"the Dragnet: A Call To Urgency" Series

Matthew 13:47-50

Introduction

• Setting the Stage: We’ve been diving into the parables of Jesus, uncovering what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. We’ve seen its growth and challenges in parables like "The Mustard Seed" and "The Leaven," its value in "The Hidden Treasure" and "The Pearl of Great Price," and its mixed reality in "The Wheat and the Tares."

• Today’s Focus: Now, we turn to "The Parable of the Dragnet," a story that zooms in on the future—the day when the righteous and wicked will be separated.

• Relatable Hook: Picture a fishing crew hauling in a massive net, teeming with all kinds of fish. They drag it to shore, sit down, and start sorting: keepers in the bucket, rejects tossed aside. That’s the scene Jesus paints to show us what’s coming. Let’s unpack it together.

I. The Parable Explained

A. The Scene: Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, gathering fish of every kind. When it’s full, the fishermen pull it to shore, sorting the good fish into containers and throwing the bad away” (Matthew 13:47-48, paraphrased).

1. Jesus’ Point: He explains, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come, separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:49-50).

B. What It Means: Right now, the kingdom is a mixed bag—believers and unbelievers side by side. But that won’t last. A day is coming when God’s angels will sort it all out.

1. This parable isn’t about the mix we live in now—it’s about the separation that’s coming and the fate of the wicked.

2. In "The Wheat and the Tares," Jesus warned against pulling up the weeds too soon, letting good and bad grow together until the harvest.

3. The dragnet skips to the end: the net’s in, the sorting begins, and judgment is final.

C. Hard Truth: Jesus doesn’t soften the blow—judgment is real, and the wicked face a serious consequence.

1. We do a disservice to the lost when we act like everything is going to be ok.

2. However, there are right ways and wrong ways to talk to the lost… More about this later.

II. Jesus’ Teachings on the Destiny of the Wicked

A. Judgment is Coming: Jesus warned about this over and over:

1. cities that rejected Him (Matthew 11:20-24),

2. generations that ignored Him (Matthew 12:41-42), and

3. a final judgment for all (John 5:24-30).

B. Separation from God: He said the wicked will hear, “Depart from me” (Matthew 7:23, 25:41), missing out on God’s presence forever.

1. In A Place Called Hell: Jesus called it "Gehenna"—a fiery, dark place of torment (Matthew 5:22, Mark 9:43-48).

2. This isn’t temporary. It’s as eternal as the life He offers the righteous (Matthew 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9).

III. Application for Today

A. A Look in the Mirror

1. Where do we stand?

2. Are we living as kingdom people, trusting Jesus and following Him?

3. This parable calls us to check our hearts.

B. See the Bigger Picture

1. Our world’s like that dragnet—good and evil tangled together.

2. But the sorting’s coming, and it’s not our job to judge—it’s our job to reach.

C. Or Mission

1. Jesus told us to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

2. We cast the net of the gospel, trusting God to sort the catch.

IV. Motivation to Win the Lost

A. Why It Matters

1. Think about the people in your life—neighbors, coworkers, friends—who don’t know Jesus. Without Him, they’re headed for the fate Jesus described.

2. That’s heavy, but it’s why we’re here.

B. Time’s Ticking

1. The net’s being drawn in.

2. We don’t know when the end will come, but we know it will.

3. That urgency should light a fire under us.

C. What Can We Do?

• Invite: Ask someone to church this week.

• Share: Tell your story—how Jesus changed you.

• Support: Get behind missions, locally and globally.

• Pray: Ask God to open doors and soften hearts.

D. Our Call

1. Once again… We’re not the sorters; we’re the fishers.

2. Let’s cast the net wide and trust God with the rest, because the lost in our communities need the hope we have.

Closing / Altar Call