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Matthew 13:47-52

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called “Parables of the Kingdom,” and we are looking at seven parables of Jesus from Matthew 13 all of which are about the kingdom of God.

One of the things we’ve seen in this series is how Jesus used ordinary, everyday objects in these parables, common elements such as wheat and weeds, mustard seeds and yeast in order to teach spiritual truths about the kingdom. Today he continues that pattern as he uses the common elements of a fishing net and different types of fish to teach us about the end of the age. (Read Matthew 13:47-50 and pray.)

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These seven parables of Jesus in Matthew 13 tell us the full sweep of the kingdom of God. Together they tell us how the kingdom begins, how it grows, the various obstacles to growth, how much we should value the kingdom, and now today with the parable of the net we come to the consummation of the kingdom at the end of the age. God’s kingdom is his rule over all things, including sin and sickness and evil, and the parable of the net tells us how at the end of the age, the wicked will be separated from the righteous and punished for their sin.

This is a warning parable. It is a clarion call to all who hear not to ignore or reject the call of Christ but to make every effort to enter God’s kingdom while you still may. Yes, God allows evil and sin to continue in the world for now, but the final judgment is coming when God will judge all evil and sin, and those outside of God’s kingdom will be punished for their sins.

We don’t like the judgment passages of Scripture, because they remind us that we are accountable to God for our sin, for our choices, for our actions – and we don’t want to be accountable. We may not like these passages, but they are an essential part of Scripture. Judgment is coming whether we like it or not, but God in his goodness warns us about the coming judgment and tells us how we may escape it through Jesus his Son. So, let’s look at this parable together.

I. Jesus tells the parable of the net (47-48)

First Jesus tells the parable of the net. Look at verses 47-48:

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 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.” (Matthew 13:47-48)

   A. The kingdom of heaven is like a net catching fish in a lake
      – Habakkuk 1:14-15; Matthew 4:19-20; Revelation 20:11-12

Jesus introduces the parable by telling us how the kingdom of heaven is like a net catching fish in the lake. The net pictured here is what we would call a dragnet. This was a pretty common way of fishing in back in those days. You would take a large net that was weighted along the edges. You could either tie one end to the shore and carry the other end out into the water by boat, or you could carry it out into the water using two boats. Either way, you would drag the weighted ends of the net along the bottom of the lake thus trapping any fish along the way.

The net was a common image of judgment in those days. For example, we read in the Old Testament book of Habakkuk: “You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler. 15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.” (Habakkuk 1:14-15)

There is a similarity in this parable to Jesus’ initial call to his disciples where he told them in Matthew 4: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-20) The difference is that in Matthew 4 Jesus was speaking about evangelism. Here in Matthew 13 he is talking about judgment. In Matthew 4 he is talking about his disciples catching people for the kingdom of God. Here in Matthew 13 he is talking about the angels gathering people for judgment.

Notice the net catches all kinds of fish. There are at least twenty-four species of fish in the Sea of Galilee. If you were fishing for a certain type of fish, you might use a specific type of bait that the fish prefers, but here the net catches all kinds of fish, all different species, both the good and the bad. When the net comes dragging across the lake floor, there is no discrimination.

In the same way at the end of the age all persons will appear before God for judgment. We read in Revelation 20:11-12: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” (Revelation 20:11-12)

At the end of the age all will appear before God for judgment, both the living and the dead, both the great and small. There will be no discrimination, no exceptions. The net of God’s judgment will sweep through the whole earth, and no one will escape.

   B. When the net is full, the fishermen collect the good fish in baskets and throw the bad fish away
      – Matthew 13:30

So, the kingdom of heaven is first of all like a net catching fish in the lake. Then, when the net is full, the fishermen collect the good fish in baskets and throw the bad fish away. This second part of the parable is similar to an earlier parable we looked at in Matthew 13: the parable of the weeds. (Matthew 13:24-30) In the parable of the weeds Jesus spoke about good seed and bad seed. Here he speaks about good fish and bad fish.

In both parables there is a separating of the good from the bad. Jesus said in Matthew 13:30 in the parable of the weeds: “Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30)

Here in the parable of the net, when the net is full, the fishermen pull it up on the shore. They sit down and collect the good fish in baskets but throw the bad fish away. The bad fish are those that couldn’t be used, either because they were unclean or not suitable for market.

Notice the net is not pulled in until it is full. Remember, this parable is talking about judgment at the end of the age. Jesus will come back in the fullness of time, when this age is completed.

So, first Jesus tells the parable of the net. The kingdom of heaven is like a net catching fish in a lake. When the net is full, the fishermen collect the good fish in baskets and throw the bad fish away.

II. Jesus explains the parable of the net (49-50)

Next, he explains the parable of the net. It’s not a real detailed explanation like we got with the parable of the sower or the parable of the weeds. But then again, this is not a real detailed parable either. It is less of a story parable and more of just a simple comparing the kingdom of heaven with fishermen fishing with a net. Look at Matthew 13:49-50 where Jesus tells us:

“This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:49-50)

   A. The parable is about the end of the age
      – Matthew 13:39-42

Notice Jesus specifically tells us this parable is about the end of the age. This is another similarity to the parable of the weeds. When Jesus explained that parable, he said about the harvest: “The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:39-42)

So, there are quite a few similarities between the parable of the weeds and the parable of the net. The main difference between the two is a difference of emphasis. The parable of the weeds focuses more on the co-existing of good and evil in this present world, whereas the parable of the net focuses more on the separation of good and evil at the end of the age.

