The Parable of the Net

Matthew 13:47–50 ESV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How did we get to this parable of the Net at the end of Chapter 13? We know that Jesus started teaching in Chapter 13 by telling the parable of the sower, he was then questioned by his disciples why do you teach in parables?

He explains his purpose for teaching in parables in verse 11,

Matthew 13:11 ESV

And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Matthew 13:11

As we have learned Jesus taught in parables in order to reveal truth to some while at the same time concealing it from others. So, once he tells the parable of the sower, he explains it then he teaches string of parables that we know as kingdom parables and eventually he gets to our parable for tonight the Parable of the Net. Let’s begin by walking through a quick summary of the parables that lead up to this one.

In verse 24 Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field, then the enemy came in and scattered weed seed.

In verse 31 Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed that a man sowed that sprouted and grew so that it would provide nest for the birds.

In verse 24 Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field, then the enemy came in and scattered weed seed.

In verse 33 the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman hid in flower, till it was all leavened.

In verse 44 Jesus say’s “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field that is worth giving up all a man has to purchase the field.

In verse 45 the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who sold all that he had to buy this pearl of great value.

In verse 31 Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed that a man sowed that sprouted and grew so that it would provide nest for the birds.

In these parables we learn,

The Kingdom of heaven will bring great judgment.

The kingdom of heaven started small but will grow into a great kingdom.

In verse 33 the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a women hid in flower, till it was all leavened.

The kingdom of heaven is of great worth.

In verse 44 Jesus say’s “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field that is worth giving up all a man has to purchase the field.

Sean O’Donnell sums the kingdom parables up this way.

In verse 45 the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who sold all that he had to buy this pearl of great value.

In these parables we learn,

The Kingdom of heaven will bring great judgment.

The kingdom of heaven started small but will grow into a great kingdom.

The kingdom of heaven is of great worth.

Sean O’Donnell sums the kingdom parables up this way.

“Gospel growth, gospel judgment, and gospel gain are the three themes that will make sense out of the seven parables.”

Tonight, we will be looking at the theme of gospel judgement in The Parable of the Net.

Now we come to our parable, The Parable of the Net.

This is one of Jesus shorter parables, however he has a very important point he is driving home.

This parable is not about the churches call to evangelism. Although it ought to drive us to evangelize the lost.

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This is one of Jesus shorter parables, however he has a very important point he is driving home.

This parable is not about the churches call to evangelism. Although it ought to drive us to evangelize the lost.

This parable is not about our role as the church to gather fish of every kind, the great commission calls us to do that and this parable confirms that God will do the ultimate gathering.

The main point of this parable is to warn of the impending, all encompassing judgment of God that no man, woman, or child will escape.

We will look at this parable tonight in three primary actions Jesus presents in this parable. These actions are illustrations of the sovereign rule, reign, and coming judgment of God’s kingdom.

The main point of this parable is to warn of the impending, all-encompassing judgment of God that no man, woman, or child will escape.

Tonight we will break this parable down into three actions Jesus explains in this parable.

I. The Slinging of the Net (Vs 47)

II. The Sorting of the Catch (Vs 48)

III. The Separating of the Evil and the Righteous (Vs. 49-50)

Let’s begin by considering the,

I. Slinging of the Net (47)

Matthew 13:47 ESV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

How does Jesus start this parable off? By once again describing the kingdom of heaven. He is about to give us one more illustration, one more earthly example of the kingdom of heaven to help reveal the truth of the kingdom to those who were listening and to those who would read his Scriptures from then until He returns.

In order to start off with a right understanding of this parable we need to make sure we have a grasp on what Jesus means by the kingdom of heaven.

So to start of with the right understanding of this parable we need to make sure we have a grasp on what Jesus means by the kingdom of heaven.

MacArthur and Mayhue write,

The kingdom of God can be explained in this manner: The eternal triune God created a kingdom and two kingdom citizens (Adam and Eve)) who were to have dominion over it. But an enemy deceived them, seduced them into breaking allegiance to the King, and caused them to rebel against the sovereign Creator. God intervened with consequential curses that exist to this day. Ever since, he has been redeeming sinful, rebellious people to be restored as qualified kingdom citizens, both now in a spiritual sense and later in a kingdom-on-earth sense.

