“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good int o vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”- Matthew 13:47-50.
We are not to think of the kingdom as like a net, but to understand that the embryo kingdom resemble s a fishing experience with a net, in which were gathered all kinds of fish, which were brought to shore and sorted. This is a parable of the embryo kingdom because it relates to a work done in this age, in connection with the finding of the “little flock” who will constitute the kingdom in glory. The Lord during this age has not been fishing for all kinds of fish; he has not been seeking for all kinds of people. He has been calling, drawing especially, and dealing with only the elect, only the saintly.
Incidentally, however, a variety of other kinds of fish have gotten into the Gospel net, some from worldly ambitions, some because religious systems are a good matrimonial field, others because of social privileges and standing, others because they desire to breathe a moral atmosphere, others because they would use religion as a cloak for business enterprises, etc. The suitable fish that the Lord is seeking, which alone will constitute the kingdom class, are those who hear his message with joy and count the cost and appreciate the situation and desire to be ” bond servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.” They are willing to suffer with him now that they may be glorified together with him in his kingdom.
The parable tells us that “when the net was full it was drawn ashore” and the fish sorted. This evidently signifies that there will come a time in the end of this age when the Lord will have gathered a sufficient number of saintly ones to serve his purpose-to complete the number foreordained by the Father to be members of the elect church in glory. Then the fishing will cease. Who can say that the opportunity for entering the “net” as one of the true “fish” of the kind the Lord is seeking may not be almost at an end? Who can say that the Gospel net, with its full assortment of churchianity of every style, will not soon be drawn ashore that the suitable, the elect, may be gathered into the kingdom?
The unsuitable “fish” of this parable correspond with the “tares” of the parable (of the wheat and tares) already considered. The “furnace of fire” will be the same “time of trouble” which will come upon the whole world of mankind very shortly. The unsuitable fish in the net are church members-the non professing world is not represented in the parable at all.
Jesus asked his disciples if they understood the parable. They answered yes, and he told them to consider his parables as a householder would consider his reserve of food supplies, from which from time to time truths “both new and old” would be brought.
Our text emphasizes this study. (“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33). If the kingdom is the pearl, and the treasure, which the Master indicated-if we believe his testimony, then by all means let us show our faith, not merely by professions, but in every act and word. Let us seek the kingdom as the pre-eminent matter of our lives, in comparison with which all other things are inferior, and as St. Paul declared, “Not worthy to be compared.” If seeking the kingdom seems to hinder some of our earthly prospects, so much the better. The Master said it must cost us our all. Our earthly considerations we have left in his hands. Let him apportion our earthly blessings according to his wisdom of what will be most helpful to us in making our “calling and election sure” to a place in the kingdom. R 5048 (1912)