The Parables of Jesus #04: an exposition of Matthew 13:47-52. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 12, 2015.
Intro:
It used to be standard fare on the revival circuit and in Southern Baptist Churches. It was heard in brush arbor meetings, tent revivals and even in the stained-glass sanctuaries of downtown churches. It thundered from makeshift pulpits with a country twang and flowed from the silver-tongued orators from our most respected schools. It was the message of God’s judgment on the wicked and unrepentant. Now such a thing is considered unsophisticated. In our more mature, sophisticated society such a message is considered vulgar, bigoted and an embarrassment. Few today are asking, “What must I do to be saved?” It seems there is nothing to be saved from. There is no need for deliverance. Such outdated notions were just a means for keeping folks “in line” and controlling the unlearned. Science is our new savior. Education will deliver us. We must get rid of anything that prevents us from enjoying ourselves now and achieving maximum satisfaction in this life because this life is all there is. Deny it all you want. The Scripture is clear. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Our text this morning is found in the 13th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.
Text: Matthew 13:47-52
We are returning this morning to our study of the parables of Jesus.
A parable is an earthly story of heavenly significance.
It is the use of the common and ordinary to illustrate the extraordinary.
While Jesus did not invent the parable, he was a master of the parable.
He often taught His disciples great truths of the kingdom by pointing at a familiar sight and saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like that. A man sowed seed in his field…”
So far we’ve considered the parable of the soils.
A man sowed seed…
Some fell along the path and the birds took it away…
Some fell on rocky soil, there was no depth and when the sun rose the plants withered…
Other seed fell into crowded soil where weeds and thorns choked the life out of it…
Some fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 30, some 60, some 100 fold…
We then considered the parables of the weeds, the mustard seed, and leaven.
An enemy planted weeds – the church grows in spite of being entangled with evil.
Mustard seed – don’t despise small beginnings.
Leaven – the power of the church to transform culture.
We saw the great worth of the Gospel in the parables of the hidden treasure and pear of great price.
This morning we come to the parable of the dragnet.
We have to be careful with this parable. We see the image of the dragnet and catching fish and we are tempted to connect it to evangelism. After all Jesus said to Peter, James and John, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” This parable is not about evangelism. When our Lord interprets a parable for us (as he does in this one 13:49) we must not take it in another direction! We must not add further elements to it.
It seems very clear our Lord had one truth to make with the telling of this story. A truth that is foreign to our modern ears. A truth that is difficult for some to believe. For many it seems God’s sole responsibility is to love and forgive. As I visit with people today it seems most believe in salvation by death. It is assumed that when you die you go to heaven. It makes no difference how you’ve lived, what you’ve believed, whether you had anything to do with the church or had ever given any serious thought to God or your soul.
The truth made abundantly clear through this parable is that…
Thesis: Contrary to popular opinion, and despite nearly universal denial, there is coming a day of judgment in which the wicked will meet a terrifying end.
I understand that is not popular.
I understand that is not a “feel good” message.
Yet it is the truth!
There are 2 very simple, basic truths in this text.
- There is coming a day of Judgment. (13:47-49)
- The wicked will meet a terrifying end. (13:50)
Conclusion:
Listen, there is coming a day of judgment and the end of the wicked is terrifying but it doesn’t have to be. God, in grace and mercy has provided the means of escape. If you will come to Christ. Admit you are a sinner in rebellion against God. Admit you are deserving of His wrath and judgment and will repent, turn from your sin and truth in Christ alone – you will be saved. You will be heading for heavenly bliss and joy unspeakable rather than agony and torment. What will you do with the Gospel?