Daily Word

Three-peat of the judgment | Matthew 13:47-50

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:47-50 (ESV)

One more parable

Jesus has this last parable before Matthew takes a break from recording parables to other activities in Jesus’s life – like rejection in his hometown, the death of John the Baptist and boat loads (literally) of miracles. 

This parable is perfect for His disciples who mostly lived near the Sea of Galilee; one they can all relate to as many were fishermen themselves. And it’s easy to understand. However, it is difficult to catch the deeper meaning (pun intended), so Jesus gives the meaning along with the parable.

Matter of perspective

Oftentimes, it seems like the followers of Christ are outnumbered. We are the minority in almost any public setting. Even in the “Christian Americas” where false faith has overtaken so many churches, true followers are becoming the minority. But that’s from our perspective. I like how Jesus tells the story from God’s perspective: “separate the evil from the righteous”. It’s the opposite. The Father is focused on His chosen and removing all else. 

Three-peat of the judgment

In US sports, when a team has won a national title two times then wins a third time, or a famous artist has a third big-selling album, it’s called a “three-peat”. Jesus is doing a three-peat. Matthew 8:12, 13:42, and this parable all talk about the end times and the separation of the wicked from the righteous. He’ll do it a few more times for good measure as well: Matthew 22:12-14, 24:50-51, 25:30 and 25:46. Do you think He’s trying to get an important point across?

There is a final judgment. All mankind will be judged. Good works will never be enough to meet God’s perfect, holy, standard. Many who think they can do it on their own will be shocked (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus states clearly there are only two end results – Heaven or Hell, eternally in God’s presence or eternally separated from Him.

RЯeflection

  • Which one are you? Are you the good fish or the bad? Will you enter eternity with the Father in Heaven or be separated from God for eternity? Click here to know more.
  • Is the Spirit convicting you about your faith in Christ? Is it a false faith based, in reality, on works? It’s easy to slip into this false religion. Don’t fall for it. Reach out to someone if you’re not sure. Because we have assurance of salvation in Christ.
Chicago bulls three-peat. Image from amazon.com *

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