Exposition of Mathew (Matthew 13:47-52)
(The Parables of Jesus)
Questions to be answered in this study
- How do we receive rewards in heaven?
- What impact does the Church have in the world?
- How many parables are there in Matthew chapter 13?
- What evidence do we have that there is a literal hell?
- What is the only answer to the world’s problems today?
- What is our responsibility in the kingdom?
- What is our service to the Lord?
- What is one of the things that pleases God the most?
- Who is the modern-day scribe?
- What is the treasure spoken of in verse 52?
Introduction
Today we take up the last parables in Matthew chapter 13, which will finish the Kingdom parables Jesus used, teaching His disciples the kingdom work. Jesus prepared the disciples to commence a work that would continue until His second coming; at this time, He will set up a world kingdom that will last to the end of the world. This present age is the time for each of us to bear the fruit of the Spirit as we build the kingdom. The Spirit-driven work we do on earth will earn rewards in heaven. Now let’s look at the seventh parable:
Matthew 13:47-50, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The real impact of the Church in the world is beyond measure. The world is crazy and filled with evil presently, but the world would be an unbearable place if the Church were absent, which will take place when the Church leaves this world and goes up into heaven at the end of the age when Christ returns.
Matthew has seven parables, and some may say eight since the last verses of chapter 13 takes up what seems to be a parable but different from the seven. So far, Jesus has explained how He wants the kingdom built. The Word of the gospel is shared to the ends of the earth. Jesus uses a different approach in this seventh parable; He moves from the agriculture motif of harvesting to fish in a net. They fished with nets, usually close to shore, catching all types of fish using this method. The unacceptable fish were separated from the good and cast out and the good were kept for the market. Jesus compared this to the judgment when He returns when angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, as we saw in the parable of the wheat and the tares. This parable is graphic evidence of a burning hell where the wicked will go, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus is the only answer for this world. Those who trust and believe in Him shall receive rewards in heaven, but the unbelievers will face a severe judgment and be cast into hell for all eternity. In this parable, Jesus’ graphic revelation of Hades and its torment was an encouragement to His disciples to share the gospel and save the lost.
We all have a responsibility in God’s kingdom. We may sometimes wonder what part we have in the kingdom when we are so busy raising a family, earning a living, and keeping a marriage together. Although you are aware that you are doing the right thing, it may seem that you matter little as far as the kingdom is concerned. We see others going off to foreign missions, teaching Bible classes, etc. We may feel that what we do does not matter, but it does. When we give our check to the Church, pray for the ministers and missionaries, we are involved in the kingdom work. What you can do is essential. So, don’t give up. Do what you can when you can, and live a life that glorifies God. What you do may seem as little as the widows might who give the smallest, but it was all she had, and Jesus observed and commented on her faithfulness. Get engaged in the kingdom work to what extent you can. God does not assign the same responsibilities to all. He gives tasks according to the Gifts each person has. It is our responsibility to discover our Spiritual Gifts, develop them, and use them. We are all a part of the church body with different functions. We don’t need all ears. We need eyes and noses and all other parts of the body to function correctly in the Church.
The Heavenly Father sees your service while others may not because some of what you do is done in secret: Matthew 6:3-6, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Today’s need is for the service to Jesus to become personal and not to be referred to others; by that, we take personal evangelism seriously and get involved in sharing the gospel in whatever way we can. There are some that only you will ever be able to reach among friends and family. After all, sharing our faith with others is what Jesus stressed the most and is often overlooked by many Christians. I know there is the feeling that people will be insulted if you mention the gospel, or you may lose friends. Here is the thing, we are talking about the eternal welfare of a person, which goes far beyond the chance of insulting them or losing them as a friend. The essence of the kingdom is to save souls and avoiding a loss for all eternity. I want all my friends and family to go to heaven, and I may be the only person to help them know the way.
I read this poem years ago that had a great impact on me:
My Friend
I stand in the judgement and feel you are the blame somehow … On earth,
I walked with you day by day and never did you point the way.
You knew the Lord in truth and glory, but never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim; you could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together on earth, you never told me of the second birth.
Now I stand this day condemned, because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things, that’s true; I called you “friend” and trusted you,
But I learn now it’s too late; you could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night, and yet you showed me not the light.
You let me live, and love, and die; you Knew I’d never live on high.
Yes, I called you “friend” in life, and trusted you through joy and strife.
And yet on coming to the end, I cannot now call you “My Friend.”
Author Unknown
The Apostle Paul stressed the extreme importance of saving the lost:
2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation).”
Paul was motivated by eternal rewards and the value of souls and had an intense desire to save the lost. Paul operated on the principles of faith because he wanted to please God: Hebrews 11:6 (KJV), “And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” It pleases God the most when we show an interest in sharing our faith with others. God calls us into service to take others with us when we go to heaven. That is what the kingdom is all about.
Jesus then turns to His disciples and asks them the question if they understood the seven parables, He has spoken to them:
Matt. 13:51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.”
It is doubtful the disciples understood everything Jesus had taught them, but maybe they had gotten the zest of it. Jesus goes on to explain why it is so essential to understand the kingdom:
Matt. 13:52, “And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like ahead of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
This parable is not officially part of the seven parables, but it is, in essence. The difference is, it is about a genuine disciple who became part of the kingdom. It is no longer about the kingdom but about a person, a scribe, and a believer. In Jesus’ day, the scribes agreed with the Pharisees in belief and were students of the law and taught it. Though we don’t call them that, a modern-day scribe would be a pastor or Bible teacher.
The comparison Jesus makes of such disciples is the head of a household. Head of household is one Word in Greek used in the parable of the wheat and tares for the landowner. In those days, the head of the household or a landowner had authority and power. He was responsible for the family’s welfare, as well as those who served him. It was his responsibility to make sure the crops produced a good harvest.
The principle given to the disciples concerned their responsibility to build the kingdom. Jesus is the shepherd of the Church, but he also assigned under-shepherds to oversee the progress of His Church. They had the tremendous responsibility of watching over and caring for the Lord’s house. Every leader or teacher who participates in the work of the kingdom share this responsibility. It is a command to respect our leaders: Heb. 13:17 (KJV), “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” Leaders need the support of the membership to carry on their work successfully.
The final words of this parable are the key: “A scribe must be prepared to bring things out of his treasure both old and new.” The head of the family and landowner used his gain to support his family and those under him. How does that apply to the disciples as well as us today? Our treasure comes from God’s Word, and it is the pastor’s or teacher’s responsibility to share that treasure, both old and new, through teaching and preaching. The ancient treasure comes from the Old Testament, and the latest from the latest information revealed, which we have today in the New Testament. Some have moved away from the treasures of the Old Testament, but that is not what Jesus is teaching. He is teaching that the old treasure is essential and must also be shared along with the new.
Let us close with this insight and instruction from Paul:
Ephesians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”