Devotional - 98-10-13 - The Dragnet

Matthew 13:47-50, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, gathering fish of every sort; and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the shore; and they sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but the worthless they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

This parable is a close relative to the parable of the wheat and the tares. However, instead of good and bad seed the dragnet catches good and bad fish. The net as the instrument that gathers the fish is allegorically a sign for God gathering His people and separating His children from the children of satan. They are so connected that both end with “and will cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:42,50

This parable answers the question of how we will be judged. The judgment of God is something everyone will experience, but no one likes to talk about. But we need to avoid avoiding this topic because we need to live our lives knowing full well that one day we will stand before the throne of God.

While it is true that even those who rest in Christ will be judged, we also know that they will be judged clean. This is not due to any works they have done, but solely because of the righteous of Christ which has been imputed to them. When God looks at those who are in Christ He will not see them and their sin, He will see His blessed Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the meaning of this parable. It is a parable of judgment. The good fish are kept and the bad fish are tossed away. So, Christ says, it will be in heaven.

This should be a great encouragement to us. This simple fact of being clean at the Great Day of God’s vindication should give us every incentive we need to live up to the high calling of being the people of God. May you be strengthened and encouraged to do just that today.

"Live near to God, and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities." Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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