Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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.

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)

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,

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.

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.