Matt 13:47-50

Facts:

To what is the kingdom of heaven compared? A net. (not just any net)

What two things happened to the net in verse 47? it was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

When was it pulled it up on shore? when it was full

What three things did they do after pulling up the net? Sat down, collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

V.49 To what time period does all this refer? the end of the age.

Who will come and separate the wicked from the righteous? the angels

What do they do with the wicked? throw them in the fiery furnace

What's it like in the fiery furnace? there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

Let's look at this parable again:

Context:

What do the different kinds of fish represent? People: Righteous and wicked. So where are we in this parable? We're in the water–we're the fish–hopefully the righteous fish.

So what is the lake? Where the fish live–where the people live (earth?)

What is the shore? (Stick with what's given) The place of judgment.

How does every kind of fish arrive at the place of judgment? In the net. No exceptions? No exceptions–no fish arrives saying, 'didn't you see me crawl out of the water up here?' The only way out of the lake is in the net.

We need to understand what this net is it is so central to the experience of the fish.. . . make a list of everything the net does or everything that happens to it.

1. Let down into the lake–which implies that it was where before? It starts out above water. Notice a net's origins are different from those of a fish. A fish is born in and live in a lake. A net comes from on land and returns to land when it's done with its work in the lake.–lake is not the net's natural habitat.

2.and caught all kinds of fish–what are those kinds? both good and bad. Interesting that both are side by side in the net. Neither kind of fish leaves the sea under its own power. So you could say that this net is no respecter of fishes–it doesn't discriminate.

3. when full, is drawn out of the water again. How did they decide when to pull it out? They waited until it was full. So that means the net spent some time in the water. What does this imply about the purpose of the net? Why was it let down in the first place? Obviously, its whole purpose was to be filled with fish and drawn back out.

4. and its contents are divided by angels. So the net collected good and bad, but only the good are _________? Saved.

So how does this help us understand what the net is? Give me scripture. (Anywhere it the Bible?)

The net is: the gospel, the church,–ultimately Jesus who is the good news and whose body the church is, who was let down into our world, for the good and the bad, without whom we wouldn't even come to the judgment. 'Cause the question in the judgment is, 'is s/he trusting in Jesus to save?' God has no reason to bring you and I into judgment otherwise. Our deeds and character speak for themselves. We're lost, we're at enmity with God, we're dead in sin, but God . . . who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions . . . raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:4-6). 1cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.–some to be saved and some just to be judged, but no one would even get off this planet except for being in Jesus.

So why is the net left until it is full? God's not willing that any should perish. Jesus' work must be completed.

Isn't that good news? Tell story of how I used to view salvation–as fish in the sea. (May apply here with praise for Jesus coming down–getting messy, including me, not quitting until His work is done–make it personal.)

Why is it important that there be a judgment? God gives life and love freely to everyone, but not everyone is willing to be loved. God does not force anyone to remain alive being loved if it would only be torture for them.

Why are those who are thrown away described as weeping in a fiery furnace? (Daniel? The fiery furnace is a picture of the persecution of God's people through the ages–the means of persecution used by those who have refused God's love will fall back on their heads.) I don't know exactly what the nature of the punishment is. Scripture often describes it as fire, but it would be torture enough for me to know that God had given me more than ample demonstration of His love and that I refused it. If that were to happen to me, I would beg for him to put me out of my misery.

P.S.

(What would it mean for both kinds of fish to be 1. 'caught,' 2. pulled up on the shore, and 3. separated? 1. arrest 2. trial 3. verdict-sentence-execution of sentence.)