47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47-50)
This parable is similar to the parable of the wheat and tares we studied earlier. Here the fish represent people. The Lord Jesus told his disciples to be the fishers of men. The sea represents the world. The net was cast into the sea and gathered all kinds of fish, which means that the gospel will be spread throughout the world. When the net is full, people will draw it to shore. That is, at the end of the age, when the Lord Jesus comes again, he will send angels to separate the righteous from the wicked. What does a righteous person mean? A righteous person is one who practices righteousness, practices God’s righteousness, do God’s will.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)
This was the message that the Lord Jesus preached at beginning of his ministry. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Lord Jesus hopes that everyone will repent and turn to him. The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God, the kingship of God. If a person is willing to live under the kingship of God, believes and is baptized, he will receive the Holy Spirit, has the presence of the Lord, and has the kingdom of heaven in his heart, when the Lord Jesus comes again, the angels will take him to the kingdom of heaven to be with the Lord, as mentioned in the parable.
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
Here we can see that the Lord Jesus does not like self-righteous people, people who despise others, He likes humble people. If we see our sins, confess and repent, we will be forgiven by Him, and we will be considered righteous in His eyes.
May God bless you and your family. 🙏😊
