The Parables of Jesus - The Dragnet

What we are told today is that the Kingdom of God has come near, and it is not too late to take hold of this great opportunity to give ourselves to God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls.

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Pastor Karim

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

So we continue the parables of Jesus as you know. So today the the parable is called the dragnet and it's in the book of Matthew, Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, verse 47 to 15. If you need a Bible, we have some at the entrance. Amen. We're gonna read the main passage after, anyway. So today we are going to look at a wonderful parable that speaks directly to the hearts of Jesus' disciples. So why is that? Because Jesus uses a metaphor to explain once again what the kingdom of God is, using something concrete that most of them knew pretty well, which is fishing. Those who were with him listening to this precious truth could understand the depth of his message. Most of them were professional and experienced fishermen. So when Jesus called his first disciples right at the beginning of his earthly ministry, they were fishing on a boat and casting a dragnet into the sea. And Jesus said to them very clearly, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. That is why this parable will call their full attention. What Jesus desired above all was that they would fully grasp the knowledge of this heavenly kingdom, but in a practical way. So they could faithfully pass it on with conviction and power, identifying themselves with this new identity, I would say. The one that comes from heaven and not from the world, the new heart given by the Father through the work of the Holy Spirit. And here we come to the end of the parables that reveal the kingdom of God. It is the last one. There's gonna be probably another one speaking about the kingdom to close, but this is actually the last parable of the kingdom, of the revealed kingdom in the world. But the reality of this revelation ends with a serious way, very serious, because it speaks about something radical. Something that should produce a sense of urgency and even fear in those who hear it, at least, that is what it should produce when we hear it. This revelation of the grace of God through the proclamation of the gospel will come to an end. And the date of that end has not been given to us. No one can say that they understand the word of God enough to know all the mysteries of God. It's impossible. Otherwise, we would be God. However, what we are told today is that the kingdom of God has come near, is here. And it is not too late to take all of this great opportunity, to give ourselves to God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Lord of our souls. So the separation between these two kingdoms, the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God, will be real. Not progressive, but final. At the time of judgment, and it will concern all the nations. Amen. This is the main passage of the day. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. And when it was filled, they put it up on the beach. And they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers. But the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age, the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous. And they will throw them into the furnace of fire. In that place where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Amen. You see, it's very serious. And again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. So here, what the dragnet represents is the kingdom of God. And its present manifestation through the proclamation of the gospel in Jesus Christ. Thrown into the sea. The sea here represents the world, often associated in Scripture with a place of agitation, instability, and even chaos. This is the sea. For example, in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, verse 39 to 41, Jesus demonstrates his authority over the sea. You remember this passage? He affirms his divine nature. Mark says, He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, he said to the sea, peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, Why are you so afraid? Them is the disciples. Have you still no faith? And they were filled with great fear, and said to one another, who then is this? That even the wind and the sea obey him. This event reveals the sovereignty of Jesus over creation and his ability to bring peace in the midst of chaos. Amen. Then in the book of Revelation, the sea represents the end of the age. Revelation 21:1 says, Then he saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea was no more. Which means the absence of the sea in the new creation signifies the end of chaos and the establishment of a perfect and eternal peace under the reign of God. The fish of every kind, this is very interesting as well, represent the people from all the nations, all social, cultural, and ethnic background. All those who are created in the image of God. All we are all God's creation. Some are physically alive but spiritually dead, still separated from the presence of God. And others are righteous and belong to Christ. But for now they are all gathered together in the same net. Until the day of separation. The dragnet gathers everyone. But the separation comes later. Although the gospel is proclaimed to all, like today, its effectiveness depends entirely on the sovereign grace of God. It is not man by himself who comes to God, but God who draws and calls and regenerates those who he has chosen. This reminds us of what the Lord Jesus said in the Gospel of John. John 10, verse 26 to 30. He says, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who was giving them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out from the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. Amen. So that's why the salvation rests only and entirely from the grace of God and not our human will. However, the gospel must be proclaimed to all the nations with zeal, faithfulness, because it is through this proclamation that God reveals Himself and draws the hearts that He has prepared. And when it was filled, so the net put it up on the beach, and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. When the Lord Jesus says that the dragnet is full, it means that the time of the end will come. The moment when God's plan will move to its next stage, that is the judgment of the earth. For those who have been justified by faith in Jesus and those who have not, but they are still remaining in the same nets. This justification is given to us not because we are good or righteous in ourselves. No, it doesn't work like that. But because we believe with all our hearts in the one who is the only