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Season 1, Episode 81
For Monday, May 4, 2015
“The Separation of the Kingdom”
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Episode Transcript:
Welcome to The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ has created in you. I’m Robert Hatfield, and here is today’s scripture:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Mat. 13:47-50).
The Parable of the Dragnet is another of the great kingdom parables that Jesus told in Matthew 13. The Master Teacher likened the kingdom of heaven, the church, to a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish. The net was drawn to shore, where the fishermen sat down and separated the good into vessels and threw the bad away.
Remember that each of these parables is designed to teach us something about the church, Christ’s kingdom. The dragnet story is certainly no exception. This parable teaches us about the separation of the kingdom. That is, the separation of the kingdom from the rest of humanity at the day of judgment.
Jesus immediately explains this parable in the next two verses. He says, “So it will be at the end of the age” (Mat. 13:49). The Lord goes on to say that the just and the wicked will be separated. The wicked will be “cast … into the furnace of fire” (Mat. 13:50), where “there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
That is a chilling scene. Honestly, I don’t like to talk about it. I can’t imagine anyone would like to talk about a time when people – perhaps some of whom are very dear to our hearts – will be cast into the fires of hell. And yet, that very statement that I just made is the reason why we must speak about the judgment day.
Let’s wrap it up: Real people will really be lost. Jesus says it right here in this story! Remember that Jesus tells these parables to accentuate the truths that they convey. He wants us to get this point.
In John 5:28-29, the Lord put it this way:
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
So what will you do today to prepare yourself and those whom you love for the judgment day?
Memory Verse: Last week we learned Colossians 1:13 together. This week, let’s add the next verse to it, Colossians 1:14.
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14).
Thanks for joining me today for The New You. This podcast is a production of The Light Network. You can find us at thelightnetwork.tv. You’ll also find show notes for today’s episode, archives of this show, and more Christian podcasts that I know you’ll enjoy. That’s thelightnetwork.tv.
Support the show by subscribing to it and sharing it with your friends. Also, a huge help would be to give us a good rating and review in the iTunes store.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact me by email at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or by voicemail, by calling 903-26-LIGHT, that’s 903-265-4448. I’d love to hear from you!
Join us next time, when we’ll discuss the proclamation of the kingdom. The final parable in Matthew 13 is short, but important because it describes something that we must do as members of Christ’s kingdom. I’ll meet you tomorrow, Lord willing, for The New You.
