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The Dragnet (Mat_13:47 - Mat_13:50)
INTRODUCTION
1. We have seen where Jesus taught two parables concerning the "growth
and development" of the kingdom:
a. "The Parable Of The Mustard Seed" - Mat_13:31 - Mat_13:32
b. "The Parable Of The Leaven" - Mat_13:33
2. We also saw where Jesus taught two parables concerning the "value
and preciousness" of the kingdom:
a. "The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure" - Mat_13:44
b. "The Parable Of The Pearl Of Great Price" - Mat_13:45 - Mat_13:46
3. Jesus also taught two parables depicting the "present mixture and
future separation" involving the kingdom of heaven:
a. The first was "The Parable of The Wheat And The Tares", which we
have already studied - Mat_13:24 - Mat_13:30,Mat_13:36 - Mat_13:43
b. The second is "The Parable Of The Dragnet", which will be the
focus of this study - Mat_13:47 - Mat_13:50
4. In each case where there are two parables seemingly addressing the
same subject, there are subtle differences in which different
aspects of the kingdom are being stressed
a. In the two parables describing the "growth and development" of
the kingdom...
1) One depicts the "visible" growth (The Mustard Seed)
2) The other depicts the "invisible" growth (The Leaven)
b. In the two parables describing the "value and preciousness" of
the kingdom...
1) One illustrates the value of the kingdom to one "accidentally"
finds it (The Hidden Treasure)
2) The other illustrates the value of the kingdom to one
"seeking" it (The Pearl Of Great Price)
[In a similar way, we will notice a subtle difference between "The
Parable of The Wheat And The Tares" and "The Parable Of The
Dragnet"...]
I. THE PARABLE EXPLAINED
A. THE DETAILS OF THE PARABLE...
1. A "dragnet" was cast into the sea
2. As defined by the Holman Bible Dictionary, a "dragnet" is...
a. "A large fishing net equipped with a weighted bottom edge
for touching ("dragging") the river or lake bottom and a
top with wooden floats allowing the net to be spread across
the water (Isa_19:8)."
b. "Such nets were normally let down from a boat and then
drawn to shore by a crew positioned on the beach. In the
case of a large catch the net was hauled to shore by boat
(Joh_21:6 - Joh_21:8)."
3. Once the dragnet was drawn to shore, the fish were separated;
those good for eating were saved in vessels, the inedible were
discarded
B. THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE...
1. As with "The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares", Jesus
explains what this parable means - Matthew 13:49 - Matthew 13:50
a. The kingdom of heaven, in its present state, will be a
mixture of good and bad
1) Just like a dragnet gathers in both good and bad fish
2) We saw in "The Parable Of The Wheat And Tares" that this
will be due to the influence of Satan, such that there
will be those "that offend, and those who practice
lawlessness" - cf. Matthew 13:41
3) Paul wrote that in "a great house" (i.e., the church)
some vessels are "for honor and some for dishonor" -
2 Timothy 2:20 - 2 Timothy 2:21
b. But in the future there will be a separation - Matthew 13:49
1) It will occur "at the end of the age" - cf. Matthew 13:39 - Matthew 13:40
2) The agents of this separation will be the "angels" - cf.
Matthew 13:41
3) The "wicked" will be separated from the "just" (i.e.,
the righteous) - cf. Matthew 13:41
c. The punishment of the "wicked" is described - Matthew 13:50
1) "cast...into the furnace of fire." - cf. Matthew 13:42a
2) "There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." - cf. Mt
13:42b
2. In giving His explanation, we see the emphasis of Jesus in
this parable, and the fundamental difference between it and
"The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares"
a. The emphasis is upon...
1) The "future" separation of those in the kingdom
2) The punishment of the wicked
b. Unlike "The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares"...
1) There is nothing in the explanation related to the
"present" mixture in the kingdom - contrast that with
Matthew 13:24 - Matthew 13:30
2) There is nothing depicting the blessedness of the
righteous - contrast that with Matthew 13:43
["The Parable Of The Dragnet", then, reinforces the spiritual truths
taught in "The Parable Of The Wheat And Tares", especially those
relating to the coming judgment and condemnation of the wicked.
That Jesus would emphasize the judgment and condemnation of the wicked
in this parable ought to impress upon us that the "good news" of the
kingdom of heaven also contains "bad news" for those who reject it.
Since this parable focuses on the "destiny" of the wicked, this might
be a good time to review what Jesus Himself taught on the subject...]
