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Matthew 13:47-50  “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore.  Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.  This is how it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew is the only Evangelist to record this parable of Jesus.  Approximately one quarter of Jesus’ parables are exclusive to Matthew, and these cover the themes of ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’, ‘God’s grace and forgiveness’ and ‘The Final Judgement’.

Matthew 13 is an album of parables and opens with the Parable of the Sower (recorded also by Mark and Luke) which causes the disciples to ask Jesus “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”  In his explanation, Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 where the prophet is warned that God’s people will ‘hear’ and ‘see’ his truth as Isaiah faithfully proclaims it, but this will only be a very superficial response on their part and will not lead to a true ‘hearing’ and ‘seeing’ expressed in obedience.

Today’s Parable of the ‘Dragnet’ is a good example of this.  Historically, throughout the world, the Christian Gospel has had a very ‘attractive’ and positive impact on societies in the advancement of science, art, education, medical care, etc, and although, sadly, this is not a commonly recognised feature of our contemporary Australian thinking, it is nevertheless obvious to everyone who has not been conditioned by our dominant culture to oppose the claims of the Gospel.  This is the ‘dragnet’ that gathers up all kinds and species of fish.

Jesus’ warning to his Church in every age, is to be aware of the reality that the general ‘dragnet’-like effect of the Gospel will always include in the ‘visible church’ many who are ‘going through the motions’ of being a ‘Christian’  but who, on the Day of Judgement, will discover that their profession was a sham.  I like the way the ‘Jungle Doctor’, Paul White, in one of his ‘Jungle Fables’, tells the story of ‘The Goat Who Wanted to Become a Lion’ – a goat that wore what lions wear (putting around himself a lion’s skin), ate what lions eat, practised trying to ‘roar’ (talk like lions talk), went where lions go, and in the end, instead of becoming a lion, he became a lion’s dinner!  Paul White makes the point that the only way a goat can become a lion is to be ‘born again’ as a lion!

The Parable of the Dragnet is among Jesus’ most confrontational parables, in which he made his point so clearly as to challenge his hearers to examine their hearts before God.  His description of the afterlife in a state of separation from God is not very comforting for any who join themselves to the visible Church, but who have not truly turned to Christ in repentance-and-faith and who therefore remain not ‘clothed in his righteousness’, failing to truly identify themselves with God’s people!

– Bruce Christian