Reading
Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and
gathered of every kind: Which, when it
was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels,
but cast the bad away. So shall it be
at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from
among the just, And shall cast them
into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Commentary
The
people in Jesus' day, and yet our own would easily understand this lesson
regarding the fisherman's net, and the good and bad fish. Such represent all the world on the Last Day,
when the Lord comes to judge the good and the bad. Believers in God's sight are good, in that
the righteousness of Christ is upon them.
Christ kept the law for us, in our stead and place, that we might be
justified in His sight. As for the bad
which the angels gather and cast into the fire (hell), they did not believe in
Christ nor seek His mercy while they lived.
Since they died in unbelief without faith, all their works are only
evil. This lesson serves as a warning to
all men that one day their evil works will be judged. Paul writes, "We must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men." Christ
alone saves men from such judgment by His blood. May all men everywhere repent of their evil
and believe in His good.
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