Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.09UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.09UNLIKELY
Fear
0.08UNLIKELY
Joy
0.55LIKELY
Sadness
0.19UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.75LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.46UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.95LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.69LIKELY
Extraversion
0.05UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.33UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.63LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction
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.
There would also be a one man net.
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:
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.
Here we also see the role of the angles - 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??
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.
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.
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?
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.
We’re not talking so much about a theological understanding of what Jesus has revealed.
Rather,
The disciples have made 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.
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.
The OT has value - the NT is primary to us, but the OT things were written (as Paul says) for our learning.
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, 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 says if you understand these things, then you’ll live it, you’ll witness, you’ll declare these truths.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9