Matthew 13:47-50

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 13

The Parable of the Net

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We’ve spent significant time making our way through Jesus’ kingdom parables here in Matthew chapter 13, and today we reach the last of these parables, at least for now. As I’ve highlighted before these parables are intended to paint for us a picture of God’s kingdom, to help us see the nature of that kingdom, how it will play out in this age, how people will respond to the kingdom, why people will respond differently to its message, and how the kingdom will be consummated at the end of the age.

Therefore, Jesus, for good reason, has spent time describing these things to his disciples, because, though they were already expecting God’s kingdom with the coming of the Messiah, it was very unclear to them how this kingdom would come, how the details would play out, and what the timeline would look like. And in many ways what Jesus teaches them here fills in those gaps.

Most had a condensed version of this event. They assumed that the Messiah’s coming would immediately signify the end of the age, and usher in final judgement, but in Jesus’ parables we see a judgement delayed, and later, even a second coming of the Messiah. The kingdom of heaven would not immediately subdue its enemies, in fact, it would appear small at first, and it would experience seemingly insurmountable opposition, where countless people would even reject its message.

This is much of the significance of these parables, they elaborate to Jesus’ disciples the nature of God’s kingdom and its coming. The parables set for them right expectations, they prepare the disciples for their mission ahead. Which also means they’re a guide for us as well, they inform our understanding of God’s kingdom in the same way that they did for those first disciples. They tell us what we ought to expect, and prepare us for the days ahead as we continue spreading the message of God’s kingdom throughout all the world.

The Parable of the Net

The parable before us this morning, in many ways, parallels the parables of the weeds found just a few verses earlier. Some commentators believe that Matthew is using what’s known as a chiastic literary style. What they mean is that Matthew is writing in a way that intends to help the reader better remember and grasp Jesus’ teachings. This chiastic literary style simply means that Matthew recounts Jesus’ parables using a certain pattern, repeating parables and teachings that coincide with one another.

And my point is that Matthew has a purpose in repeating himself, and Matthew has a purpose in his arrangement of the certain stories and teachings he includes, so when you see patterns of repetition within the Scriptures, the intent is typically to emphasis a point or to help the reader remember the point. Which may be the reason we see the Parable of the Net and the Parable of the Weeds repeating the same point twice within this chapter.

Dragnet

Now, if you would, read again with me these three verses as we spend the rest of our time together unpacking this parable.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Now, Jesus was probably referring to what we call a drag net, or a seine. In fact, the word seine finds it’s origin in the Greek word used here and translated “net” in verse 47 (in fact, it’s the only time its used in the NT). In short, a drag net is a long fish net intended to sweep large sections of water in order to maximize a fisherman’s catch. Various forms of dragnets use some type of flotation for the top of the net and some kind of weight for the bottom of the net. Over the centuries people have used things like cork or wood for flotation, and items like lead or rocks for the bottom of the net, which stretches the net from the surface of the water to the sea floor, or lake bottom.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 13:47–50). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

These nets would then be dragged to shore, or onto a boat, using a semicircle shape to catch as many fish as possible. However, one of the disadvantages of this type of fishing is that there can sometimes be a considerable amount of by-catch, or unintentionally caught fish. I remember the first time that I saw a picture of a salmon shark. It was at least 6’ long and had been hung by its tail over the deck of Roger Rowland’s boat, the Commitment, here in town. The shark, who would have been hunting the salmon, had been unintentionally caught in their seine.

The Rowland’s actually use what’s called a purse seine, which takes drag netting to the next level. The bottom of the net has rings all along it, through which a line passes, and when the line is pulled it draws the rings together, preventing the fish from sounding, or swimming under the net to escape. This process can easily be compared to that of a purse string, or a drawstring. And this type of seining has the potential of catching even higher volumes of by-catch, or unwanted fish.

And this type of fishing would have been very familiar to Jesus’ disciples, especially since four of them were professional fishermen themselves. When Jesus, earlier, had called Peter and Andrew to follow him they were on the Sea of Galilee casting their nets into the water, and when Jesus approaches John and his brother James they were in the middle of mending their nets. Therefore, there’s little doubt, that they would have been very familiar with the use of a dragnet, or seine, to draw up fish from the Sea of Galilee to sell at the markets.

There are at least 18 known species of fish in the Sea of Galilee that they would have eaten. However, because of their dietary laws, they would have thrown away things like eels and catfish, that is, they would have likely sold them to the Gentiles instead.

