08/19/21 Parables of Jesus #10 — The Dragnet (Mat.13:47-50)

Matthew 13:47-50 (ESV) 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 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 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

v.47 net. Some fishing was done with a large weighted net dragged along the bottom of the lake. When pulled in, it contained an assortment that had to be separated. In a similar way the visible kingdom, the sphere of those who claim to be believers, is full of both good and bad and will be sorted in the judgment.

v.49 angels. They serve God in judgment (cf. v. 41; 2Th 1:7-10). [The MacArthur Study Bible]

         From my limited viewport it seems that there are basically two strategies for amateur American fishermen to use today: 1) Drag-and-Bag: using a net, as in this parable; and 2) Bait-and-Wait: Using a lure or live bait on the end of a line. In either case, unless one is very well-informed, you have little control over what you catch.

         Matthew 4:19-20 (ESV) 19  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

            Our job is to “fish”—throw out the lifeline (as the old hymn puts it). We must be exposing the “bait” of the gospel to our lost friends and acquaintances. Jesus and His angels will sort out the truly good from the bad someday!