The Fishing Net and the Treasures

Introduction

We are dealing with the presence of the Kingdom - the Kingdom of God is with us now.

Wheat and Weed/Tares - we learned that the presence of the kingdom does not depend on wiping out opposition or pulling the weeds. The power and presence of kingdom actually includes a field full of weeds that one day God will take care of in the final judgment.

Mustard Seed and Leaven - the growth of the kingdom is a mystery. It spreads and is powerful in a way that is unseen by man. And that the small acts of grace and mercy are kingdom acts and kingdom power. Jesus healing the woman in the synagogue was kingdom activity.

Previously we saw another well known parable regarding the hidden treasure and the valuable pearl. Despite its appearance to human eyes, the kingdom is well worth the investment of a person’s life.

Today we’ll look at our last parable about the presence of the kingdom, regarding the Fishing Net and Old and New Treasures.

Main idea: We will revisit the idea that the righteous must endure some period of time where evil/weeds/tares coexist with them in the kingdom. But we will also see that the kingdom of heaven brings the old covenant to its fulfillment and that we are to share the treasure of the kingdom!

1. The Great Separation

vv. 47-50

This parable is very similar to the Wheat and the Tares/Weeds.

Before there was a field, here there is a sea

Before there was a crop, here there are fish

Before there were reapers, here there are fishermen

Before there was a barn, here there are vessels

These are intended to teach the same main point. We will look at this parable, and not a small distinction.

A. The Description of the Dragnet

First there are several methods to fishing in the Bible. We could think of a solo person, maybe not a fishing rod, but having a line, hook, and bait.

Matthew 17:27 AV

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

There would also be a one man net.

Matthew 4:18 AV

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

But here is something a bit different. This is large-scale fishing. A gigantic net would be strung between two boats and the would trawl along the sea ensnaring all kinds of fish - or here, ‘gathered of every kind.’

With a huge net, you’d catch a lot of fish, and junk, and then you’d have to sort through it.

I’ve watched that show ‘Deadliest Catch’ a couple times and other documentaries like that. They bring in a huge haul and then sort through it for size, the right crab, etc.

Jesus then ends this parable with this sorting idea as an illustration of how it will be at the end.

With the wheat and tares we really didn’t look at the judgment part, but let’s take a look at that now.

B. The Judgment at the End

In verses 49-50, Jesus tells us what this end is like. It’s similar to:

Matthew 13:30 AV

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Again we have the similarity of weeds among wheat and we have bad fish among good fish.

But the sorting or winnowing doesn’t occur till the end - but we must recognize that there will be an end.

2 Peter 3:10 AV

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Here we also see the role of the angels - who will sever the wicked from the just and cast them into the furnace of fire where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Not so excited to see angels now are you??

Matthew 13:41–42 AV

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Angels will be a key part of the final judgment!

So in vv. 41-42 and here in v. 50 we also wee wailing and gnashing of teeth. The horror of eternal separation from God and spending that time under his judgment is awful.

Jesus spoke about hell several times, mentioning that it is real, it is dark, it is a lake of fire, a place of torment.

Revelation 20:14–15 AV

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The weeds and the bad fish will end up here, under God’s judgment, delivered by his angels, at the last time.

The only hope for them is Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 AV

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

C. The Gospel Attraction

There is a slight, slight difference here between the wheat and tares parable and this one.

Rather than a field being planted and the tares a results of the evil one, there is no evil one here. It’s the gospel net. This kind of pictures Jesus ministry too - he ‘collected’ all kinds of people around him - both the faithful and the faithless - even among the disciples there was a Judas.

The Gospel Light attracts all kinds of strange bugs

Note - it’s easy to criticize the pastor when people don’t stay. First, you must understand that he will know things about them that you don’t. Second, they may be bad fish. Not everyone that is drawn to church, or for that matter the Kingdom of God is a ‘good fish.’

Caution on the caution - don’t be skeptical. You’re not the sorter; you’re not the reaper. God is.

Just remember the kingdom of God is made up of weeds and bad fish! Kingdom citizens look forward to the justice and the reward of the final judgment.

2. The Great Responsibility

vv. 51-52

These verses (well really v. 52) are difficult. There can be a variation of understanding on Jesus’ one verse parable here but we will do our best to grasp it.

Our first responsibility is in v. 51.

A. To Understand the Truth

Jesus asks them if they understood these things and the disciples respond that yes they do.

Now we give the disciples a hard time, but they did understand quite a bit more than most did and they did seem to grasp most of Jesus’ parables.

He’s asking them if they truly understand what he’s teaching, what he’s asking of them - do they realize to the point of insight; have they responded to what Jesus has revealed?

Luke 9:44 AV

44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

Do they really understand the things he’s been teaching? Kingdom citizens will give their lives for the kingdom - they are fully committed, they are not to be distracted by the world, nor driven away by hardships.

Matthew 13:23 AV

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

We’re not talking so much about a theological understanding of what Jesus has revealed. Rather,

This is an understanding that results in a conscious choice, and they have decided that even though they don’t understand every little thing, they are determined to follow Jesus and fulfill His kingdom.

Not only do we have a responsibility to understand and commit to the truth, we also have a responsibility

B. To Reveal the Treasures

Jesus then illustrates His question of them understanding their commitment with this parable in v. 52. It is rather interesting: we have a scribe, being instructed, who is like a householder, bringing out old and new treasures.

The scribe - he was a specialist in the Hebrew Scriptures. Not just a copyist but a great teacher. The scribe likely is mentioned because he’s attached to the OT and can therefore bring out those old treasures.

But this scribe is also compared to a householder. The householder has the old and the new treasures. This householder is not just a scribe but a scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus’ kingdom. This OT scribe is a disciple of Jesus. And this disciple of Jesus has the Old and New Testament treasure (the old and new covenants).

Notice the order though - new and old, the new is first. It doesn’t replace the old, but it has built on the old.

Matthew 5:17 AV

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The OT has value - the NT is primary to us, but the OT things were written (as Paul says) for our learning.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 AV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Now what does he do with these treasures? He brings them out.

Jesus asks, disciples, do you truly understand what I am teaching, what I am asking, what the kingdom is about?

Yes, they respond.

Then, he saw, I want you to bring out the treasures of the OT and NT, the Old covenant, and the kingdom of heaven. Bring them out so that others can see them. So that the bad fish, might become good fish.

CONCLUSION

Like the Wheat and the Weeds Parable, so the Kingdom of Heaven here is made up of a variety - good and bad fish. Like that parable, it’s not our job to sort it out, to pull the weeds, or to remove the bad fish, God and his angels will handle the final judgment.

So what is our job - bring out the treasures. Declare the Gospel. Lift up Jesus Christ. Do you truly understand what Jesus is asking of you? He’s not asking us to be Bible scholars lifted up in our pride. He’s not asking us to run His kingdom. He is not asking us to establish his kingdom through earthly means - remember the mustard seed and the leaven.

He says if you truly understand these things, if you truly understand his parables

then you’ll understand that his kingdom is comprised of the righteous and the wicked for now,

that the power and spread of the kingdom is a mystery,

that it is more valuable than all you may have or love, and

that finally, you’ll live like a kingdom citizen, you’ll witness to those who are destined for hell, and you’ll declare his truths.