In the parable of the Net we see the kingdom being gathered as God redeems, and restores His people under his reign, under his royal rule. The King is calling and saving a people who will submit to his Lordship and live under his authority until he returns and completely restores His kingdom. At the same time there are millions who reject the grace of God, who are enemies of God, dead in their trespasses and sin. For those people there is a judgment coming, there is a reckoning coming. They are heading straight for eternal judgment and don’t even realize it. Both of these groups of people, those who are saved by God and those who will be judged by God are all under the sovereign rule of the kingdom of God or as it is called in this parable the kingdom of heaven.

Here is one more succinct description of the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God.

As we work our way through this Parable of the Net it is important to understand what He is teaching us regarding the rule and reign of God in this current age and the end of the age. Jesus is putting a picture before the disciples that they would have no doubt understood. Jesus uses a fishing illustration to help the disciples see and understand the judgment that was coming.

Graeme Goldsworthy defines the kingdom of God as, “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule and blessing.”

Remember the disciples were not only familiar with fishing, many of them were fishermen. Many of them had spent much of their life on a boat, in the lakes, in the sea fishing. Gathering fish in a net, sorting fish, and separating the fish that could be sold and consumed from the trash fish we call them and throwing them away.

As we work our way through this Parable of the Net it is important to understand what He is teaching us regarding the rule and reign of God in this current age and the end of the age. Jesus is putting a picture before the disciples that they would have no doubt understood. Jesus uses a fishing illustration to help the disciples see and understand the judgment that was coming.

Think about Simon, Andrew and James and John for a minute. Better yet turn to where we read,

Remember the disciples were not only familiar with fishing, many of them were fishermen. Many of them had spent much of their life on a boat, in the lakes, in the sea fishing. Gathering fish in a net, sorting fish, and separating the fish that could be sold and consumed from the trash fish we call them and throwing them away.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Do you see how well the disciples would have understood this parable? They had an intimate knowledge of fishing, boats, nets and the sea. They had probably pulled all kinds of fish out of the Sea of Galilee. They had no doubt sorted fish themselves throwing the good into containers and throwing away the bad.

Jesus begins by comparing the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God to a net.

This would be like Jesus saying to me the kingdom of heaven is like a utility pole that was inspected.

Or going to Jon Norton and saying the kingdom of heaven is like a roof that was repaired.

Or to Dr. Crowe, the kingdom of heaven is like a tooth that was torn out.

We would all be tuned in saying what is He going to say, how is the kingdom like a pole, roof, or tooth?

When Jesus begins by comparing the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God to a net he had their attention.

Now, when we hear Jesus refer to a net there are different kinds of nets.

Now when we hear Jesus refer to a net there a different kinds of nets.

Many of us may think of a dip net, which is a small round or oval net with a handle used for dipping fish out of the water when you have caught them by line fishing. This helps keep the fish from getting off the hook when you lift them out of the water. We know the disciples were familiar with this type of fishing from Jesus’ instruction to Peter in Matthew 17:27

Many of us may think of a dip net, which is a small round or oval net with a handle used for dipping fish out of the water when you have caught them by line fishing. This helps keep the fish from getting off the hook when you lift them out of the water. Although the disciples were familiar with this type of fishing this is not the net Jesus was referring to.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

However, this is not the net Jesus was referring to.

A second kind of net used in Jesus’ day and still today is a cast net. This is a little bigger, circular net with weights on the bottom. This net is used by one person who will many times put a tail of the net between their teeth, then sling the net out in a side arm manner so that it fans out and covers a larger area. As the weights pull the net to the bottom it catches any fish that are under it and then the net is pulled in by the fisherman or women. I married me a girl that can sling a cast net with the best of them....

