An End Time Separation
Or
Understanding All These Things
Sunday Feb. 23, 2020
Scripture To Consider:
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore: and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
“Jesus said to them [His disciples], ‘Have you understood all these things?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Therefore, every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.’” Matthew 13.47-52
Something To Consider:
Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind.” Several of these disciples were fishermen. Jesus, in Matthew 4.19 instructed them to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. In the mind of most Jewish people of that day, the thought of God including Gentiles in His kingdom was a totally foreign concept.
The instruction they had received from many of the rabbi’s reduced Gentiles to an almost worthless race of people. Heaven, to the Jewish mind was extremely exclusive. The Holy Spirit would eventually dynamite away that delusional cinder block wall mindset on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2.
In Acts chapter 2, it is recorded; “When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they [early disciples] were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”
Luke continued his account in verse 4 of Acts chapter 2, by stating; “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues [other languages] as the Spirit gave them utterance [or a means to speak in other languages].” Those present that day from many foreign lands and from every nation under heaven heard these men speak in their own language. They were becoming fishers of men!
Something Else To Consider:
The dragnet was a large net cast behind a boat which when pulled would form a cone catching everything in its path. This style of fishing was indiscriminate. Within the net there would be good fish that were edible and bad fish or inedible fish. There would be white fish, blue fish, green fish, black fish, yellow fish, and red fish. There would also be good fish, bad fish, and indifferent fish, like within the church, a regular smorgasbord menu of people, some useful and others useless.
Like fishing, there are some fish you keep and some to be thrown back. But in the end of the age the angels will separate the wicked from the just in the final end time harvest separation. This end time separation that is fast approaching will according to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24, take place immediately after the tribulation of those days that are on the horizon.
And also, according to Jesus, the tribulation of those days will take place after the abomination of desolation spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24.15 and also spoken of by Daniel in his book of prophecy which reveals end time events. All of these end time events and more are predicted by Jesus in sequential order in Matthew chapter 24.
As quoted from Psalm 78 by Jesus a few lessons earlier, “I will open My mouth in parables: I will utter [speak or predict] things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Do you want to know of the hidden truths kept secret from the foundation of the world? Therefore, according to Jesus, carefully read and observe all things Jesus has commanded in the four gospels and also in the book of Revelation!
Something More To Consider:
Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” Their answer still astonishes me every time I read it. “Yes, Lord.” So, He gave them one more thing to ponder, “Therefore, every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Did Jesus consider them scribes, which were teachers of the law? Only now they were experiencing firsthand the blending of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
What if Jesus asked the same question today; “Have you understood all these things?” It would not be a spiritual crime for anyone of us to answer His question with a “No Lord, I don’t understand it all.” And of the many important things we do not understand, it would serve us best when He comes, to be found looking unto Him for the answers to every question we may have, by studying to show ourselves approved unto Him, workers who need not to be ashamed, but rightly understanding the Word of God.
We are instructed by the apostle Paul in Colossians 3.16; “Let the Word of Christ [all His words] dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.” We are to sing with grace in our hearts, not with perfection of tune and timing, but with grace in our hearts to the Lord. And when we do, we are participating in the teaching ministry whether we are ordained by the world teachers or not!
A Few Final Words:
Have we understood all these things thus far in these lessons of a lifetime concerning the life and teachings of Jesus? Are we beginning to grasp the end time perspective of much of the teaching of Jesus? Are we desirous to observe all things Jesus commanded or only those things which allow us to stand at a far enough distance from the cross, that forever symbol of suffering and spiritual submission to God?
Jesus pronounced in His closing statement of our Scripture to consider; “Therefore, every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder [a person to whom authority has been granted] who brings out of his [or her] treasure things new and old.” Whether we are quoting from the Old Testament or the New Testament, we are to understand according to 2 Timothy 3.16, “All Scripture is given by divine inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness”.
All Scripture, whether Old or New Testament, is as living treasure, and it is to be understood with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Leadership is never about understanding all things, though it is about understanding all the important things!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, thank you for allowing the true church to become an all-inclusive instrument to bring Your Word to the whole world. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 