THE PARABLE OF THE NET

Passage: Matthew 13:47~52  

Key verse: 49


1. The kingdom of heaven is like a net (47-51)

Just as a fisherman finds all kinds of fish in his net, all kinds of people come to a Christian fellowship. The visible church is full of all kinds of people. Every- one is not necessarily Christian. Just as a fisherman sorts out the good fish from the worthless, at the judg- ment God's angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. The wicked are those who continue in their rebellion against God; the righteous are those who accept God's offer of forgiveness and salvation.

2. New treasures as well as old (52)

A Bible student must not only study the Bible; he must come to Jesus--the one to whom the Bible points--and accept him as his Lord and King. Then he can be like the owner of a house who has both new and old treasures. He can be included with the righteous in the day of judgment. But if he rejects the gospel, he will be thrown out with the wicked.


Prayer: Lord, put your kingdom in my heart, so that I may stand with the righteous.

One Word: New and old treasures