A second kind of net used in Jesus’ day and still today is a cast net. This is a little bigger, circular net with weights on the bottom. This net is used by one person who will many times put a tail of the net between their teeth, then sling the net out in a side arm manner so that it fans out and covers a larger area. As the weights pull the net to the bottom it catches any fish that are under it and then the net is pulled in by the fisherman or women.

On a side note, some of you men may be as blessed as I am. I married me a girl that can sling a cast net with the best of them....My lady can go catch me a mess of fish then fry them up. He who finds a good wife finds a good thing.

However, the net Jesus is referring to in this parable is,

This is not the net Jesus is referring to in this parable either.

In this parable the net Jesus is referring to is,

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke c. The Parable of the Net (13:47–48)

A sagēnē (lit., “drag net,” used only here in the NT) was drawn along between two boats or tied on shore at one end and put out by a boat at the other end, which was then drawn to land by ropes.

This is the net that Jesus says was thrown into the sea. Some of these nets could be up to a half mile in length so they were massive. Even though many of us have never used nets this big we can imagine the fish that would have been caught as this massive net sank to the bottom of the sea and then drug across the sea floor. It would have caught fish of all sizes and species. Fish that were edible and inedible. As Jesus said this net would have gathered fish of every kind.

Some of you may be familiar with sane nets, or may have been a apart of “seining” a pond. The point of this type of fishing is to get every fish out of the water, not to leave one. People may seine ponds for different reasons. To fix a leak if it is a lined pond, to get all of the fish out to restock with a single species, or maybe just to have one big fish fry. The point is this is the way kingdom fishing works. God is gathering all of mankind to himself, he is pulling in all people to come before him at judgment. There is not one person who is not appointed to death and the judgment of God.

Some of you may be familiar with seine nets, or may have been a apart of “seining” a pond. The point of this type of fishing is to get every fish out of the water, not to leave one. People may seine ponds for different reasons. To fix a leak if it is a lined pond, to get all of the fish out to restock with a single species, or maybe just to have one big fish fry. The point is this is the way kingdom fishing works. God is gathering all of mankind to himself, he is pulling in all people to come before him at judgment. There is not one person who is not appointed to death and the judgment of God.

The author of Hebrews explains,

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Here is the point, this gathering of every kind is all encompassing. The kingdom net will catch every fish it intends to catch until it is completely full!

This is more than just the gathering of the church. There will not be one soul left after the net is drug across the sea. It will catch those who never darkened the doors of a church building, this net will catch those who attended church services on Christmas and Easter, this net will grab those who attended church services every time the doors opened. This gathering will bring everyone person in the world in front of the Judge of the universe. We will all stand before him naked and exposed when we meet him. We will all bow our knee, fall on our face and confess Him as LORD whether we have done it in this life or not.

This verse alone ought to snatch us into reality that we will not escape the judgment of God, the net is being drug closer to the day of judgment as we speak ever second, every minute, every hour we are coming closer to the appointment we have with death and or judgment! There will be no back-door deals, there will be no slipping out of the net, there will be now going around the edge, under, or over the net, judgment is appointed to all.

This verse alone ought to snatch us into reality that we will not escape the judgment of God, the net is being drug closer to this day of judgment as we speak ever second, every minute, every hour we are coming closer to the appointment we have with death and or judgment! There will be no back door deals, there will be no slipping out of the net, there will be now going around the edge, under, or over the net, judgment is appointed to all.

We see Jesus illustrate this judgment in the,

We see Jesus illustrated this judgment in the,

Matthew 13:48 ESV

When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.

Matthew 13:

After the fishermen had slung their net into the sea, they begin to draw it ashore. As they draw the net to shore this seine net is catching everything in its path, it is not culling anything. It is catching keepers, fish good for consumption, it is catching every species of fish from mullet, to mackerel, to ma-hi. This net is catching all sizes of fish from minnows to monsters. The net is also gathering fish that are just bad.

Again D.A. Carson explains,

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke c. The Parable of the Net (13:47–48)

In the parable itself, “good” and “bad” fish have no moral overtones but refer simply to fish ceremonially suitable and large enough for eating and those for some reason unacceptable, respectively. The word sapron (“bad”) can mean “decayed,” but here it simply means “worthless.”