And so Jesus takes this imagery and compares it to the coming end of the age. And he does so for at least two reasons, 1) to teach his disciples of the coming judgement, when God’s angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous, and 2) that in the meantime the kingdom of heaven will be like a net that indiscriminately catches a multitude of different kinds of fish, that God’s kingdom, in this age, will be mixed. There will be those who are righteous and there will be those who are not, but it won’t be until the end of the age that God will separate them one from another.

Again, this is much like the parable of the weeds that we looked at several weeks ago. There are both wheat and weeds sown in the field, and while, at first, everything seems to be going well the servants notice that there are weeds growing up alongside the wheat. The wheat had been planted by the Son of Man and the weeds had been sown by an enemy, but Jesus tells his servants to let them grow up together until harvest, and at that time the Son of Man will send his angels to gather out of his kingdom all of the law-breakers.

So on one hand we see Jesus’ insistence that final judgement will come, but not now, instead it will come at the end of the age. Therefore, we also see that this means his kingdom, here on earth, throughout this age, will remain mixed with both believers and unbelievers . This is what his disciples are to expect, this is what they’re to be prepared for going forward.

Fishers of men

And at this point I can’t help but remember the words that Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew back in Matthew chapter 4,

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.”

Therefore, Jesus uses a net, he uses something that’s particularly familiar to his disciples, especially Peter and Andrew, to whom he said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In this parable it’s as if Jesus is saying, “I told you that I would make you fishers of men, but know that not all will be true disciples, many will be false. But at the end of the age my angels will separate the good from the bad.”

While we’re all commissioned to be fishers of men we must also remember that not of all of those men will necessarily respond to the Gospel for all of the right reasons (or at all), many will give both true and false professions, but at the end of the age the angels will separate the evil from the righteous.

There will be multitudes of people drawn to the message of the kingdom, however, there will also be a multitude of reasons for which these people are drawn. There will be many reasons why people respond positively to the Gospel. Some will be drawn to the miracles, some will be drawn in order that they might be healed, some will be drawn to it for the sake of gaining power, but some will be drawn to it because of its king. And to them this kingdom will be like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price, worth leaving and selling everything to have, and at the end of the age, this will be the difference.

Many of us are familiar with how Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount in when he said,

English Standard Version Chapter 7

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

At the end of the age the angels will separate the evil from the righteous. They will separate the false from the true, the hypocrites from the true disciples. The hearts of men will be laid bare, for there will be nothing hidden from the Lord.

The indiscriminate call

And at this point I can’t help but remember the words that Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew back in Matthew chapter 4,

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.”

Therefore, Jesus uses a net, he uses something that’s particularly familiar to his disciples, especially Peter and Andrew, to whom he said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In this parable it’s as if Jesus is saying, “I told you that I would make you fishers of men, but know that not all will be true disciples, many will be false. But at the end of the age my angels will separate the good from the bad.”

While we’re all commissioned to be fishers of men we must remember that not of all of those men will necessarily respond to the Gospel for all of the right reasons (or at all), many will give both true and false professions, but at the end of the age the angels will separate the evil from the righteous.

It’s as if he’s telling them that just like fishing, when the nets are brought in, fish of all kinds will be caught.

There will be multitudes of people drawn to the message of the kingdom, however, there will also be a multitude of reasons for which people are drawn. There will be many reasons why people respond positively to the Gospel. Some will be drawn to the miracles, some will be drawn in order that they might be healed, some will be drawn to it for power, but some will be drawn because of its king. And to them this kingdom will be like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price, worth leaving and selling everything to have, and at the end of the age, this will be the difference.

Therefore, we too ought to follow this example, to cast our nets as it were, wherever we are.

Many of us are familiar with how Jesus closes out his Sermon on the Mount in where he says,

There will be multitudes of people drawn to the message of the kingdom, however, there will also be a multitude of reasons for which people will be drawn. There will be many reasons why people respond positively to the Gospel. Some will be drawn to the miracles, some will be drawn to be healed, some will be drawn to for power, but some will be drawn to its king. And to them this kingdom will be like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price, worth leaving and selling everything to have, and at the end of the age, this will be the difference.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The indiscriminate call

But this reality shouldn’t restrain us from sharing the Gospel, it shouldn’t discourage us, and it certainly shouldn’t keep us from sharing this message to everyone without reservation or distinction. One of the things this passage also teaches us is that God’s message of salvation is to be delivered indiscriminately, that is, without discrimination or distinction we preach the Gospel. The net it cast into the water without prior thought of what they might catch, or who might or might not respond to the Gospel. The disciples are not asked to make judgments of who ought to hear the Gospel and who ought not to hear the Gospel. It’ll be our Lord’s duty to sort them out at the end of the age, and to hold men to account for their actions. The disciples are to be workers, they’re to be servants, heralds of this good news.

