The
fisherman’s catch
Scripture:
“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 blazing 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 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.”
Matthew 13:47-52
Observation:
In this parable, the Lord uses an image very
familiar to His disciples, especially Peter, Andrew, James and John, who were
fishermen by trade. Here, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a fisherman’s net
being let down into the lake, catching all kinds of fish. This net is then pulled
to shore where the fishermen sort out the
good fish from the bad fish. Although there are different varieties of
fish, they are ultimately separated into only two groups, the good and the bad.
While the good are put in baskets, the bad are thrown away.
The Lord then explains how this same
situation will happen at the end of the age, when there will be a great
separation between the wicked and the righteous. Basically, the fish are either useful or useless to the fishermen. Interestingly, the meaning of salvation has to do with
salvaging, or making useful again something that has become useless. The
righteous will go into the kingdom
of Heaven
After the series of parables, the Lord then asks
His disciples if they have understood and they say yes. Thereafter, the Lord
concludes by making an interesting statement how every teacher of the law who
becomes a disciple is likened to the owner of a house who brings out of his
storeroom both new and old treasures.
Here the Lord refers to a disciple who is
also a teacher of the law. Now the teachers of the law were well versed with
the Old Testament. Hence, they already had great treasure in the Word,
accumulated over the centuries. However, when Jesus came, He brought to light many, many things previously hidden, and His
life and teachings became the basis upon which the New Testament was written. Therefore,
teachers of the law already well versed with the Old Testament and now
receiving first hand new heavenly revelations would have both new and old
treasures in his storeroom. When we keep
God’s Word in our hearts, it is like keeping treasure in a storeroom.
Application:
The parable of the fisherman’s catch again
reminds us of the reality of Judgment day, when we, the peoples of the earth will be separated, the righteous and the wicked.
From other parts of Scripture, we know that our righteousness is not our own
but based on our faith in Jesus Christ who was given to save us, to salvage us
from death. And we are saved not just
for the sake of it, but to be useful to God, to actively worship Him and serve
Him as His chosen people. Again, we are reminded too the reality of hell, the place of burning where the fire never dies,
the place of weeping and gnashing of
teeth. Let us safeguard our lives carefully in the Lord, and cry out daily
for the salvation of our friends and loved ones who know Him not.
Know that God’s Word is great treasure, both
the Old and the New Testament. Also, even for those who have been Christians
many years, there are always new
treasures that come alive in God’s Word, if we only meditate on it and let God teach us. One can never truly
know it all, whilst we still remain on this earth. Keep the precious treasure in our storerooms by committing portions of
Scripture to memory. At opportune times we will be able to bring out that
treasure to teach, to encourage, to exhort or to bless someone or ourselves in
time of need.
Prayer:
We praise You, Father Lord, for enriching us
in all things. You are our great God and marvelous Father. May Your name be
praised forever. Bring forth great treasures O Lord in Your Word even as we
read and meditate on it. Show us new things we have never seen before in Your
great Word that is alive and true! We are soberly reminded again O Lord, of the
reality of hell, and the terrible place that it is. Have mercy on us O Lord, on
our friends, and on our loved ones. Cause their hearts to turn to You we pray O
Lord, that they may receive Your salvation. Send Your holy angels to go before
them, to prepare the way for them, to hear Your voice and live. May Your great
name be praised forever O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
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