Matthew - Week 43

A Full Fishing Net 

READ 

Matthew 13:47-48 

47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.” 

Jesus continued to tell about believers and unbelievers in the kingdom of heaven while the king was absent. When the net was full of fish it was dragged up to the shore, the fishermen sorted the good fish from the bad. The bad ones were thrown away. 

REFLECT 

Imagine the interest of the disciples in hearing Jesus tell these stories. 

RESPOND 

Notice how Jesus used an illustration from everyday life to draw spiritual lessons. This is a reminder to us to endeavor to use examples people know about to tell about some spiritual truth. It is not always possible to think of such but helpful if we can. Pastors/preachers are especially effective when they do this.  

The End of the World 

READ 

Matthew 13:49-50 

49 “That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

The time referred to is the “end of the world” [lit. age]. Angels separate the unbelievers from the believers. The time period referred to is at the end of the seven-year Tribulation when Jesus returns to earth to set up His 1000-year kingdom on earth. Believers during the Church age will be taken to heaven before the Tribulation begins (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  

REFLECT 

Think about the number of times Jesus referred to the separation of unbelievers from believers and their final destiny.  

RESPOND 

Torment of the wicked is often referred to, but their final judgment will be the lake of fire mentioned in Revelation 20:11-15. Before that time they will suffer torment in hades, as seen in Luke 16 about the unbelieving rich man. Talk about these passages with a friend. 

Gems of Truth 

READ 

Matthew 13:51-52 

51 “Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.” 52 Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.” 

Had Jesus asked you if you understood what He was saying in these parables, what would you have answered? Somehow the disciples were able to say they understood. Then Jesus added more information. What must they have understood about this last statement from Jesus? As the great homeowner Jesus certainly brought them many old truths from the Old Testament; He was also revealing many new truths to them during His time on earth. 

REFLECT 

Think about the old truths you can glean from the Old Testament and the new ones you can glean from the New Testament.  

RESPOND                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

With a Christian friend, check out an old truth about salvation by seeing Genesis 15:4-6 and John 3:16-18 that gives a new truth in the New Testament. Abraham simply believed God would do what He said (see Romans 4:20-22). That is the same kind of faith needed today as one believes in Jesus for salvation.  

Return to Nazareth 

READ 

Matthew 13:53-54 

53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” 

Those Jesus had grown up with and had lived among could not believe He was so wise when He taught in the synagogue. They were impressed with both His wisdom and His ability to perform miracles. Surely someone who had grown up in their midst could not be so wise and powerful, they thought.  

REFLECT 

How do the friends you have grown up with treat you? When you talk about what you have learned in the Bible, do they scoff at you for claiming to know so much? 

RESPOND 

The relationship of Jesus with His hometown seemed to have two aspects. In John 4:43-44 Jesus headed home after going through Samaria. So much commotion was made about Him in Judea that His activities were limited. Not as much fuss would be made over Him in Galilee. Later, however, even the people in His hometown of Nazareth rejected Him.  

A Prophet at Home 

READ 

Matthew 13:55-58 

55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. 

This is the negative aspect of being in one’s hometown. One is not given the honor that is deserved. In this passage the brothers (half-brothers) of Jesus are named, but the sisters (half-sisters) are not. This is customary each time there is a listing of the family members. Jesus comments that a prophet is not honored in his hometown. Those He grew up with were rejecting Him. Because of their unbelief He did few miracles in the area. 

REFLECT 

How is it with you? Perhaps you have much more experience than others and even some academic degrees. But you are not respected in your hometown for who you are and what you have accomplished.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how to relate to those in your hometown. Read the words of Ephesians 4:1-3 that the apostle Paul wrote from prison about how to treat others.