The ParableThe Parable of the Dragnet of the Dragnet

(Matthew 13:47-50)(Matthew 13:47-50)

• ““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down, and the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good fish into gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw containers, but the bad they threw away.away.

• ““So it will be at the end of the age; So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the out the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47-50)13:47-50)

Had not Jesus already Had not Jesus already stressed this truth? stressed this truth?

• ““Therefore just as the tares are Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. “The shall it be at the end of the age. “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:40-42)13:40-42)

Duplicate Messages…Duplicate Messages…

• Both the parable of the mustard seed and Both the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leaven stress the the parable of the leaven stress the growth growth and developmentand development of the kingdom. of the kingdom.

• Both the parable of the hidden treasure and Both the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl of great price stress the parable of the pearl of great price stress the the valuevalue of the kingdom. of the kingdom.

Duplicate Messages….Duplicate Messages…. but Differing but Differing

EmphasesEmphases• The parable of the mustard seed stresses the The parable of the mustard seed stresses the

kingdoms kingdoms visiblevisible growth; the parable of the growth; the parable of the leaven stresses the kingdom’s leaven stresses the kingdom’s invisibleinvisible growth.growth.

• The parable of the hidden treasure shows The parable of the hidden treasure shows the value to those the value to those notnot seeking seeking; the parable of ; the parable of the pearl shows the value to those who the pearl shows the value to those who areare seekingseeking..

Duplicate Messages…Duplicate Messages…

• Both the parable of the tares and the Both the parable of the tares and the parable of the dragnet make clear that parable of the dragnet make clear that consummating act of the kingdom will be the consummating act of the kingdom will be the separationseparation of the righteous and the wicked. of the righteous and the wicked.

Duplicate Messages….Duplicate Messages…. but Differing but Differing

EmphasesEmphases• The parable of the tares shows the The parable of the tares shows the present present

mixturemixture of the good and the evil in this of the good and the evil in this world. The parable of the dragnet shows the world. The parable of the dragnet shows the future separationfuture separation of the good and the evil. of the good and the evil.

• The parable of the tares shows that the The parable of the tares shows that the separation cannot be made separation cannot be made by by menmen in this in this life; but the parable of the dragnet shows life; but the parable of the dragnet shows that the separation shall be effected that the separation shall be effected by by GodGod in the future life.in the future life.

Important lessons Important lessons to think about!to think about!

It is imperative that we learn to see It is imperative that we learn to see in “black and white” again!in “black and white” again!

• ““He who has believed and has been baptized He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)shall be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)

• Jesus described these destinies not in the Jesus described these destinies not in the expected terms of race (Jew vs. Gentile) but expected terms of race (Jew vs. Gentile) but in terms of spiritual condition (“righteous” in terms of spiritual condition (“righteous” and “wicked”and “wicked”).).

It is imperative that we carefully It is imperative that we carefully define “righteous” and “wicked”.define “righteous” and “wicked”.

• The world’s definitionsThe world’s definitions– Quantitative obedienceQuantitative obedience– Qualitative obedienceQualitative obedience

• The Lord’s definitionsThe Lord’s definitions– In the absolute sense, no one In the absolute sense, no one

is worthy of the description is worthy of the description righteous.righteous.

• What then? Are we better than they? Not at What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is written, “There is none righteousnone righteous, not even , not even one; (Romans 3:9-10)one; (Romans 3:9-10)

How can any man beHow can any man becalled righteous? called righteous?

• But now apart from the Law the righteousness of But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even Law and the Prophets, even the the righteousness of righteousness of God through faithGod through faith in Jesus Christin Jesus Christ for all those for all those who believewho believe; for there is no distinction; for all ; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being being justified as a gift by His grace through the justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesusredemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God ; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. (Romans 3:21-25)through faith. (Romans 3:21-25)

• The Lord’s definitionsThe Lord’s definitions– In the absolute sense, no one is worthy of the In the absolute sense, no one is worthy of the

description righteous.description righteous.– ““The righteous” are those who, recognizing The righteous” are those who, recognizing

their sin, repent, putting their faith in the their sin, repent, putting their faith in the redemption of Christ’s blood, obeying the Lord redemption of Christ’s blood, obeying the Lord in baptism and receiving God’s forgiveness for in baptism and receiving God’s forgiveness for sins.sins.

– HoHowever, twever, there is a moral quality to this person here is a moral quality to this person made “righteous” by Jesus’ blood. He made “righteous” by Jesus’ blood. He understands that his whole life belongs to God understands that his whole life belongs to God and he has been saved by grace to be and he has been saved by grace to be “created “created unto good works” (Eph. 2:10).unto good works” (Eph. 2:10).

– ““And these will go away into eternal And these will go away into eternal punishment, but punishment, but the righteousthe righteous into eternal life.” into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)(Matthew 25:46)

It is imperative that we see the It is imperative that we see the seriousness of judgment.seriousness of judgment.

• God’s judgment will be fair and God’s judgment will be fair and permanent.permanent.

• God’s punishment will be painful.God’s punishment will be painful.

““There’s a great day coming… There’s a great day coming… when the saint and the sinner when the saint and the sinner shall be parted right and leftshall be parted right and left. Are . Are you ready for that day to come?”you ready for that day to come?”