The Parable of The Dragnet | Matthew 13:47-52

Scripture

• Matthew 13:47–52

About this sermon

Introduction: Acts 20:26–27 (ESV) 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. *Life and death are before us — “the blood of all” *God has given us His Word that addresses that everlasting outcome — “declaration means innocence” *Faithfulness to courageously declare that Word is a God-given task — a personal responsibility. The attitude and conviction on display in Paul’s statement to the Ephesian elders is explained by the parables we come to today. The final two parables that end this section in Matthew 13 combine to underscore what must be a conviction for Christ’s disciples. This is not just a conviction for pastors. This is a conviction for the people of God. The judgment that is coming at the end of the age, imparts a responsibility to declare the whole council of God while we have the opportunity. • THE PARABLE DECLARED (vs.47-48) The parable that Jesus gives in verses 47-48 involves something that would have been very well known to these people — the use of a σαγήνη, ης, ἡ a large net hanging vertically, with floats on the top and sinkers on the bottom, seine, dragnet σαγήνῃ βληθείσῃ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν Mt 13:47 (βάλλειν σαγ. as Is 19:8; Babrius, Fab. 4, 1; 9, 6). S. ἀμφιβάλλω and cp. ἀμφίβληστρον.—DELG. M-M. This net was constructed in such a way that it was designed to drag in everything in its path. Sometimes it was dragged between two boats. Sometimes they would anchor one of the net to a place on the shore, take out the other end with a boat, and then drag it into the shore. However they chose to use it, the result was that everything in its path was dragged to the shore, so that a variety of fish were brought in. Then, they would sit down on the beach and separate the fish. The fish that were not fit for market, for the purpose of eating, they would discard. The fish that were good, were kept and prepared for sale. There were containers used to transport fish, and there were containers used to store fish. The good and the bad were separated. • THE PARABLE INTERPRETED (vs.49-50) The interpretation and application of this parable is the same as that of the parable of the tares. At the end of the age a great separation will take place. Christ will initiate that separation, it takes place when He returns, and the angels will be the agents who execute that separation. “they will come out” — from heaven. What is different in this parable, however, is that the first parable stressed co-existence. Christ emphasized that the wheat and tare would exist together, so that when He spoke of the end He emphasized the outcome for the righteous as well as for the wicked. THIS TIME, THE EMPHASIS IS ONLY ON JUDGMENT. The point is that during this age the wicked are allowed to live alongside the righteous. But not forever. This is age will end. Judgment is surely coming; the net is slowly gathering in every human being. No wicked person will escape that final judgment, and the current delay in judgment should not be mistaken for safety. The day will surely come when the wicked are separated out and will meet with the judgment that Scripture warns of. In addition, it is not just the certainty of judgment that Jesus stresses, it is also the terrible nature of it. NOW, AT THIS POINT, THERE IS SOMETHING IN ALL OF THESE PARABLES THAT WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF: In these parables, Christ continues to use something well known from their world, to teach about things that will be certain in the world that is coming. TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY — AS SURELY AS THE ILLUSTRATIONS INVOLVED REAL THINGS, THE THINGS THEY ILLUSTRATE WILL BE REAL. So, let that sink in. Think about the realities being declared in this parable. • THE REALITY OF AN END TIME PROGRAM More than once our Lord tells us what is going to happen — in the future — when He returns to usher in His kingdom on earth. He is revealing the mysteries of the kingdom. The reason He can do this is because all of this has been planned before time. He is speaking of things that will CERTAINLY come to pass. There is a time for these things already on God’s calendar — set forth in the eternal councils of God. History has God as its designer and determiner. Things are not just happening, things are happening with a purpose, according to plan, marching on without interruption toward to the end that God has destined. WE MUST BE KNOW THIS AND BE CONVINCED OF THIS. THE BELIEVER KNOWS THE TRUTH. EVERYTHING IS SAFE IN THE HANDS OF THE GOD WHO CREATED AND SUSTAINS THE AGES.

Topics

• Bible Study