Following the Way of Jesus (5)

Parables of the Kingdom - The Dragnet

Matthew 13:47–52 (NIV84)

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The parables of the Kingdom are designed to aid the understanding of those who have “ears to hear” which is a coded way of saying, they make sense to those who can spiritually discern their meaning.

When Jesus was preaching the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven, many people heard him but not many followed Him. In fact, some were angry with him and rejected and persecuted him.

It was tempting to think that this was due to something about Jesus and His message, but it was not the case as the Parable of the Sower explains the problem is not with the messenger or the message, the seed of God's Word. It has all the potential to bring forth abundant fruit. Sow it in the right soil and it brings forth thirty-fold, sixty-fold, hundred-fold. Nothing wrong with the message!

So what is the problem? The heart has a barrier that prevents the proper reception of the seed of God's Word. As the Parable fo the Sower explains, there are four kinds of soils that describes four kinds of hearing. Some hear, but to no effect because they are hardened and this ia a barrier that prevents the seed from being internalized. Some hear, superficially, they have a very superficial layer of soil and when the sun comes up the seed that spouts in the shallow soil, dies. Likewise there are some who are careless hearers, represented by the ground filled with lots of thorns and weeds that chokd up the seed of God's Word. Finally, there is a good soil, a cultivated soil, a cultivated heart, that the seed of God's Word will bring forth abundant fruit.

So the point that Jesus is making, is that: There is nothing wrong with the message. It has all the power to save!

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. The problem lies not in the word. The problem lies in our hearts.

And that's why God's people need to hear God's Word well. It is not just sound waves bouncing off your eardrums. it is hearing with a heart and commitment and intention not only to know but to obey and to do His will.

As Deuteronomy 6:4-6 says, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength.” Listen with the intention of doing something! Of obeying and loving God in active service!

The 6 parables that follow are:

The WEEDS which shows how the Kingdom grows in the world, but its external manifestation contains both true believers and those who are only believers by name and it is not easy to tell them apart, and they have and always will co-exist in the Church, only the Judgment Day will separate the true from the false!

The MUSTARD SEED and YEAST speak of Kingdom growth. The mustard seed is very small and the amount of leaven in bread is relatively small compared to the loaf it produces as it permeates the dough. The Kingdom of Heaven is at work in the world and it is growing and influening society for the better.

The HIDDEN TREASURE and the PEARL are about the value or worth of the Kingdom! He's teaching that people who belong to God, are people who see the all surpassing worth of knowing God through Jesus Christ. The amazing worth of being forgiven of our sins, inheriting eternal life and being reconciled with God. The deep joy that inspires us to give up all, to follow God, willing to deny ourselves and take up the cross to follow him. This demonstrates for us the reality of our adoption as children of God, seeing the all surpassing worth of the Kingdom.

I. The Parable Explained:

Today’s Parable has a modern sound to it - The Parable of the Net - but read carefully, not the Parable of the Internet but the Parable of the Dragnet!:

It's the last of the 7 parables recorded here by Matthew and it serves to highlight an important moment of discernment for Jesus and His disciples - “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”(Matt 13:51-52).

Being “instructed about the Kingdom of Heaven” is the gateway entrance into a deeper understanding of the truths of God’s word. We don’t want to be superficial about our understanding of the the truth of God’s word, we want to grow in it; to deepen our awareness of it; to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This parable is about fishing!

in those days fishing was carried out via three main methods. The hook and a line(see Matthew 17:27) that Peter used to hook the fish that helped him find his “four drachma coin” to pay for his and Jesus’ tax.

The small handheld net, a one-man casting net called an amphiblēstron was that which Peter and his brother Andrew were “casting” when Jesus called them to become “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:18–19). This was a net which was small enough to be folded and carried over the fisherman’s shoulder as he waded in shallow water looking for fish near enough, to be caught. This could be thrown so that it opened into a large circle and came down over the fish. Weights around the perimeter of the net caused it to sink and trap the fish. The fisherman then pulled on the cord, which was attached to the center of the net and drew it around the fish like a sack. When the net had been pulled closed, the fisherman would haul his catch to shore.

Here in Matthew 13:47, the Greek word sagēnē, refers to a gigantic ‘net’ which is pulled by ships or boats, “the large ‘dragnet’ which is drawn between two boats or by ropes from the shore, collecting all fish and other creatures within the area covered, which must then be sorted out to remove the bad, i.e. those unsuitable for eating we would refer to trawling nets”(R T France) which would be captured by the net, hence the statement - “a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.”

And note that Jesus is saying, “not everything caught in this net is good.” A dragnet will catch some fish and squid and prawns, but it will also catch stones and vegetation and discarded junk so that once the net is full, you bring it to shore and the sorting process begins where the good is retained and the bad is cast away!

