Parable of the Fishing Net Matthew 13:47-50

Parable of the Fishing Net Matthew 13:47-50

The fishing net parable is no surprise to those of us who have accepted that at the end times there will be separation of those who follow Christ and those who don’t. Considering these parables as they are recorded, I doubt (once again) that it is by chance that they are in this sequence.

The choices we have made

Here we come to the final result of our lives. We are held in Christ’s arms, or we are separated for all time. That’s what hell is: eternal separation from God. When there is no connection at all to God, I cannot fathom what hopelessness and desperation must abound. Yet, this is how some currently live and here we see the result of those choices.

Sorting good and bad

The net collects all the fish, good and bad. Again, like the weeds, good and bad coexist. The next parables of treasure and a pearl share riches of heaven with us, and we should share them in turn. In this last parable of chapter 13, we find what happens to those who have not accepted the shared kingdom.

The good and bad do not have any final words to say; they are fish. They are simply sorted by the angels who know them well. Each fish has individually made the choice and now has the consequence. Dwelling together in this life is the only time we have to share and receive the kingdom. Do you sense the urgency?

Distinguishing ourselves

How often I have heard that God will judge us at the end of days. Judge seems to imply a measurement or an evaluation of us. The word means ‘to form an opinion or conclusion about’. The conclusion though is about what choice we have made in our lives: have we chosen to follow Jesus or not? That is in the heart and easily seen by God, not so much by men, at least not always. So this is truly a sorting of the good and the bad, the ones who have repented of sin and live for Christ and the ones who live for self or even to please others. So, it is not God’s choice in the end, it is ours. It is not God who chooses ‘good’ or ‘bad’ (no, he is not like Santa), we have already chosen. It is merely distinguishing between us and finally separating the weeds and the wheat, the God-followers and the God-rejecters.

Pray urgently

As I pondered the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl, I really felt like the treasure was so immense that it must be shared. Particularly in light of all the generosity of our Lord, how could we keep the gospel treasure to ourselves? This is all the more so considering the final consequences represented in the Parable of the Fishing Net. I pray often for those who do not know our Lord as their Lord and Savior. Today I pray more fervently as I am reminded of them and our final end.

This post has been updated and revised from the Parables of Matthew series from August 2019.