Over my years of ministry, how have I not devoted more sermons to

the subject of hell? There are many possibilities. Maybe I heard too

much “hellfire and damnation” when I was a child. Maybe my

personality is not aligned with that approach to preaching. Maybe I

cannot bear the thoughts of it for people I know who have already

passed. Who knows?

This devotional centers on the Sorting of the Parable of the Net. When

the net was dragged to shore, the sorting began. The sorting represents

the final judgment for all people. This sorting process is way humbling

and scary.

Today, we focus on the fish, which represent people. Have you

considered how diverse humanity is? In Nigeria alone, more than

120 dialects are spoken. Culture is dramatically diverse within the

country in which you live. In the Parable of the Net, the spread of

the gospel is in our hands. Note that in Scripture, no angel was ever

sent to preach the gospel to others—it is literally in our hands.

This devotional focuses on the Parable of the Net in Matthew

13:47-50, which reads,

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into

the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew

it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but

threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels

will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw

them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and

gnashing of teeth” (ESV). I have organized the next four

devotionals by focusing on the Net, the Fish, the Sorting, and the

Terrible Place. Now we concentrate on the Net.

The Messiah and His kingdom—this connection is the backdrop of

all of Scripture since the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15). The

Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50) reinforces this connection.

Why does Jesus give us such a wealth of ten parables in Matthew

13? The key is found in Matthew 13:10-17, where Jesus teaches

through a chiasm (i.e., a literary structure in which ideas are

presented and then repeated in reverse order). J

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after

that have nothing more than they can do. But I will warn you whom

to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into

hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (Luke 12:4-5, ESV).

When we consider the parables taught by Jesus, we learn of those

who did not give God the proper place in their lives.

Can you imagine being separated forever from God and His people?

As awful as it may be to consider, many will face such an existence

for eternity (Matthew 7:13-14).

Luke 15 could be called the “lost” chapter of the Bible. Tax

collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. However, the

Pharisees and scribes were saying, “This man receives sinners and

eats with them” (Luke 15:2, ESV). Jesus uses this time to teach

them about the lost and found.