The idea here is that Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God is like a gigantic net that underneath the surface of the water is silently but effectively gathering up people from the sea of humanity, capturing in the net, those who hear the Gospel and are exposed to Christian truth.

The Kingdom of Heaven is on the move and doing its job until “it was full” and the time came for the “fishermen” to pull it up to “shore” to be sorted - “Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into the containers but threw away the bad.” [Matthew 13:48-52).

II. The Parable Applied:

1. Not everyone exposed to the Gospel message is converted by the Gospel message!

Not everyone who hears Biblical teaching or preaching or attends church or professes to be a Christian will be saved.

It is not what people say they are; it is the quality and character of their lifestyle - are they “righteous” or “wicked”? - “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”(Matt 13:49-50).

Actions and lifestyle determine the children of God! They are “righteous” and you see this in their behaviours - “by their fruit you will recongise them”

They are not sinless but they SIN LESS than they did!They are becoming more like Jesus; they are changing as a result of being “born again” of the Spirit of God and this is the evidence of their authenmticity!

It’s not enough to be just in the net! I'm glad you're in the net; delighted that you're hearing God's Word but I am praying that you will not only be in the net but become part of the Kingdom of Heaven beecause one day, “The angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous. [Matthew 13:49] and those who remain unchanged by the Gospel will be “thrown into the fiery furnace and that place will be where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [Matthew 13:50]

There's nothing more tragic that you should hear God's Word and not repent, not believe and one day end up there! You are privileged to hear God's Word today and have an opportunity to repent and believe in Him, please take it!

2. Those who truly understand the Gospel Message will be Changed by the Gospel message!

The KEY QUESTION asked here by Jesus is this - “Have you understood all these things?”(Matt 13:51).

It’s really important that we do! As it tests our true identity as children of God and compels us to evaluate outselves - NOT OTHERS - with the test of God’s word.

Listen to Peter in 2 Peter 1:1-10: “This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairnessb of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Listen again - “work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.” So important to grasp this in our day of “easy believism”! Dietrich Bonhoeffer complained about pre-Second World War German Christians who extolled the value of salvation by grace but did not show this in their lifestuyles as an example of “cheap grace.” Bonhoeffer compares “cheap grace” with “costly grace” pointing out that the grace that God has given us is in fact costly as it centres on and flows from the crucifixion of Jesus.

“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost!

The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite… Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.

Costly grace! What is our faith in Jesus costing us?

Jesus gave himself up so that our sins could be forgiven; thus he granted us this grace that would forgive our sins in the eyes of God.

Jesus sacrificed himself for all the people of the world, so that we may have eternal life, this act was costly to him because it cost him his life.

And Jesus taught us that the right response to this grace is to take up our own cross and follow Him daily!

Grace from Jesus is free to us but it teaches us to follow after Jesus, whatever the cost to us! - “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”(Titus 2:11-14).

Grace teaches us to be godly and self-restrained in this life and to not give in to our ungodly passions but to be eager to do good and bring praise to God! How are we doing? “Let a man examine himself!(1 Cor 11). If “we judge ourselves, we will not come under judgment”!

3. Those who have received the Gospel Message should be continually enriched by the Gospel message!

When we live a life of costly grace we grow in our knowledge of the grace and truth of God: “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”(v52)

We are taught the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and we bcome teachers of it. We are under instruction and being trained in the truth of it!

Jesus, likened us to owners of houses who store up goods and treasures to meet the needs of guests. When guests arrive they are given the bet of foods and resources aplenty becuase much has been stored up over time, in preparation for such events!

So, Jesus is saying to us in effect, “It’s good that you understand, but there's more. I want you not just to know these truths, but I want you to serve people with these truths. I want you to teach people these truths because I've instructed you and equipped you with the Secrets of the Kingdom that you may then teach others, by lifestyle as well as word, what it means to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven!”

The learning process for the disciple is ongoing! The teaching we receive is meant for life; its meant to enrich and renew - old and new treasures continue to thrill us as we mature from the “milk” of the word to “solid food”(1 Cor 3:2).

We need to be concerned about our spiritual diet! - Heb 5:12

Hebrews 5:12 - “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”

Doctors will tell you about the really important value of good wholseome food and nutrition. Not eating enough; or eating too much of the wrong stuff will make us ill and even prematurely kill us!

We need to be instructed well in the word of God so that we will be healthy Christians and so that we can teach others well, being prepared and ready for the opportunities that following Jesus brings.

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.” - C. H. Spurgeon

In this way we will BE WITH JESUS; BECOME LIKE JESUS and begin to DO WHAT JESUS DID! This will bring authority to our words and witness for as Billy Graham reminded us: “We are the Bibles the world is reading; we are the creeds the world is needing; we are the sermons the world is heeding.”