We come to the next parable in our series on the Kingdom Parables: the parable of the drag net. This parable shows how the Kingdom will touch the lives of everyone in the world, and how we must measure up to enter the Kingdom and be spared the fate of those who don’t.
Our passage: Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Reading: Zechariah 2:1-5). Preacher: Ian Bayne (15th March 2020).
Recap
In this series, we’re looking at a number of parables (or stories used to illustrate a real-world point) that Jesus is using to teach us about the “Kingdom of Heaven”. Each parable describes a different aspect.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at the Kingdom as being a great treasure. This week we’re looking at the Kingdom being a giant fishing net. Fishing was a common occupation at the time of Jesus.
Explanation
1. There is a net which is thrown into the sea.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
Matthew 13:47
This reminds us of when Jesus first called his disciples. Peter and Andrew were both fishermen.
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.”
Matthew 4:18-19 ESV
With a fishing rod and line, we can catch one or two fish at a time. But commercial fishing trawlers catch vast amounts of fish in nets. For this parable we’re thinking about a net catching lots of fish in one go – think commercial fishing.
“Fishing” is done by preaching God’s word (the Bible). This may not always be at the front of church like now, but could be in the conversations we have, and how we live out our lives.
After Jesus was crucified and ascended, the disciples were scattered and they went and shared the gospel (the good news of Jesus dying to save us from our sins).
We don’t need to be selective in how we do this. This is not line fishing for a specific fish. We are called to put out the big net for the kingdom. The sea is vast and we don’t know what will be caught.
2. There is a diverse catch of fish “of every kind”
A fishing net is not selective – it can catch many things. When we are “fishing for the Kingdom” we are not called to read hearts when we share the gospel – this is God’s job. We are simply to share the gospel.
3. There will be a sorting.
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
Matthew 13:48-49 ESV
As mentioned, the sorting of the fish is a task given to the angels at the end of the time. They will use God’s wisdom to do this.
4. There will be consequences.
- The good fish go into containers and have a value.
- The bad fish will be put aside and thrown into the furnace
If Jesus is referring to us as the fish, then this sorting has implications.
Application
Sorting fish
Fishermen sort their fish when they get a large catch. How do they do this?
They look at three attributes:
- Size
- Type
- Value
Size
When out fishing in the Cook Strait, off the coast of Wellington, any Snapper fish caught that measure under 27cm need to be thrown back into the sea so they can grow bigger. In this parable, the fish are not thrown back, but discarded and put into a furnace.
Jesus is, of course, speaking in a spiritual sense. We’re not saying people of a certain physical size don’t make it in.
We are measured in relation to the Lord Jesus. He was the one who attained the length of a good fish. Only He can fulfil the criteria to enter the Kingdom.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:32 ESV
We would be in the discard bin, but for Jesus’s sacrifice and offer to make us citizens of the Kingdom if we trust in Him.
Type
In the Cook Strait, when fishing below 100m deep we get bluenose which are good eating fish. There are also other fish that can be caught: Gemfish and Barracuda.
Gemfish are good eating fish. A barracuda looks identical to a gemfish, but they go around cleaning up dirt at the bottom of the ocean. You can only tell them apart when you fillet them as the barracuda have live worms in their flesh and need to be thrown away.
Some fish look very similar to other fish.
We don’t have to sort the fish. We have God’s wisdom and His angels will do the job of sorting them.
Value
Some fish might be ok to eat, but have no value on the market.
How does this translate to our parable?
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:14
Our value comes through bearing ‘fruit’ or ‘works of faith’. There are some good people who aren’t Christians who give lots of money, called philanthropists. What God is interested in is why they are doing this: who’s honour are they doing it for.
The only valuable works are those done according to faith for God’s glory.
We’re not denying God’s general grace that leads people to philanthropy, but only works done for God’s glory are valuable to Him.
How do I know if I’m a good fish?
As we can’t tell between a Gemfish and a Barracuda until it is caught, killed and filleted, we won’t see the sorting until the end times, so how do we know if we’re genuine?
Even as mature Christians we can still ask ourselves this. Are we Gemfish or Barracuda? Closer to Jesus’s disciples or Judas who betrayed him?
Three words can help us understand which type of fish we are:
- Desire
- Disappointment
- Determination
1) Desire
Do we desire to please God in all of your life? If that is the case it means the Holy Spirit is at work in you.
2) Disappointment
Are we disappointed in ourselves and our own sinfulness?
Christians still sin, we can’t measure up to Jesus’s sinless record. But if we sin we know that He will be our advocate, swapping his sinless record for our sinful one:
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:1
If we’re not measuring up in our thought life and the things we do, we can know that the Holy Spirit is in our lives, and a process is ongoing where we are being transformed to be more like Jesus.
3) Determination
Do we have a determination to change? Every one of us should want to make the changes that are necessary – because it’s serious if we don’t.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
Matthew 5:29
This is what being a Christan means – we’re prepared to make the sacrifices for God, both out of fear of the consequences, and love for Him that He has rescued us.
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. [13] I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:11-13 ESV (emphasis added)
and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:50 ESV
Weeping means weeping with regret. Gnashing teeth is caused by anger at God, people and everything. We see some of this today as sin works in the world.
It’s a scary thought for those found lacking. The Lord means for us to take it seriously, and be determined to seek Him and the wonderful salvation that He offers.
Resources
Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.