II. JESUS' TEACHINGS ON THE DESTINY OF THE WICKED
A. JESUS TAUGHT THE WICKED WILL BE JUDGED...
1. We have seen this truth illustrated in the two parables we
have been comparing
2. He warned those cities that rejected Him of the coming
judgment - Matthew 11:20 - Matthew 11:24
3. He spoke of the condemnation that would come upon His
generation - Matthew 12:41 - Matthew 12:42
4. The wicked would be raised unto condemnation, unlike the
righteous - John 5:24 - John 5:30
B. JESUS TAUGHT THE WICKED WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD...
1. He spoke of this separation in His sermon on the mount - Mt
7:21-23
2. Again, when describing the judgment scene - Matthew 25:41 - Matthew 25:46
C. JESUS TAUGHT THE WICKED WILL BE CAST INTO "HELL"...
1. A term used most often by Jesus to describe the destiny of the
wicked
a. The Greek word is "geenna" {gheh'-en-nah}, which in Hebrew
is "Ge-Hinnom"
b. B. W. Johnson comments: "The term Gehenna arose from the
valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the Canaanites
burned human sacrifices to Moloch. After the return of the
Jews from the Captivity they made it a place of defilement,
where the refuse of the city was thrown and burned. The
name was applied to the place of future punishment by the
Jews. The word is often used in the New Testament, and
always denotes a place of future punishment."
c. Found twelve (12) times in the New Testament, and it is
used only by Jesus with one exception (James 3:6)
2. Jesus used the term to describe the final place of
punishment...
a. In His sermon on the mount - Matthew 5:21 - Matthew 5:22,Matthew 5:29 - Matthew 5:30
b. When sending His apostles on the "limited" commission - Matthew 10:28
c. In warning against personal stumblingblocks - Matthew 18:8 - Matthew 18:9
d. Perhaps the most vivid use of this term is in Mark 9:43 - Mark 9:48
-- Jesus evidently used this word because it properly spoke to
His contemporaries the horror and abomination of the
eternal destiny awaiting the wicked!
3. This place called "hell" was originally prepared for the devil
and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but will serve as the place of
punishment for the wicked as well
D. JESUS TAUGHT THE WICKED WILL SUFFER TORMENT...
1. They will experience "the furnace of fire"
a. As described in "The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares",
and "The Parable Of The Dragnet" - Matthew 13:42,Matthew 13:50
b. This "furnace of fire" is the same as...
1) The "fire" of Gehenna - Matthew 5:22; Matthew 18:8 - Matthew 18:9
2) The "lake of fire" - Revelation 20:12 - Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8
c. A fire that is never quenched - Mark 9:43 - Mark 9:48
d. Notice Jesus' description of Hades (the temporary dwelling
of the wicked dead) - Luke 16:22 - Luke 16:24
2. They will experience "wailing and gnashing of teeth"
a. As told in the two parables we have considered - Matthew 13:42,
50
b. Jesus used the similar expression "weeping and gnashing of
teeth" on other occasions - Matthew 8:12 Matthew 8:22:13; Matthew 24:51; Matthew 25:30
3. They will experience "outer darkness"
a. As in the punishment of...
1) The "sons of the kingdom" (unbelieving Israelites) - Matthew 8:12
2) The "unprepared wedding guest" (those who mistakenly
believe they are saved?) - Matthew 22:13
3) The "unprofitable servant" (slothful Christians?) - Matthew 25:30
b. And the punishment described by Peter and Jude for false
teachers - 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:13
4. They will experience "everlasting punishment"
a. The punishment for the wicked is as "everlasting" as the
life given the righteous - Matthew 25:46
b. The wicked will be "punished" with "everlasting
destruction" from the presence of the Lord - cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:9
CONCLUSION
1. As Jesus went about "preaching the gospel of the kingdom" (Matthew 4:23),
He did not hold back...
a. He called upon the people to repent - cf. Matthew 4:17
b. He warned them of the impending judgment and torment to come
1) As seen in "The Parable Of Dragnet"
2) As seen in our survey of Jesus' teaching on the destiny of the
wicked
2. If we are to proclaim the "gospel of the kingdom" faithfully...
a. We must not only preach the "good news" of the kingdom...
b. We must also tell the "bad news" Christ revealed through His
parables and other teachings!
Dear friend, are you living in view of the coming judgment? When "the
great separation" is made, where will you be? Why not be "born again
of the water and the Spirit", so you may enter that wonderful kingdom?
- John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:36 - Acts 2:39