The Parable of the Net

 TEXT: Matthew 13:44-46

Background

The seventh parable is the final description of the Kingdom of God. This describes the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is all about what the King of kings and the Lord of lords will execute on the day of His return. Old Testament historical accounts like Noah's Ark, The Departing of Red Sea, and others depict that glorious day when Christ returns. In addition, many prophecies in the Old Testament are looking forward to that day when Jesus Christ will come down the second time around. That will be the culmination of history and the consummation, and both salvation and judgment will happen on that day. While the historical accounts and prophecies in the Old Testament depict the last days, Jesus in this parable of the net let the people see once again the picture of the most horrific yet glorious event.

Parable of the Net

The Telling of the Parable

There are two kinds of net that the fishermen were using at that time. The first one is the fishing net. This net is what they use while catching fish on the boat. The second kind is the dragnet. This net is what they throw in the deep using a boat. The fishermen on the shore will hold one of the ends of the net, while the other end will be pulled by the boat into the deep. The dragnet is more likely what Jesus Christ had used in the parable.

Their way of catching fish through this method is different from when Jesus commanded Peter to go to the deep to catch fish (Luke 5:1-11). In this method, they will drag the net from the shore when it is full (v48), and all kinds of fish trapped from the deep down to the shore will be their catch. After they dragged the whole net to the shore, they will sit down and start to sort the fish. They will separate the good fish from bad fish. The good fish will be put in a container while the bad fish will be thrown away.

The Explanation of the Parable

Like the first two parables (Sower and Wheat and Weeds), Jesus provides an explanation of this parable. He explains that the parable depicts the end of the age (v49a). The angels will separate the people into two groups: the righteous and the wicked (49b). This is what the separation of good and bad fish trying to point out. However, the focus in this parable is the destination of the wicked. They will be thrown away in the place called hell. It is the place where people will weep and gnash their teeth because of the severity of the torment. 

Comparisons 

This parable has resemblances with the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds. First, they are eschatological. They picture out what will happen in the end time, specifically the day of judgment. They emphasize the distinction between two different groups of people represented by wheat and good fish for the righteous people, and weeds and bad fish for the wicked people. In addition, both of them have the events of the gathering and separation (v30, 48). Second, they both explain the final destination of the people. Apparently, the wheat and the good fish are put in a good place: the barn and container. These represents a better state after the event of separation. On the other hand, the weeds and the bad fish will be put in a horrible state. The weeds will be burned while the bad fish will be thrown away. These explain that the final end for this thing is terrifying, indeed. The only difference the two parables have is that the latter focuses much on the events that will take place before the closing of the age.

Within the parable, there are two comparisons to be notified. First, the comparison between kinds of fish; the good fish and the bad fish. They represent the righteous and the wicked. Both of them will be gathered together then the act of separation proceeds. Second, they have different destinations. The bad fish for a good container while the bad fish will be thrown away. This describes that the righteous and the wicked will be in different state. The former will be in better state while the latter will be in hell.

Purpose

Since this is the last parable that describes what the Kingdom of God looks like, it emphasizes one of the important events as the curtain of time closes: the final judgment. Jesus aims to describe how the judgment will take place at the closing of the age. Judgment is part of the Kingdom of God. It does not only mark the end of time, but also, it marks the beginning of the new state―the eternal state. The idea of gathering of people will proceed to the separation of two exactly opposite groups of people. However, the much focus of the parable is the judgment of the wicked. Jesus gives the very picture of what will happen to the wicked and the description of their eternal state. After the separation, the wicked will be thrown to a fiery place, that is the lake of fire. He describes that horrible place where the great lamentation will be never stop. Therefore, the purpose of this parable is to inform His hearers that there will be a dreadful judgment against the wicked.

 

Argument

The depiction of the Kingdom of God is not just about salvation, but also, judgment. The idea of judgment is not a foreign idea in the Bible. In fact, it is found from Genesis to Revelation. The argument in this parable has something to do with the judgment, particularly the Final Judgment. There are three important features of the coming final judgment. The first feature is the time element. When will the judgment take place? The fact of the matter is that no one knows when it will begin. Although there is an information that it will occur at the closing of the age, still nobody knows and no one will know when the closing of the age will occur. The sure thing is that it will happen. 

The second feature of judgment is the separation of the wicked from the righteous. The Bible, from Old Testament to New Testament, provides ample of stories, oracles and teachings of the act of separation of the wicked and the righteous such as the story of the Great Flood, rebellion of Korah and Achan, the destruction of the Canaanites and many more. The parables and teachings of Jesus such as the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Sheep and Goat, Unmerciful Servants, Richman and Lazarus, and teaching about hell and the people who do not do the will of God will receive the final verdict at the judgment day. These shows that in the day of judgment the wicked will be separated from the righteous. God has given enough time for the wicked to turn from their wickedness before the dreadful day.

The final feature is the execution of the sentence. Here, the final verdict will be given to the wicked. In the explanation of the parable, Jesus focuses on the execution of the wicked. After the angels separated the wicked from the righteous (v49), they will throw them to hell (v50). The fiery furnace is the lake of fire described in Revelation 20:14-15. Wicked men will experience the horrible torment that will never cease, and the weeping and gnashing of teeth described the terrible eternal suffering in that place where the execution of judgment will be served.

Therefore, the argument of this parable is about the dreadful judgment that will come upon the wicked at the end of this age. Jesus gives what the Kingdom of God looks like, and judgment against the wicked is one of the aspects. The closing of the age is approaching and the judgment against the wicked will definitely come and the final verdict will surely be served.

Pastoral Application

1. People must realize that damnation in hell is real.

People are afraid every time they hear the word judgment. The stories, pictures, and other objects that depict what hell looks like give a terrifying picture to them. In fact, it is really terrifying. For this reason, many try to avoid talking about the judgment, hell, and likes. Since hell is horrible and people are afraid of it, many deny its reality. However, the purpose of Jesus in telling the coming judgment that leads the wicked to eternal damnation in hell is to inform that damnation in hell is real. For this reason, Christians may include this warning of eternal punishment in preaching the gospel.

2. People may only realize that damnation in hell is real when judgment is preached.

Gospel proclamation today, in most cases, does not include the warning of the eternal punishment in hell. One of the reasons is that this is being judgmental. If that would be the case, Jesus is also judgmental. However, preaching about hell and punishment should be done in love. Being compassionate to the lost must be present in preaching about the coming judgment.

The purpose of including the coming judgment of God is to present the whole picture of salvation. Salvation cannot be expressed completely unless the judgment of God is included. The very reason God sent Jesus Christ is to save sinners from their sin. If there is sin, there comes judgment. Sin and judgment are two different things, but they are inseparable. Sin is the cause while judgment is the effect. Christian should include the coming judgment of God at the end of the age in order not only to give warning, but also, to inform them that there is a way out. There is an escape from dreadful judgment of God.

3. People who truly realized the reality of damnation in hell will respond to the gospel call.

Gospel is not only intended to be preached, to be heard, and to be admired. People who heard the gospel must respond. Their positive response to the gospel call will lead them to salvation from the coming judgment. Throughout the Scripture, the terms "repent," "turn," "believe," and "come" are repeatedly written. This gives an idea that people must forsake their sinfulness and believe the Father and Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin in order that judgment may turn into blessing of eternal life. To ignore the gospel call is to ignore the remedy, the way to escape from that judgment on the final day. There is no other remedy by which the judgment will be removed. The only way is to turn away from sin and to turn to Jesus Christ. People will only respond in faith in Christ if they accept the fact that hell is real, and Jesus is the only remedy given by God by which they will be saved before the execution of the final verdict.