Importantly, as we know from the rest of the bible, the righteous are those who have put their trust in Jesus.  We know no one is righteous no not even one.  Only God knows who is righteous and who is wicked.  There may be some people in a church who are unrighteous, and someone in the world who is righteous.  Only God knows the true condition of one's heart and whether or not a person is born again. 

 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus doesn't mince words as to the nature of the judgment.  Fire was always a sign of judgment and cleansing in the New Testament.  Like the parable of the wheat and the weeds, the wheat was saved and the weeds were burned up.  

Weeping and gnashing of teeth is a state of a deep regret which is lasts for eternity.  The weeping and gnashing of teeth is a result of realizing the missed opportunity of trusting in Jesus for salvation. It is hard to overestimate how miserable this would be.  

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.“Yes,” they replied.

Jesus wanted to be crystal clear the disciples were clear about these things.  When the disciples said, "yes", you wonder if possibly there were being a little naive.

"Jesus kindly asked them whether they had understood these things. If not, he was still willing to teach them. He enjoined on them their duty to make a proper use of this knowledge by speaking another parable. Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven - That is, every man that is acquainted with the gospel or with the truth. As the disciples had said that they had understood the truth, he says that it should not be unemployed. They should bring it forth in due time, like a householder bringing out of his treasury, or place of deposit, what had been laid up there at any time, as it was needed." (Barnes)

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.”

Jesus spent three years teaching his disciples so that they would be equipped to teach others.  Jesus reinterpreted the Old Testament Law in light of who He was.  He came to fulfill, but not abolish the law.  Early on in the church there was conflict in terms of those who could not let go of the legalism that was inherent in Judaism.  Jesus also told them not to use the old wineskins with the new wine.  

How often do you think about the end of the world when judgment will come upon the whole world?  Does the judgment Jesus describes seem fair?  Why do you think the judgment is so harsh and final?  What do you think our responsibility is as disciples to share the gospel with those who don't know Jesus?