Do you get the picture, as the men draw the net ashore they are picking the fish out of the net. They inspect the fish and look for the ones that can be sold, that can be eaten and are useful to them. They then throw these fish into a container to be kept and sold. However, they also pull out these fish that are worthless, that are no good, of no value. These fish are then thrown away, tossed into the trash. These fish will then die a slow death, they will begin to bake in the sun while their flesh begins to decay and their innards begin to rot. The stench of these rotting, worthless fish will begin to permeate the air around them.

During one of the dry seasons in Florida the land we used to hunt on got really dry and a couple of the ponds got extremely low. So Kyle and I decided we were going to see if we could catch any fish out of one of the ponds before it dried up all the way. We walked out to the small waterhole and threw in our lines. It didn’t take but a couple of minutes and we started pulling in some catfish that were the perfect eating size. We got excited, we had found us a productive fishing hole that we could get to quickly and easily. We caught a mess of fish and started planning to fry them up when we got home. We got back home to clean the fish and stripped the skin off the first one and saw something we had never seen before. The meat was full of worms, maggots, or some sort of parasite. These parasites were eating holes in the flesh of the fish. We threw that one away and skinned another one, same thing the fish was full of parasitic worms, the flesh was decaying and it was no good. We had caught a mess of bad, decaying fish that were alive but were literally rotting from the inside out. All we could do was throw them away.

I tell you this because we thought we had some good fish. We had caught a mess of fish that were the right kind, the right size, and from all the we could see on the outside were good fish. However, when the inside was exposed, we saw the rottenness of the fish. We were not as good at judging fish as we thought.

Let me give you

During one of the dry seasons in Florida the land we used to hunt on got really dry and a couple of the ponds got extremely low. So Kyle and I decided we were going to see if we could catch any fish out of one of the ponds before it dried up all the way. We walked out to the small waterhole and threw in our lines. It didn’t take but a couple of minutes and we started pulling in some catfish that were the perfect eating size. We got excited, we had found us a productive fishing hole that we could get to quickly and easily. We caught a mess of fish and started planning to fry them up when we got home. We got back home to clean the fish and stripped the skin off the first one and saw something we had never seen before. The meat was full of worms, maggots, or some sort of parasite. These parasites were eating holes in the flesh of the fish. We threw that one away and skinned another one, same thing the fish was full of parasitic worms, the flesh was decaying and it was no good. We had caught a mess of bad, decaying fish that were alive but were literally rotting from the inside out. All we could do was throw them away.

Here is a point of application for us as the church. This parable is pointing us to the coming judgment of God. Therefore, as the church we are to be fishers of men. We are to be casting the net of the gospel to all kinds and we are to judge the fruit of those within the church. We are to take seriously our responsibility of caring for the souls of every member of the church, of holding one another accountable, and doing our best to protect the church from wolves. But the truth is we are not the perfect judge. We can only see the external we cannot see a persons heart. We can look at one another’s lives and see if we are living lives worthy of the gospel but there is only one who knows for sure if our wicked hearts have been changed from a rotten decaying heart, to a new heart of flesh that has been regenerated and renewed by the Spirit of God.

I tell you this because we thought we had some good fish. We had caught a mess of fish that were the right kind, the right size, and from all the we could see on the outside were good fish. However, when the inside was exposed, we saw the rottenness of the fish. We were not as good at judging fish as we thought.

This brings us to our third action,

Here is a point of application for us as the church. This parable is pointing us to the coming judgment of God. Therefore, as the church we are to be fishers of men. We are to be casting the net of the gospel to all kinds and we are to judge the fruit of those within the church. We are to take seriously our responsibility of caring for the souls of every member of the church, of holding one another accountable, and doing our best to protect the church from wolves. But the truth is we are not the perfect judge. We can only see the external we cannot see a person heart. We can look at one another’s lives and see if we are living lives worth of the gospel but there is only one who knows for sure if our wicked hearts have been changed from a rotten decaying heart, to a new heart of flesh that has been regenerated and renewed by the Spirit of God.

