The Parable of the Net

Before the holidays we had ventured into the point of Jesus Ministry where he began to teach the crowd using various parables.

The parables were designed so that only those willing to consider the truth would understand. This particular parable gives us a picture of the last days. We see in this parable that for a short time the wicked are allowed to live alongside the righteous, but this time is growing shorter by the hour.

Matthew 13:47–51 CSB

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish, 48 and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes.”

As we just read this is one of Jesus’ “Kingdom of Heaven” illustrations. In which he gives all those who are listening a glimpse at how the Kingdom of God operates.

I. A Large Net

Illustration of net.

Jesus makes an unusual statement. He says the kingdom of God is like a large net. Now in order to get a better mental image of the type of net he is referring to we have this picture behind me.

This is an illustration of they type of fishing boat and net that they would have used in the Sea of Galilee during the days of Christ.

They would take a large net and throw it into the sea. The net was weighted on the ends. They would drag the net and as they pulled it gravity and the water would cause the weights to come together trapping the fish inside the net.

often, If the net was very large they would drag it between two boats. When it was a full they would either pull it up on the deck of their sailing vessel or as in the case of this parable drag it to the shore.

In oder to understand this parable we must ask a rather simple question.

Q:What is the purpose of the net?

A: To draw the fish to the fisherman

In this way the Kingdom of heaven is like a net. Jesus said,

John 6:44 CSB

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 12:32 CSB

32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”

In this verse Jesus was referencing his death on the cross. He is saying that if I am crucified on the cross as a sacrifice than I will draw all men to myself.

We see that this net collects every type of fish.

II. The Collection

The idea is that the gospel call has gone out to all and none are without excuse. Every man, woman, and child from all periods of time from every ethnicity are being called by the work of the Kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit and his message of the gospel.

Everyone is invited to be part of the Kingdom. Everyone is being drawn by the spirit of God back to himself. Yet not every fish that is caught within the net is worth keeping.

III. The judgement

Matthew 13:48 CSB

48 and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones.

The phrase “sat down” is like that of a judge taking the bench to consider who is before him. It is intentional and methodical.

To understand this idea of good fish and bad fish we refer bake to the Old Testament dietary laws.

Leviticus 11:9–12 CSB

9 “This is what you may eat from all that is in the water: You may eat everything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or streams. 10 But these are to be abhorrent to you: everything in the seas or streams that does not have fins and scales among all the swarming things and other living creatures in the water. 11 They are to remain abhorrent to you; you must not eat any of their meat, and you must abhor their carcasses. 12 Everything in the water that does not have fins and scales will be abhorrent to you.

We see that Jew was not able to eat all types of fish. They were not allowed to eat any type of fish that did not have scales such as catfish, sharks, rays, eels, and etc.

Dietary laws especially in the days leading up to the advent of Christ were strictly followed. A Jewish fisherman would have examined everything caught in the net thoroughly. Nothing would have escaped his discerning eye. He would have taken the fish that were good for food into containers, often to be fermented and pickled for the sake of preservation, The worthless ones were thrown out or those willing to bend the law would sell them to the gentiles.

In the same way the Judge will sit on his throne and all that stand before him will be judged both the righteous and the unrighteous there will be no escaping his judgement.

Trans: The net (the kingdom) is drawing all people to himself but not everyone will respond to the gospel message.

It is not the fault of the net or of the fisherman. No one can say that God is not just in his judgement because he judges all in the same way. He judges us according to his holy law. All of us will be judged but only those that are found to be righteous will inherit The kingdom and eternal life.

The wicked will be cast out.

IV. The Punishment

Matthew 13:49–50 CSB

49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Time is coming to an end. I am not a profit, but I feel it my heart that there have been significant changes in the world. We can now see a much clearer path for many of the prophecy’s concerning the end of the age to be fulfilled.

The net is being pulled close to the shore and the final judgement is coming. Soon the Lord Jesus Christ will sit down on the judgement seat and none will escape his discerning eye.

Those who by the blood of Jesus Christ have been washed clean, forgiven and clothed in his righteousness will be pronounced righteous and those who reject will hear these horrifying words.

Matthew 7:23 CSB

23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Once the judgement has been made there is no longer time to repent. It is to late. Jesus said, at the end of the age the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous.

The wicked will be cast in the fires of hell. On that day the judgement will finally sink in and there will be intense weeping, but the sorrow will do them no good. The wicked will have had their chance drawn by the grace of God, just as those who have repented.

Then scripture gives us this terrible but true image. There will be “gnashing of teeth”. People will be in such painful torment in hell that they will be grinding their teeth.

Do you understand that this is a picture of extreme agony. Eternal hopelessness, eternal pain, eternal seperation from love and the God of all creation

So then what is the good news in all of this?

The good news is that their is still time. All of you who are listening still have an opportunity to repent and turn to Christ if you haven’t already made that decision.

For the living there is still hope. Don’t be foolish. In his mercy, Jesus has told us exactly what will take place. In the last days the angels will come and judgement will fall on the earth.

How can anyone doubt the goodness of God when he warned us of what is coming. The net of the kingdom has already been cast. The son of man is drawing it to himself. When it reaches the shore, time will be no more and it will be to late.

But then Scripture tells us that after the judgement a time of celebration will begin.

V. The celebration

In a very similar parable. The parable of the wheat and tares Jesus tells of what will happen when wickedness and wicked people will no longer plaque the earth.

Matthew 13:41–43 CSB

41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.

righteousness will reign supreme. Don’t you look forward to the day when there is no more evil in this world. Evil people will no longer rule and cause trouble, wars, and bloodshed.

For the believer this time will not be a time of tears or sorrow but rather a time of celebration. The death of all wickedness.

this is the good news of the kingdom.