Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The Parables of Jesus Series

Tonight’s Study – Session 9: The Parable of the Dragnet

Introduction: In the parable of the dragnet, Jesus teaches this parable to illustrate an aspect of the kingdom of heaven. This parable pictures fishermen using a dragnet to catch an assortment of fish. The Gospel is the dragnet that catches all kinds indiscriminately, but all kinds that are caught aren’t kept indiscriminately.

The Parable of the Dragnet is found only in the Gospel of Matthew.

What exactly is a dragnet?

A dragnet is a weighted net that is drug along the bottom of a body of water to collect an assortment of fish.

LET’S LOOK AT THE PARABLE IN MATTHEW

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away. So, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47-50)

In the parable, the dragnet is cast into the sea and pulled onto shore full of all kinds of fish. Then the fishermen sat down to the business of sorting the fish into the “good” and the “bad.” The fish worth keeping were gathered into containers, but the rest were tossed away.

The Explanation of the parable is in verses 49-50 of Matthew 13

So, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

(Matthew 13:49–50)

This parable is similar to the parable of the wheat and the tares of Matthew 13:24-30. Both parables concern an end-times sorting, aided by angels, when believers will be separated from unbelievers once and for all.

Just as the net was cast into the sea drawing many fish, the gospel message is spread into the world, drawing many people to it. Just as the net gathered all types of fish, regardless of their value, so the gospel attracts many people who never repent nor desire to follow Christ.

Just as the fish could not be sorted until the net was pulled ashore, so false believers masquerading as true Christians will not be made known until the end of the age.

These “bad fish” or false believers, can be likened to the rocky soil and thorny soil in the parable of the sower and the wheat and tares in the parable of the wheat and tares. They claim to have a relationship with Jesus, saying “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 7:22), and Jesus’ reply will be “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23)

THE GOOD AND THE BAD

The Gospel is the dragnet that captures all kinds of people. Not only does it capture people of all races and nationalities, but it also captures the good and the bad. By “good,” Jesus means those who believe and are saved and have their sins forgiven and Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. By “bad,” Jesus means those who do not believe the Gospel and are thus condemned by their sins, having only self-righteousness.

Though the Parable of the Dragnet is similar to the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, it is not an exact equivalent. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares shows the children of the kingdom and the children of Satan living together in this world and then being separated in the end. The Parable of the Dragnet also shows a separation at the end, but this parable is specifically focused on all who hear or read the Gospel.

The Parable of the Dragnet tells us that all who hear or read the Gospel, believers, and unbelievers, are caught by it. In the end, the elect (those who have believed and are saved) are given a heavenly reward. But many other people (non-elect) hear the Gospel and reject it, and are condemned.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

The Lesson of the Parable of the Dragnet:

The lesson is clear. The Gospel is preached to the mass of humanity indiscriminately. It is a net that is drawn tight. There is no leeway. You either truly believe or you do not. The message of the Gospel is foolish to some and rejected, but to others, it is truth that saves, and is received.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

For anyone who does not believe, when his or her life ends, it is too late. In the end, “the angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:49b-50). The time of the end is a time of inescapable division. You are either among the “good” or among the “bad.” There is no second chance.

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, (Hebrews 2:3a)

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Conclusion: The Parable of the dragnet clearly teaches that the Gospel calls to all indiscriminately, regardless of race, nationality, or anything else. Though the dragnet catches all, the good and the bad will have to be separated in the end. There are many who are caught in the dragnet that are not of the “good” fish variety. Only God knows who are truly the “good” fish (true believers) and the “bad” fish (false believers). The two may coexist together  in the church, but God’s angels will separate the “good” and the “bad” one day in judgment. The “good” to eternal life and the “bad” to eternal damnation.

Next week, Session 10: The Parable of the Lost Sheep