The Particular
Fisherman
Matthew 13:47-51 “Once
again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and
caught all kinds 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 50 and throw them into the
fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Have you
understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.
JESUS’ parable begins as a picture of bounty. A fisherman
spreads his net over the water. It drops down. Then he pulls up a net full of
fish! Jesus’ fishing disciples would relate joyfully to this description. Full
nets mean great profit!
And Jesus adds
more reality to the fishing scene as he describes how the fisherman throws away
the fish that do not measure up to his particular requirements. Again, the
disciples could relate well to keeping only the good fish.
But then Jesus forms
a new fearful scene. Suddenly the fisherman becomes the Lord of the Harvest. Jesus
quickly turned his disciples’ minds from an abundant day of fishing to the
reality that some will be saved to the Kingdom of Heaven and some will be
judged unworthy. Truly they would have thought, “Will I be kept or thrown back?
What must I do to be saved?”
Then Jesus asked the
life-centered question, “Have you
understood all these things?” As
they replied, “Yes.” they would have also understood this: “We must learn and
we must teach Jesus’ particular truths to point people to salvation.”
LIFE Link: Jesus offers the one, particular Gospel to heaven.
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