righteous, which is Jesus Christ. This is how we are justified. Because we can proclaim to God that we are not just, but there is only one. We cannot be just, we are just sinful. He is the one who bore the holy and just wrath of God on the cross. The wrath that was meant for us because our trespasses and our complete separation from God's holiness. Yes. What justifies us and saves us today is to believe that Christ paid the price by redeeming us from our sins. He without sin, blameless, sinless, so that whoever believes in him may be justified before the Father by Him, by faith in Him alone. You see the difference, dear friends? We have to believe in the righteous one. Yes, the saving faith comes from hearing. And what we hear comes from the word of God, and the word that reveals Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord of our souls, who came to suffer in our place in order to be reconciled with God. The Apostle Paul gave us a clear truth that answers a question many people ask. Why doesn't God save everyone? Why? Romans 10, verse 16 to 17 says, but they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Today this is the good news of Christ who is proclaimed. And we hear this truth. But do we all have faith? Do all have a heart that is ready to receive this truth? The fisherman represents the angels who will be sent at God's appointed time to carry out his plan. This act of separation, which is pulling up this dragnet full of men and women. They sit down, which is a fixed moment, a settled position, ready to accomplish the final division among humanity. And the containers already present on the shore are opened. This is also something interesting. Because before putting the fishes into the container, it means that they had this container, right? The angels had already prepared the containers. Hadn't they? They had already brought what was needed to put the fish in them. For the Lord knows those who are his. This is very deep. The good fish represents those who are declared righteous by faith and who live according to the will of God. This does not mean that we are saved by our works, but that true faith always produces a life that desires to do the will of God. The container suggests preservation and a value, showing that the righteous are precious and kept faith, safe for eternal life. They are kept in the container as a precious value. But the bad fish represent those who are wicked, who did not believe. The message of Christ, or who reject the ways of God. Yes? Throwing them away means that they are excluded from the kingdom of God and from eternal life. This shows the finally the finality of God's judgment. As in Revelation 20:15, where those whose names are not written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. There is not only one place mentioning this fact. This image shows how serious it is to live according to the will of God. It is very serious. This separation represents those who have been justified by faith, and have shown that faith through life aligns with the will of the Father and those who have not. Many have started well, but what about the final lap? The final stage of our lives. Amen. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous. And they will throw them into the furnace of fire. In that place, they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This passage reminds us a parable of the wheats among the wheat that we have seen already, which will also be separated at the harvest. That's why this parable is the continuation in the same chapter. At the end of the age, when the Lord will send his angel to judge the world. In eternal suffering. From the beginning of his gospel, he speaks about John the Baptist, who caused the people of God to repentance, and of the tree that is known by its fruit. When he writes, even now the eggs is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. He said good fruit. He didn't say fruit, even. Everyone was called to turn from their sinful ways. When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes, and the common people, no one was exempt from this call to change direction. John the Baptist reminded that he baptized with water, but that what the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire was coming. The one who will clear his threshing floor, gather his wheat into the barn, and burn the shaft with unquenchable fire. There is a reality here. But sometimes when we read the scripture, we don't want to see it. No, this is not for me. This fruit is always visible and is manifested in the life of those who have a regenerated heart through the Holy Spirit, given at the moment of our conversion by the Heavenly Father. He said that he gave it for free. But we have to ask. When the Apostle Paul gives us the list of the fruit of the Spirit, in Galatians 5, 22 to 24, he described this transforming work of the Spirit who lives in us. So he said, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But I didn't want to stop now. I want to add the last verse because most of the time we quote only the fruit of the Spirit, but we skip verse 24. This is why when we read the Bible, we have to read in the context and not just pick and choose whatever I like, whatever sounds good to me. No. He says verse 24 again, such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Yes. However, he also makes it clear that this is true only for those who belong to Christ. This means that there are those who do not belong to him in the world, but also among those who are in the Christian communities. And we can see this clearly today. Where are our passions and desires? Have we really crucified our flesh with Christ on the cross? I say we because I am the first. I am not here to summon you. I include myself first. I don't say you, I say we. From those who sit in the same places and see us regularly. Jesus himself was betrayed by one of his disciples. And even denied three times by the Apostle Peter. The bald Peter. Yes. And the Apostle Paul even said that at one point many had left him and he was alone at the end of his ministry. This reminds us that spiritual discernment is needed in the world, but also among us. Saying that we are following Christ or simply saying that we are Christians is not a proof that we belong to Christ. It may be a good start, but it is not the proof. It is true that this passage first speaks about those who belonged to the people of God in its original context, before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, of the institution of the church at Pentecost. The church had not been yet manifested in its visible form. However, this principle extends to all times. This just sentence also applies to those who profess Christ, but turn toward the things of the flesh. And ultimately, do not show