Matthew 13:47-50
Truth that the audience was coming to understand: Jesus is the love of God expressed to us. Bringing the Good News of a New Covenant Gospel, Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and King.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” – John 3:16-21 CSB
“Christians are those who have been justified by faith in Christ Jesus and, in consequence, have peace with God (Romans 5:1).” – D. A. Carson
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1 CSB
“Christians are those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2. ” – D. A. Carson
“To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord – both their Lord and ours.” – 1 Corinthians 1:2 CSB
“Christians are those who pray that the power of God may so rest on them that Christ dwells in their hearts through faith, while they themselves increasingly grasp the limitless dimensions of God’s love for them in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:14-21). ” – D. A. Carson
A Story of a Fishing Net “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake and caught many different kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled the net to the shore. They sat down and put all the good fish in baskets and threw away the bad fish. 49 It will be this way at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people. 50 The angels will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.” 51 Jesus asked his followers, “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes, we understand.” 52 Then Jesus said to them, “So every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings out both new things and old things he has saved.” – Matthew 13:47-52 NCV
“This parable…like Parable of the Ten Virgins – Matthew 25:1-13 (June 1 – Justin) and the parable of the weeds (June 22 – Chiquacta), tells us about the intermingling of good and bad at the present time and the certainty of their separation at the end of the age.” – Leon Morris
Let’s listen to another parable from Jesus, on a similar theme, to help us understand this one.
The Narrow Door “Jesus was teaching in every town and village as he traveled toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone said to Jesus, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’ Jesus said, 24 ‘Try hard to enter through the narrow door, because many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able. 25 When the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you can stand outside and knock on the door and say, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in the streets of our town.’ 27 But he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Go away from me, all you who do evil!’ 28 You will cry and grind your teeth with pain when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom, but you yourselves thrown outside. 29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south and will sit down at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 There are those who are last now who will be first in the future. And there are those who are first now who will be last in the future.’” – Luke 13:22-30 NCV
Jesus teaches that, at the end of this spiritual era, there is an ultimate result to our decision to receive or reject him.
· Jesus calls for a decisive response from us. This cannot be ignored.
· A committed loving relationship is incompatible with rejection.
· God’s presence is not a safe place for rebellious self-will.
· There’s a benefit to the kingdom being unified. 1 Cor. 4 “expose motives…some rec. praise,
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17 NCV
· What did this subject of Jesus’ teaching mean to the initial audience?
· Preach – publicly announce spiritual truth and principles while urging acceptance and compliance
· Repent/Change – change one’s way of life as the result of complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness
· Kingdom – area ruled by a king, domain, Realm – a region of activity, knowledge, or influence
· Heaven – the spiritual realm owned and operated under the control of God alone
· At Hand – near, close, approaching, arriving now and ultimately arriving in the near future
God’s story line tells us 4 things:
1. What God wants for us (Creation)
2. What happened to us and what went wrong with the world (Fall)
3. What God has done in Jesus Christ to put things right (Redemption)
4. How history will turn out in the end as a result (Restoration)
– Timothy Keller Good News of Jesus Christ: What God has done and will yet do.
Who did Jesus die for?
“He died for all.” – 2 Corinthians 5:15 “By God’s grace, He died for everyone.” – Hebrews 2:9 “God so loved the world that He gave His Son,” – John 3:16 “This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to know the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:3-4 “God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” – 2 Peter 3:9-10a Who does Jesus teach about a separation of people?
If Jesus died for all, then are all actually saved? (because Jesus parable of the net speaks to separation)
| How Atonement Works | ||
| Provision (Giving) | Application (Receiving) | |
| Savior of all men |
1 Timothy 4:10 |
Especially of those that believe |
| For God so loved the world
that He gave his only begotten Son |
John 3:16 |
That whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life |
| He shall save |
Matthew 1:21 |
His people |
| He became the author of eternal salvation |
Hebrews 5:9 |
Unto all them that obey Him |
– April 2 Life Group Bible Study Bible study notes from Ken Malmin of Portland Bible College
“God’s sovereign will is absolute and supreme. The moral will of God is that everyone do His will but allows for humanity’s choice whether to comply. When someone chooses to rebel against God’s moral will, it does not mean they have escaped the boundaries of God’s sovereign will.” – Ken Malmin
Whose choice saves us? “From our perspective, God’s choice is responsible for our salvation. From God’s perspective, our choice to respond is necessary. God’s choice is sovereign. Humanity’s choice is significant.” – Ken Malmin
Does our choice matter? God’s knowledge (“ahead of time”) is perfect. It does not violate humanity’s free will. God’s choosing (election) is based on His foreknowledge. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” – 1 Peter 1:2 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” – Romans 8:28-30 CSB Jesus Christ: Savior, Lord, and King!
What should we do?
1. Pray, asking God for wisdom about the truth of Jesus’ parables and how to apply them/
2. Read Matthew 13:47-50 and maybe all of Matthew 13.
3. Ask yourself, What does Jesus see? What does Jesus want me to see from the pictures he presents?
4. Write down the answers.
5. Think about how this truth applies to your perspective and values.
6. Consider how this may apply to the way that you spend your time, energy, and money.