This brings us to our third action,

Matthew 13:49–50 ESV

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:

Notice first the timing of this separation, So it will be at the end of the age. There is a day coming when the net will be drawn all the way to the shore. Where the age of gospel proclamation will end. When the age of the gathering of the church will close. God has been patient, God has been longsuffering, and abounding in steadfast love. God has been merciful and gracious, slow to anger giving opportunity for the gospel to go out to the nations and men, women, and children to repent of their sins.

timing of this separation,

However, Peter warns,

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter

In this age God is showing us great patience because he wishes all would come to repentance but this age will come to an end. Jesus is warning in this parable that at that time gospel judgment will come. This coming judgment ought to cause us all to tremble, but to those of us who are in Christ this gospel judgement ought to cause us to Trust in the one in whom we have found redemption and can therefore say, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We have been justified, declared not guilty, declared righteous therefore we should not fear, but long for the end of this age, and look for our King to come and gather His church.

But for those who are outside of Christ, for those who are depending on their own righteousness, listen to these words of Christ, pay attention to this judgment parable, because Jesus is about to explain a horrific judgment that will come upon all of those who reject Him, all of those who refuse to repent of their sin, they will receive the full wrath of God at the end of the age.

So we see the timing of the judgment,

But for those who are outside of Christ, for those who are depending on their own righteousness, listen to these words of Christ, pay attention to this judgment parable, because Jesus is about to explain a horrific judgment that will come upon all of those who reject Him, all of those who refuse to repent of their sin, they will receive the full wrath of God at the end of the age.

Secondly, Jesus explains who is responsible for this separation he says, The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous. When the end of the age come, there will be a final separation. The angels of the Lord will come out and sort the saved from the lost, those who are in Christ from those who have rejected Christ. The angels will do this perfectly, there will be no one who sneaks in, no one who slips by, the angels will know each one who has their name written in the Lambs book of life.

So we see the timing of the judgment,

We see the same description of the Son sending His angels out in

Secondly, Jesus explains who is responsible for this separation he says, The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous. When the end of the age come, there will be a final separation. The angels of the Lord will come out and sort the saved from the lost, those who are in Christ from those who have rejected Christ. The angels will do this perfectly, there will be no one who sneaks in, no one who slips by, the angels will know each one who has their name written in the Lambs book of life.

We see the same description of the Son sending His angels out in

Matthew 13:41 ESV

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,

Matthew 13:41–42 ESV

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Both of these parables are pointing to the Last Judgment at the end of the age. The Lord Jesus Christ will use his angels to gather, sort, and separate the sinners from the saved. Final judgment will take place.

We are coming to the point of the parable where I plead with you to pay attention. Whether you are young or old, boy or girl, believer or non-believer Jesus is about to give us a description of the place of judgment he has prepared for the wicked, those who refuse to repent and believe in Him. You may be thinking this is just a parable, but don’t forget this is also a prophetic promise. Jesus is not just providing a parable or a picture, he is laying out a promise of the judgment to come. This is “gospel judgment.” Either you have placed your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, in the good news of His virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and Resurrection or you will be separated from His people at this final judgment.

This brings us to the final point of this parable where,

Third, Jesus provides a graphic description of the place the evil will be thrown, the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus provides a graphic description of the place the evil will be thrown, the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Do you see the fear this description of hell ought to strike in us? Do see the agony, distress, and pain that will take place in the fiery furnace when final judgment occurs. Is there any doubt where Jesus is talking about? He is talking about Hell, the place eternal judgment, punishment, and pain. Just to make sure we all understand this is not just some random teaching, Jesus and the apostles over and over warn us about the truth of Hell as a place of everlasting torment for the wicked.

Do you see the fear this description of hell ought to strike in us? Do see the agony, distress, and pain that will take place in the fiery furnace when final judgment occurs. Is there any doubt where Jesus is talking about? He is talking about Hell, the place eternal judgment, punishment, and pain. Just to make sure we all understand this is not just some random teaching, Jesus and the apostles over and over warns us about the truth of Hell as a place of everlasting torment for the wicked.

