(Matthew 13:47-51) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea (of humanity), and gathered of every kind (every aspect of human life): (48) Which, when it was full, they (the angels or messengers) drew (drag) to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels (appointed places), but cast the bad away. (49) So shall it be at the end of the world (age): the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked (= worthless) from among the just, (50) And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing (= regret and lamentation) and gnashing of teeth (= bringing attention to and rebuking). (51) Jesus said unto them (disciples), Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yes, Lord.
There are two ways of looking at this parable. When the Kingdom of Heaven net is cast into the sea of humanity, there will be an amazing collection of people in it. First the angels or messengers (genuine ‘fishers of men’) will bring all these ones to a higher place . . . the shore is higher than the water where they have been hiding. The chosen messengers will then sit down (a place of resting in the Lord) and begin their work of dividing and separating. The good and just can in no way be together with the wicked or worthless . . . the Kingdom of Heaven is the full harvest expression of the incorruptible Seed of Christ placed within us. There is a fire that God is and He will see that the worthless are changed as that is the result of fire. These chosen messengers have already come through such a dealing for they are able to rest in their calling and carry out the instructions of Father-God. All carnal and religious dross will be consumed by The Consuming Fire, God Himself. Fire simply changes the state of that which is placed in it. As it is impossible to separate the person from their thinking and characteristics derived from such thinking, one is thus drawn to the second revelation of this parable.
The second view comes from the fact that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us and this parable declares that there is a separating work being carried out in us so that all our thinking that stems from a religious carnal mind, worldly mind and a sense-orientated mind can be separated from the thoughts originating in the mind of Christ which we have. Such negative thoughts of unbelief are not compatible with the thinking stemming from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This separating work being carried out in each of us by the Lord is essential for a full manifestation of the Kingdom of God. He uses chosen messengers to bring the right cutting word that first brings us to higher ground and then removes all worthless thinking from our beings which have been hiding along with our just thoughts. Thus the full expression of the Kingdom will be seen in the ‘just and good’ aspect of life which is Christ’s life in you, and in this way His purposes will come to the fore.
This is serious work, for nothing from our carnal religious minds can be alongside the pure word of God in the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, As a man thinks, so is he . . . we are being changed from glory to glory into the image of His Son. Do you understand all this? Asks Jesus . . . of you! §