(Text and Audio)
Title: A Final Clarification and Charge
How many of you have ever read a book or watched a movie that had a really strong opening, a solid middle, but just kind of let you down in the end? If only the last third of the material was a strong as the first 2/3rds, you’d have been satisfied. Well, today Jesus is going to offer his final closing points to the disciples on the Kingdom, and my job is to make sure that I don’t paint it is simply repetitive. Jesus closes his teaching with quite and interesting observation that ties all of his teaching on the Kingdom together, and I want to make sure we don’t miss it.
We have ben studying Matthew chapter 13 for some months now and we are almost at the close. Today, we will see Jesus put the final touches on his teaching to the disciples concerning what, exactly, this “Kingdom of Heaven” is and how they need to be prepared to teach others about it once Jesus is gone.
- The Dragnet Parable
When we began our study on parables at the beginning of this chapter a few months back, I wanted us to understand that the correct definition of a parable is a story from every day life that illustrated a great heavenly truth in a way that the audience would be able to understand and relate to.
This final parable in Matthew 13 is no different. We know that Jesus has at least four fishermen among him. If you recall, when he calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John back at the end of Matthew 4 he claims, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
I’m sure at the time that Jesus spoke these words they caused some curiosity from the four men, and today, as Jesus gives this final parable explaining the Kingdom, it all comes together for them.
I’d like for us to make some observations from this Parable:
- When the net is cast, no one knows how much will come back up. We are told to cast everywhere, to every nation. There are times in our lives when our nets will burst because the Lord is adding to the harvest. There are also times when we will seemingly cast over and over and over and bring back nothing of value.
- We don’t know what’s under the water. We can only determine the value of the catch after examination.
- The good are kept, the bad are discarded. This is a truth that is clearly Biblical, but the modern world, and I’m sad to say, even parts of the modern church will reject this church outright. They will tell someone that Jesus knows them intimately, loves them dearly, and will save them from his sin.
He might. But the proof of that is not that you’ve been caught in a net. The proof of that is not that you’ve simply heard the Gospel message. The truth of that resides in whether or not you’ve responded to that message by and irresistible urge to repent and acknowledge Jesus as both Lord and Savior.
- It is not the message that determines whether you are good and preserved in a vessel, or bad, and cast into the fire by angels. It is your reaction to that message.
- “Have you understood all these things?”
My belief is that when Jesus is asking this question, it’s a comprehensive question, covering the material that begins way back at the beginning of this chapter with the parable of the Sower and Seed.
It’s hard sometimes for us to remember, because we break these narratives down into several smaller messages and sermons week after week, but Chapter 13 is one big, long conversation. Consider:
Chapter 13 as a discussion:
- Jesus teaches from a boat to the masses the parable of the sower.
- The disciples come to him and ask, “Why do you teach them in parables?”
- Jesus explains to the disciples why he teaches the masses in parables, but explains all things to his disciples.
- Jesus then explains to them the parable of the sower.
- Jesus teaches them the parable of the wheat and tares, mustard seed, and leaven.
- Matthew explains how these parables fulfilled O.T. prophecy.
- Jesus explains (in private) the parable of the Tares.
- Jesus then offers the parable of the Hidden Treasure, the parable of the Great Pearl, and the Parable of the Dragnet.
- He then asks, “Have you understood ALL these things?”
POINT: It is extremely important to Jesus that each of the disciples fully understands what he is teaching them at this time. Why? Because of what he says next…
- “Therefore…”
Jesus concludes his teaching with verse 52. Therefore, because they understand all these things, there is a charge given to them directly by Jesus.
The interesting thing about the Greek here is that the phrase “instructed concerning the Kingdom” can also be translated as “has become a disciple of the Kingdom” both translations are completely accurate.
The implication here is that Jesus is telling these men they will become the teachers, and their mission is to share the “treasure” (wisdom of truth) that they have received.
And what, exactly, is that wisdom? They have understood BOTH the old and the new. They understand the redemptive history of O.T. Israel and how the prophecies there point directly to the new redemptive acts of Jesus as he ushers in the Kingdom of Heaven.
In other words, Jesus tells these men that they’ve been given the key. The Key that connects the old with the new, the past with the present. And that key is wisdom all depends upon whether or not they truly understand what is happening right now, in the present. If they can’t (or won’t) see Jesus as the Messiah, they will have no ability to connect the past with the future.
Truly, these men have been given a great task. These men have been given a great task.
Can anyone tell me what the last sentence is on my paper this morning?
A: And its the same task we’ve been given.