Matthew 5:22 ESV

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matthew 8:12 ESV

while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew

Matthew 18:9 ESV

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Matthew 18:19 ESV

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 ESV

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

1 Thessalonians 1:7–9 ESV

so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1

Jude 7 ESV

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 13 ESV

wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 7:

Do you see the way the Holy Spirit has spoken throughout the Scriptures, through the men of God whom he carried along to teach us about the horrors of Hell and the fierceness of the fury of the wrath of God. Jesus is warning the wicked here there will be a place for you where no man no matter how strong, no matter how mean, and tough will be able to stand the unending, everlasting agony that will be found in the pits of hell.

Hell is described here and other places as a fiery furnace. Maybe you like me are reminded of the fiery furnace which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into. The furnace that was so hot it consumed the men who threw them into the fiery furnace.

Hell is described here and other places as a fiery furnace. Maybe you like me are reminded of the fiery furnace which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into. The furnace that was so hot it consumed the men who threw them into the furnace.

Daniel 3:22–23 ESV

Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Jude 1:13

The fiery furnace was so hot, no one could approach it. Except who?

Those who stood with the one, whose appearance was like a son of the gods. There is only One who will keep us from being thrown into the fiery furnace, He is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is one of two choices, either repent of your sin and believe in Him as the divine, Savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords or you will be consumed in the fiery furnace when the net is drawn ashore, when the wicked are separated from the righteous.

There may be some here tonight who still refuse to heed Jesus’ warning of separation from the righteous, who don’t believe there is a fiery furnace. I pray that Jesus last phrase in the parable will pry open your blinded eyes and awaken your dead heart through the illumination of the Spirit.

Because,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.were thrown into. The furnace that was so hot it consumed the men who threw them into the furnace. Flames to hot so high that no one could even approach them, except who? Those who were standing with the one who

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I also want to hear the KJV of the phrase, which reads,

wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This word means,

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.138 κλαίω; κλαυθμός, οῦ; κραυγή, ῆς

to weep or wail, with emphasis upon the noise accompanying the weeping—‘to weep, to wail, to lament, weeping, crying.’

not only will there be weeping and wailing, there will also be gnashing of teeth.

gnashing n. — making a grating or grinding sound by rubbing (teeth) together; probably including violent movements of the mouth and face.

Have no doubt that Hell will be a place where the pain, torment, and agony will be like no one has ever seen. Have you ever seen one of the old westerns or war movies where they are going to have to do surgery or an amputation back before the days of anesthesia? What do they do?

They give them a stick or a towel and tell them to bite on this. Then they start cutting or operating. The patient then starts biting down, grinding, and gnashing his teeth as the pain and agony rises. Then many times they just burst out in a wailing, hollering because the pain has overtaken their ability to hold in their agony. Often they will pass out after the wail.

Here is the truth about Hell, those who are cast into the lake of fire, will never pass out, not even the worm ever dies. There will be an unbearable torment that never ends.

Revelation 20:10 ESV

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 2:10 ESV

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Even the devil will be in torment day and night forever and ever. You see the T-Shirt or bumper sticker, Heaven doesn’t want me and Hell is afraid I will take over. Don’t believe that heresy either, John dispels that lie for us. The devil isn’t afraid you will take over, he knows that God will be the one in control of Hell, God will be the one raining down fire and brimstone into the lake of fire where the temperature never drops and the torment never stops.

You may be thinking why are you spending so much time and energy preaching on Hell? Because this is the point of the parable, this is what Jesus is driving at, He is warning that the day of judgment, the end of this age is drawing nearer like a net being drawn to shore and apart from being in Him you will be thrown into the fiery furnace, into the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

But not only does Jesus warning us of this place here, over and over the writers of Scripture warn us about God’s wrath being poured out in the place called Hell.

