THE PARABLE OF THE NET

Passage: Matthew 13:47-52

Key verse: 49

NIV

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like(A) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds(B) of fish. 48 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. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous(C) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(D)

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Parable of the Net

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is (A)like a net that was thrown into the sea and (B)gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, (C)men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at (D)the end of the age. The angels will come out and (E)separate the evil from the righteous 50 (F)and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place (G)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

New and Old Treasures

51 (H)“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every (I)scribe (J)who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who (K)brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The kingdom of heaven is like a net (47-51)

Just as a fisherman finds all kinds of fish in his net, all kinds of people come to a Christian fellowship. The visible church is full of all kinds of people. Every- one is not necessarily Christian. Just as a fisherman sorts out the good fish from the worthless, at the judg- ment God's angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. The wicked are those who continue in their rebellion against God; the righteous are those who accept God's offer of forgiveness and salvation.

2. New treasures as well as old (52)

A Bible student must not only study the Bible; he must come to Jesus--the one to whom the Bible points--and accept him as his Lord and King. Then he can be like the owner of a house who has both new and old treasures. He can be included with the righteous in the day of judgment. But if he rejects the gospel, he will be thrown out with the wicked.

Prayer: Lord, put your kingdom in my heart, so that I may stand with the righteous.

One Word: New and old treasures