a regenerated heart by the Holy Spirit. Show me your life, and I will tell you who you are. Angels have often been sent to carry out God's judgments. The first judgment on earth happened when Adam and Eve disobeyed and were driven out of the Garden of Eden. God placed two angels to guard the entrance of the garden, preventing man from entering, showing the separation between man and God. You see, there is nothing new. The final judgment of God upon humanity is coming. And this is the central message of this parable. The door will be shut forever, with no possibility of entering. The time of God's grace will come to an end with no second chance. This is what this parable says, not me. Jesus came to open the door of heaven for us. So that we may have access to the Father and live in his presence forever. This is what we as children of God hold on to. And this is how we stand spiritually in this fallen world. This is our hope. Led by the Holy Spirit, who lets us hold on to these promises in His Word, in which we rejoice because we stand in this hope. We believe it. The hope of believer rests in this great promise to live eternally with God. The hope of the glory to come is the one of the spiritual signs of a heart that has been regenerated by the Spirit of God. As we wait for Christ and do not place our hope in this fallen and passing world. It is a sign. When Christian speaks about the world most of the time instead of God, there is a problem. Revelation 21, verse 3 to 4 says, and shows this future reality. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. And God Himself will be with them as their God. Their God, my God, you are my God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. For the former things have passed away. This is our hope. And this is in what we have to rejoice. God will dwell with his people. They will be his people, and he himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, for all these things will have passed away. For this hope sustains believers in the midst of trials and give them courage, assuring them of God's final victory and the complete fulfillment of his promises. Amen. So to conclude this message of the parable of the dragnets, I would like to share a verse that clearly reflects what the Lord Jesus teaches about the two realities: those who believe and those who do not believe. What I have just said to you. The Lord Jesus says in the Gospel of John, whoever believes in him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. I will explain now shortly. The Lord shows us that the one who does not believe is already judged and condemned. Yes, condemned, because he condemns himself by not believing. Yet this condemnation remains under the righteous judgment of God. It is not that God does not judge, but that man is already guilty before him. You see, we are already guilty before God. Facing his holiness and his majesty as sinners cannot approach God, but only through faith in Christ. This is how we are justified. Because we wash our sins and able to come near to God. This is the meaning. This is exactly why the good news of Christ has been given to us. Not only to reveal, but also to call and to save those who belong to him. Just as the parables of the kingdom were given to reveal heavenly realities in the world and to draw to the father those who belong to him. Today the dragnet is still cast into the sea, wide open. In his love, God still is still calling man and woman to come to him. Come. So that one day, on the day of the judgment, there will be found among those who will keep. The good news of salvation in Christ. That we are proclaiming today. I didn't hear. Because God is calling you today. This is the time the dragnet gathers all of us. But the separation will come later. So I have two questions. Are we in the net? The question is the only one. Do we belong to Christ? Amen. Being the net is not, of course, the net will be cast, is cast everywhere. But what kind of fish are we in the net? I want to be in the container. Amen. What can we learn and apply from this passage? First of all, the kingdom of God is the gospel, it is revealed through Jesus Christ. As we have seen in Roman 10, so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. So did you hear today? The second one is the kingdom of God is repentance. Once we hear, we change the direction and we repent. It calls us to turn from sin to God. We were going into our fleshly desires, passions, and now we are looking at God. What do you want me to do? What is your will in my life? The kingdom of God is regeneration. It gives us a new heart by the Spirit. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with his passion and desires because we don't live anymore with our flesh, but the power of the Holy Spirit, renewing our minds, our hearts every day. The kingdom of God is hope. We've seen that. It promises eternal life with Christ. Even through suffering, we know we should know the outcome of our life. Spending eternity with Christ. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall Not shall be no more. This is a great hope. And final one: the kingdom of God is judgment. It will separate the righteous from the wicked. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous. Matthew 13, verse 49. It's not a pleasant one, but I'm not here to please you or please me. I'm here to teach you the word of God and preach it. If we understand the seriousness of the kingdom, when I see social media, etc., talking about Jesus, God and whatever, it's great. But what kind of Jesus? What kind of God? Because half of the gospel is not the gospel. If we say only one part, then it's not the gospel. It's not because we say God or Jesus that we follow Christ. Amen. Let's close in prayer. Heavenly Father, Almighty and Sovereign God, we come before you with gratitude for who you are and for your grace that allows us to worship you in the spirit and the truth. We rejoice in hearing and delighting in your word, and above all in proclaiming your Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior and the head of this church. O Lord, we come to ask you for compassion and mercy, and to receive your grace of salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ, who died for us, rose on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. We ask that you open our hearts and work in the deepest part of them by the help of your Holy Spirit. We want to give you every part of our hearts, that we may be purified and rejoice in you. Keep us, O God, on the narrow path of your truth, as we seek you in your living word. We thank you, O God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, to minister, sanctifying and transforming us for your glory. We all pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Hallelujah.