J.I. Packer writes, the

Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs Hell: The Wicked Will Be Banished into Endless Misery

New Testament teaching about hell is meant to appall us and strike us dumb with horror, assuring us that, as heaven will be better than we could dream, so hell will be worse than we can conceive. Such are the issues of eternity, which need now to be realistically faced.

We are coming to a close and I hope and pray there every person in this sanctuary has seen the end of the age is drawing near and at that time we know the Kingdom is like,

1. A slinging of the net. That will seine the entire universe bringing every person before the Sovereign Judge of the universe.

At this time,

2. There will be a sorting of the good and the bad. The worthless will be thrown away will the good will be kept by the power of God for a salvation that is revealed to the glory and praise and honor of God!

1. A slinging of the net. That will seine the entire universe bringing every person before the Sovereign Judge of the universe.

Finally,

3. There will be a separation of the wicked from the righteous. This will be the final judgment, where the angels will sling the wicked into Hell where they will experience the wrath of God forever and ever, were there will be wailing an gnashing of teeth.

At this time,

This leaves at the point where we ask what do we do? I want us to close with Jesus’ question in verse 51.

2. There will be a sorting of the good and the bad. The worthless will be thrown away will the good will be kept by the power of God for a salvation that is revealed to the glory and praise and honor of God!

Finally,

3. There will be a separation of the wicked from the righteous. This will be the final judgment, where the angels will sling the wicked into Hell where they will experience the wrath of God forever and ever, were there will be wailing an gnashing of teeth.

This leaves at the point where we ask what do we do? I want us to close with Jesus’ question in verse 51.

Matthew 13:51 ESV

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”

Do you understand this age is coming to an end?

Do you understand that there will be a Gospel judgement at the end of the age?

Do you understand there is a place called Hell known as the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth?

Here are a few points of application from this parable.

First, if you are an unbeliever wake up to the reality of Hell and the wrath of God! I pray the Holy Spirit would not let you sleep tonight, that you here these words of judgement, wrath, and torment until your eyes are opened and your dead heart is awakened to the gospel.

Awakening to unconverted Persons in this Congregation. This that you have heard is the Case of every one of you that are out of Christ. That World of Misery, that Lake of burning Brimstone is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful Pit of the glowing Flames of the Wrath of God; there is Hell’s wide gaping Mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, not any Thing to take hold of: there is nothing between you and Hell but the Air; 'tis only the Power and meer Pleasure of God that holds you up

Listen to these words from Jonathan Edwards famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

Your Wickedness makes you as it were heavy as Lead, and to tend downwards with great Weight and Pressure towards Hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend & plunge into the bottomless Gulf, and your healthy Constitution, and your own Care and Prudence, and best Contrivance, and all your Righteousness, would have no more Influence to uphold you and keep you out of Hell, than a Spider’s Web would have to stop a falling Rock.

Your only hope is to turn to Christ, to run to Him. He came to this earth, lived the life you couldn’t live, and died the death you and I should have died so that we might not be cast into Hell.

How do I know this because the Bible tells me so!

John 3:16–18 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:16

Will you believe in Him tonight? Will you repent and run to him for salvation. God’s desire is that no man should perish but that all should have eternal life!

If you are a believer Jude provides us with a point of application for this parable.

Jude 1:17-

Jude 20–22 ESV

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt;

Build yourself up in the faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

Keep yourself in the love of God

Wait on the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Jude 20–23 ESV

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Jude 1:20-

As believers we are to be built up in the faith, praying in the Spirit, remaining in the love of God; waiting on the mercy of Christ, showing mercy to others,

so that we might be used to save others by snatching them out of the fire! Before others are separated and slung into the fiery furnace you and I ought to be steadfast in showing them mercy by spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ! Will you commit tonight to being more faithful in your gospel proclamation? Will you pray that the Lord will give you gospel opportunities?

Finally will you pray that the Lord might show you how we might be used in reaching the nations, so that they might here the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The Parable of the Net

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II. The Sorting of the Catch (Vs 48)

III. The Separation of the Evil from the Righteous (Vs 49-50)