Matthew 13:47-50

Kingdom of Heaven is Like…
Part 4

(The Dragnet & The Destiny Of The Wicked)

The parable of the dragnet is a story about God's kingdom and the end of the age. The lesson explains what will happen at that end of times when Jesus returns. Especially to those who reject the Jesus and HIS gospel message, with are the called  "the wicked." Like the parable of the wheat and the tares, we see a great separation is destined to happen as the angels separate the good fish from the bad, which indicates that the righteous will be separated from the wicked. To which the wicked will be cast into the furnace of fire for the final death,  where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 

1. Recap of Parts 1, 2 and 3 which Set Up Today’s Lesson

1. We have seen where Jesus taught two parables concerning the "growth and development" of the kingdom:

1. Part 2 A Mustard Seed and Leaven

1. "The Parable Of The Mustard Seed" Matthew (13:31-32)

2. "The Parable Of The Leaven" (Matthew 13:33)

2. We also saw where Jesus taught two parables concerning the "value and preciousness" of the kingdom:

1. Part 3 Hidden Treasure & Pearl of Great Price

1. "The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure" (Matthew 13:44)

2. "The Parable Of The Pearl Of Great Price" (Matthew 13:45-46)

3. Jesus also taught two parables depicting the "present mixture and future separation" involving the kingdom of heaven:

1. Part 1  “Wheat and Tares”

1. The first was "The Parable of The Wheat And The Tares", which we have already studied (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

2. Part 4, today's lesson the parable of, “The Dragnet”

1. The Dragnet will be the focus of today’s study (Matthew 13:47-48)

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

1. 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)

2. 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"...]

2. Matthew 13:47-48 Today’s Lesson On The Dragnet

"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."

Matthew 13:47-48

1. Main details of parable

1. A "dragnet" was cast into the sea

2. As defined by the Holman Bible Dictionary, a "dragnet" is…

1. "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 (Isaiah 19:8)."

2. "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 (John 21:6-8)."

3. Once the dragnet was drawn to shore, the fish were separated; those good for eating were saved in vessels, the inedible were discarded

2. Explanation of the Dragnet parable

1. As with "The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares", Jesus explains what this parable means (Matthew 13:47-48)

1.  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" (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 2:20-21)

2. But in the future there will be a separation (Matthew 13:49)

1. It will occur "at the end of the age" (Matthew 13:39-40)

2. The agents of this separation will be the "angels" (Matthew 13:41)

3. The "wicked" will be separated from the "just" (i.e., the righteous) (Matthew 13:41)

3. The punishment of the "wicked" is described (Matthew 13:50)

1. "cast...into the furnace of fire." (Matthew 13:42a)

2. "There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 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"

1. The emphasis is upon…

1. The "future" separation of those in the kingdom

2. The punishment of the wicked

2. 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 13:24-30)

2. There is nothing depicting the blessedness of the righteous - contrast that with (Matthew 13:43)

3. "The Parable Of The Dragnet", 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...]

3. Matthew 13:49-50 Jesus Teaches on the Destiny of the Wicked

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

1. Jesus tells us 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 11:20-24)

3. He spoke of the condemnation that would come upon His generation (Matthew 12:41-42)

4. The wicked would be raised unto condemnation, unlike the  righteous (John 5:24-30)

2. Jesus tells us the wicked will be separated from GOD …

1. He spoke of this separation in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 7:21-23)

2. Again, when describing the judgment scene (Matthew 25:41-46)

3. Jesus tells us the wicked will be cast into hell… 

1. Jesus used the word hell 12 times in the New Testament to describe the final place of punishment…

1. In His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:21-22, 29-30)

2. When sending His apostles on the "limited" commission (Matthew 10:28)

3. In warning against personal stumbling blocks (Matthew 18:8-9)

4. Perhaps the most vivid use of this term is in (Mark 9:43-48) -- Jesus evidently used this word because it properly spoke to His contemporaries the horror and abomination of the eternal destiny awaiting the wicked!

2. 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

4. Jesus tells us the wicked will suffer torment…

1. They will experience "the furnace of fire"

1. As described in "The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares", and "The Parable Of The Dragnet" (Matthew 13:42, 50)

2. This "furnace of fire" is the same as…

1. The "fire" of Gehenna (Matthew 5:22; 18:8-9)

2. The "lake of fire" Revelation (20:12-15; 21:8)

3. A fire that is never quenched (Mark 9:43-48)

4. Notice Jesus' description of Hades (the temporary dwelling of the wicked dead) - (Luke 16:22-24)

2. They will experience "wailing and gnashing of teeth"

1. As told in the two parables we have considered (Matthew 13:42, 50)

2. Jesus used the similar expression "weeping and gnashing of teeth" on other occasions (Matthew 8:12 22:13; 24:51; 25:30)

3. They will experience "outer darkness"

1. 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)

2. And the punishment described by Peter and Jude for false teachers (2 Pe 2:17; Jude 13)

4. They will experience "everlasting punishment"

1. The punishment for the wicked is as "everlasting" as the life given the righteous (Matthew 25:46)

2. The wicked will be "punished" with "everlasting destruction" from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

4. Conclusion

1. As Jesus went about "preaching the gospel of the kingdom" (Matthew 4:23), He did not hold back…

1. He called upon the people to repent (Matthew 4:17)

2. 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…

1. We must not only preach the "good news" of the kingdom…

2. 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 2:36-39)