   B. The angels will separate the wicked from the righteous
      – Matthew 24:31, 25:31-32

Jesus tells us that at the end of the age the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. The wicked and the righteous are distinguished in Scripture by their acceptance before God. Once again, we are only accepted before God by repentance from sin and faith in Christ, and so the wicked and the righteous here are believers and unbelievers.

Notice the role of the angels in separating the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age. This agrees with Jesus’ other teachings in the gospel of Matthew. For example Jesus says in Matthew 24:31: “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)

Angels also appear in Jesus’ teaching about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. We read in Matthew 25:31-32: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:31-32)

Notice that it is God and his angels who make the final determination. It’s been said that when we get to heaven, we will be surprised by some of the people who are there and also surprised by some who are not. We don’t judge who are truly believers. Only God knows. This is a warning against the false confidence of those of you who may be in the church but who do not truly believe. It is an urgent call for each of you to examine your heart and test your faith. Have you truly repented of your sin and put your faith in Jesus for salvation?

   C. They will throw the wicked into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (pain, mourning and regret)
      – Revelation 20:14-15

Jesus says at the end of the age the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. Then he says they will throw the wicked into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is the same image we saw in the parable of the weeds. (Matthew 13:42) It is a picture of everlasting pain, mourning and regret.

We find similar imagery in the book of Revelation at the end of the New Testament where we read: “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)

Once again, we don’t like thinking about the final judgment, and yet we must listen to Jesus’ words and the warnings of Scripture. The teachings about judgment in Scripture are essential. If there is no judgment, then there is no need for salvation. If there is no final judgment, that would mean that many of the wicked in this life would get away with their wickedness. If there is no final judgment, then there is no moral reckoning and that would mean we live in an unjust world. But God’s kingdom is a kingdom of justice, and so, yes, there is a day of judgment coming.

Jesus’ teaching from the parable of the net is clear. At the end of the age the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. They will throw the wicked into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

III. Jesus encourages the disciples to teach these parables of the kingdom to others (51-52)

Jesus has just shared all seven of these parables of the kingdom. Now he encourages the disciples to teach these parables to others.

   A. He first makes sure they understand the parables (51)
      – Matthew 13:23

He first makes sure they understand the parables. Look at Matthew 13:51:

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. (Matthew 13:51)

Remember the parables are designed both to conceal and reveal. The parables are meant to conceal the truth from those whose hearts are hardened towards God. And they are meant to reveal spiritual truth to those whose hearts are open towards God.

Jesus asks the disciples if they have understood all these things. They answer yes. Jesus accepts their answer at face value. They may not understand everything at this point, but he is satisfied that they have understood the main teachings about the kingdom from his parables.

Remember the first parable we looked at in this chapter, the parable of the sower? Do you remember what was the main difference between the seed that grew in the good soil and the other seeds that fell in the bad soil? Jesus says in Matthew 13:23: “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)

The seed that grows in the good soil represents those who hear and understand the word of God. And so, Jesus first makes sure that the disciples understand the parables, so that they will be able to go forth and produce a good crop.

   B. He then compares the parables of the kingdom to new treasures that the owner brings out of the storeroom along with the old (52)
      – Matthew 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

He then compares the parables of the kingdom to new treasures that an owner brings out of the storeroom along with the old. Look at Matthew 13:52:

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.” (Matthew 13:52)

This verse is like a mini-parable that sums up the disciples’ responsibility concerning all the other parables. In fact, some commentators even list this as an eighth parable in the chapter.

The focus here is on bringing new treasures out of the storeroom along with the old. In other words, both the Old Testament and the New Testament are important. They are both the word of God. The older teachings about God and the kingdom are still valuable and true. But now we must add to them these newer teachings about the kingdom.

The newer teachings do not replace the old teachings. Rather the new teachings complete them and fulfill them. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) A teacher of the law who only knows the Old Testament can only teach the law. But those who know the New Testament also teach faith in Christ and God’s grace given to us in his Son Jesus.

Notice that in this mini-parable of the storeroom Jesus puts the new treasures before the old treasures. The new comes first because we are New Testament people. Jesus has come, and so we always present the old in light of the new.

Notice the owner doesn’t keep the treasures in the storeroom, but he brings them out for others to see. We are called to share what we learn with others. You learn about God’s kingdom not just for yourself but in order to share these things with others.

We read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

God has given you everything you need in his word to teach others about the kingdom and to reach others for Jesus Christ. All Scripture is useful for teaching, both the old and the new. But we emphasize the new. We focus on Jesus and his teachings about the kingdom.

CONCLUSION: The parable of the net concludes the seven parables of the kingdom by telling us what will happen at the end of the age. At the end of the age, the wicked will be separated from the righteous, and they will be punished for their sin. Both the Old and the New Testament speak of the end of the age when the wicked will be punished.

Jesus is coming again. When he comes, this world will end. God’s great dragnet will sweep through the earth and no one will escape. All people great and small will stand before the throne and be judged according to their works. The punishment for sin will be serious and severe. Those who reject Jesus will experience eternal pain, mourning and regret. Only those whose names are found written in the Lamb’s book of life will be saved.

And so, now is the time to make your decision about Jesus. It will be too late after you die or after Jesus returns. Now is the time for salvation. When Jesus returns, that will be the time for judgment. Because God will make the division then, you must make your decision now.

Have you trusted Jesus for salvation? If not, I urge you, I encourage you, I invite you, I welcome you – come to Jesus today. He loves you. He died for you. He is waiting for you. What are you waiting for?

© Ray Fowler

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