Therefore, our proclamation of the Gospel should also be without regard to nation or people group. On the Sea of Galilee the disciples would have cast their nets indiscriminately, not knowing what kinds of fish they might catch. In the same way we are called to indiscriminately evangelize all of mankind without distinction, no matter their social status, whether they’re rich or poor, or whether they’re a part of one ethnic group or another.

In John chapter 10, you may recall that Jesus called himself the door of the sheepfold, and that whoever enters by him, he will be saved, that he will lay down his life for them. He also said that he has other sheep that are not of this fold, and that he must bring them in also. Therefore, we, as his disciples, have been commissioned to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations, of all kinds of people. We are to be his messengers, sent to gather his elect from the four winds of heaven, from every corner of the earth.

In Acts chapter 18 the Apostle Paul, while in the city of Corinth, received a vision one night and God told him,

English Standard Version Chapter 18

“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

In other words, within the cities and villages around the world God has people that are his, and he has placed us (he has placed you) in these places to bring the Gospel to them. We are commanded to cast our nets, to share the gospel with them. And more than that, we have the assurance that there are people in these places (no matter how hard) that are his. In fact, this vision that was given to Paul was to encourage him to stay in Corinth despite the opposition he faced, to not be silent, but rather to speak, to be a witness for Christ, precisely because God had people in that City that were his, people that God had chosen unto salvation. No feeble words or opposition could stand in Paul’s way. God’s electing love is the grounds for our evangelism, it’s the very reason we know that our commission to be fishers of men will succeed.

But, we shouldn’t expect that every person, even those who respond positively to our witness, will be saved, but over our lifetime, and through our faithful witness, God will draw his people unto himself. And he has ordained that his Gospel, through our preaching, will be how he accomplishes this. Therefore, with great delight and with great assurance we can preach the Gospel in the face of any circumstance, regardless of any lack we me feel in our ability to do it, and to deliver it without distinction to whoever is listening.

Judgement & Mercy

And finally, this parable reminds us again that God is seriousness about sin. Jesus does not take sin lightly, his message is not that we can merely sweep our sin under the rug of God’s love. Instead God’s love include righteous judgment against sin, and we see this severity in verses 49-50,

We’re commanded to be fishers of men

English Standard Version Chapter 13

49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We’re not supposed to try and separate the good from the bad

One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry is his teachings on hell, his teachings that tell us that sin will not go unpunished, that perfect justice will be carried out. And even here we see Jesus’ vivid description of this reality. At the end of the age evildoers will be thrown into the fiery furnace, and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. God takes sin seriously, and so should we.

However, the end of the age has not yet come, there is still time to repent, there is still time to seek forgiveness. And it’s against this backdrop of God’s severity toward sin that the Gospel shines so brightly, for this Jesus, God’s Son, has come to save his people from their sins. He has come to give his live as an atonement for sin, as a ransom for many, he has come to redeem is people from their iniquities. He came and suffered the righteous wrath of God that his people might not have to, to all those who forsake their sin and trust that he will save them, he will be their salvation. This is why Jesus is our treasure hidden in a field, our pearl of great price, because of the great love with which he has loved us, for he has saved us from our sin.

Are we true disciples? Or are we hypocrites?

Prayer

Prayer

Judgment

One of the difficult aspects of this passage and its application is what Jesus means

Fishers of men

And at this point I can’t help but remember the words that Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew back in Matthew chapter 4,

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.”

Therefore, Jesus uses a net, he uses something that’s particularly familiar to his disciples, especially Peter and Andrew, to whom he said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In this parable it’s as if Jesus is saying, “I told you that I would make you fishers of men, but know that not all will be true disciples, many will be false. But at the end of the age my angels will separate the good from the bad.”

While we’re all commissioned to be fishers of men we must remember that not of all of those men will necessarily respond to the Gospel for all of the right reasons (or at all), many will give both true and false professions, but at the end of the age the angels will separate the evil from the righteous.

There will be multitudes of people drawn to the message of the kingdom, however, there will also be a multitude of reasons for which people are drawn. There will be many reasons why people respond positively to the Gospel. Some will be drawn to the miracles, some will be drawn in order that they might be healed, some will be drawn to it for power, but some will be drawn because of its king. And to them this kingdom will be like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price, worth leaving and selling everything to have, and at the end of the age, this will be the difference.

Many of us are familiar with how Jesus closes out his Sermon on the Mount in where he says,

English Standard Version Chapter 7

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

At the end of the age the angels will separate the evil from the righteous. They will separate the false from the true, the hypocrites from the true disciples. The hearts of men will be laid bare, for there will be nothing hidden from the Lord.