Matthew 13 – Parables of the Kingdom This is a section of scripture ...

the rapture) to be used as an adornment. These observations would also seem to
point to the church as the one pearl.
Matt. 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into
the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Matt. 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and
gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Matt. 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth,
and sever the wicked from among the just,
Matt. 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
In this final parable the kingdom of heaven is compared to a fishing net. When
fishermen throw their net, they can expect the catch to contain different types of
fish. Once they get to the shore, they proceed to separate the good from the bad;
they keep the good and throw away the bad.
The Lord explains that this is a picture of how it will be at the end of the world
when He comes to establish His kingdom on earth. In the parable of the wheat
and tares this is identified as the harvest. Just as the angels in that parable first
gathered the tares to throw into the furnace, in this parable they first sever or
separate the wicked, the children of the devil (the bad fish) from among the just,
the children of the kingdom (the good fish). Again, point is made that the net
includes both good and bad just as the field had both wheat (children of the
kingdom) and tares (impostors planted by the devil) growing in it. Again, the
angels throw the wicked into the furnace and you hear wailing and gnashing of
teeth.
Matt. 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They
say unto him, Yea, Lord.
I can’t help but wonder if they were really telling the truth. I sure wish they had
asked for the Lord to explain each parable.
Matt. 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed
unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which
bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
In scripture the scribes were those who carefully recorded the copies of the
scripture. As a result, the scribes were very familiar with the content of God’s
word. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, by Jesus’ day they were the public
teachers of the people. Jesus is basically declaring that one who is very familiar
with the content of God’s word and readily receives instruction about the
kingdom of heaven is comparable to the master of the house or the head of the
family who is able to share both new spiritual truth, the mysteries of the
kingdom, along with spiritual truth as recorded by the prophets of old.
Matt. 13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables,
he departed thence.
Matt. 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in
their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath
this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?