Two this week as I was away last week and unable to post.
THE PARABLE OF THE NET
"“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 fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”" (Matthew 13:47-52)
The parable of the net is similar to that of the tares and the wheat, talking about sorting out true from false believers, at the end of the age. For there is a mixture of both true and false Christians in the church. Matthew Henry confirms this in his Bible commentary.
(3.) This net gathers of every kind, as large dragnets do. In the visible church there is a deal of trash and rubbish, dirt and weeds and vermin, as well as fish. (4.) There is a time coming when this net will be full, and drawn to the shore; a set time when the gospel shall have fulfilled that for which it was sent, and we are sure it shall not return void, Is. 55:10, 11. The net is now filling; sometimes it fills faster than at other times, but still it fills, and will be drawn to shore, when the mystery of God shall be finished. (5.) When the net is full and drawn to the shore, there shall be a separation between the good and bad that were gathered in it. Hypocrites and true Christians shall then be parted; the good shall be gathered into vessels, as valuable, and therefore to be carefully kept, but the bad shall be cast away, as vile and unprofitable; and miserable is the condition of those who are cast away in that day.
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.
We do need to be realistic, and concerned, about the fact that some of those who attend church year in and year out do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Attending church, reading the Bible, being an expert in theology, while being good things in themselves, do not make one a true follower of Jesus. Jesus is not into religious form(ality) but rather, into relationship. A personal relationship with Him.
It is so sad how many professing Christians are either unaware they need to, or do not choose to, develop their own individual relationship with Jesus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Being a good person does not qualify you for a ticket to heaven!
A vibrant personal relationship, whether in the world or with Jesus, is always a work in progress, developing from one level to another. As the King James Version says, 'from glory to glory'.
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:7)
As a result of that relationship a teacher of the Word must bring out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old. We must, through our relationship with Jesus, receive new and personal revelation to pass on to others. Of course, this revelation must be in line with Scripture, but God wants to reveal more of Himself to each succeeding generation. As our relationship with Jesus develops, so He reveals more of Himself to us.
It is said that those who have been married for a long time get to look like each other. (Bad news for my wife Kathy, but good news for me!) Same with Jesus. I am sure I don't look like Him physically, but inside....?
While we are still to bring the 'old treasures' of revelation received through the generations, we must also discover and present 'new treasures' to accompany the old.
The old is good, but the new, inspirational.
There was a man of my fathers generation, Jack, who worked on the wharves, unloading ships, here in Napier. He was uneducated, yet He had great knowledge and revelation of the Word. He had at one time, a weekly teaching night, which men would flock to. No formal theological training, but a deep relationship with Jesus. The hungry came to feast upon the revelatory Word.
Such is the revelation for today, of God's kingdom being built upon the earth. The Lord's Prayer has been recited, often in rote fashion, billions of times over the past 2000 years, yet it is only now that God is choosing to reveal the meaning of the phrase;
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
New treasure, a new understanding of living the kingdom life now, today, this minute, is being revealed to seeking, dedicated followers of Jesus around the world.
His kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven.
Thank you Lord.
(Continued next week)
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