"The Parables. No. 7. The Drag Net." by Charles H. Welch In the preceding parable we had the remnant of Israel likened to that which is the most valuable treasure of the sea -- the pearl. We are now to consider two kinds of fish which are gathered from the sea, and to note their meaning. We have pointed out the fact that structurally and in subject the two parables of the Tares and the Net are very similar. The tares indicate the hypocrites, the counterfeit, that which was sown by the Devil in imitation of the true wheat. We observed that this parable had a particular and primary application to Israel and the state of the kingdom. The net draws to shore fish both "good" and "bad." So far we see the parallel: the wheat and the tares being two kinds of grain, one good and one bad; the fish being of two kinds, the one good and the other bad. But here comes a noteworthy difference, for whereas it is evident that the tares were intended to counterfeit the wheat, there is not the slightest warrant for supposing that the "bad" fish counterfeited the "good." Further, the wheat and the tares deal with two kinds of seed, whereas the net "gathered of every kind." Another point to be remembered is the different order given with regard to the separation of the two kinds. Let us carefully consider the interpretation given by our Lord of these two related parables, noticing their points of contact and of divergence. Interpretation of the Tares | Interpretation of the Drag Net (Matt. xiii.37--43) | (Matt. xiii.49,50) -------------------------------+----------------------------------------- SPOKEN ONLY TO DISCIPLES | SPOKEN ONLY TO DISCIPLES | He that soweth the good seed | is the Son of man. | | The field is the world. | | The good seed are the sons of | the kingdom. | | The tares are the sons of the | wicked one. | | The enemy that sowed them is | the devil. | | The harvest is the end of the | age. | | The reapers are the angels. | | As the tares are gathered and | burned, so shall it be at the | end of the age. | So shall it be at the end of the age. | The Son of man shall send | The angels shall come forth, and His angels, and they shall | sever the wicked from among the just, gather out of His kingdom all | and shall cast them into a furnace of things that offend, and them | fire, there shall be wailing and that do iniquity, and shall | gnashing of teeth. cast them into a furnace of | fire, there shall be wailing | and gnashing of teeth. | | Then shall the righteous | shine forth as the sun in the | kingdom of their Father. | It will be observed that a more complete explanation is given of the Tares than of the Net, and that in both cases the section dealing with the wicked receives most attention. The wheat and the tares are, the one sons of the kingdom, the other sons of the devil. The good and bad fish are not placed under either heading. Before considering the dispensational teaching of this parable, let us consider more carefully some of the figures that are used. The Net. -- Scripture mentions three different nets:- 1. The cast net (diktuon), cf. John xxi.11. 2. The circular net (amphiblestron), cf. Matt. iv.18. 3. The drag net (sagene), only used in this parable. The Fish. -- There are 40 different kinds of fish in the Sea of Galilee: of these there are two common kinds, one a good fish, the bream, the other a fish without scales, and therefore an abomination, having neither fins nor scales (Lev. xi.10), the flesh of which was salted and sold to the port of Rome, where it received the name of "stinking sheat fish." The Sea. -- The sea is continually used as a type of the nations, particularly in a tumultuous state. "The waters.... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" (Rev. xvii.15). Let us now look at the parable in the light of prophecy. The drawing of the net to shore at the end of the age is parallel with the gathering of the living nations to the land of Israel. Note, in the parable and in the prophecy, that the fish and the nations are living and not dead. This is not dealing with the judgment of those who are raised from the dead, but that of the living nations, whose relation with the kingdom is to be decided. Scripture is emphatic upon the fact that towards the end of the age Jerusalem and the land of Israel shall become a "burdensome stone to the nations." The "Eastern Question" already gathers around Asia Minor, and the Powers of Europe jealously regard each other in reference to Jerusalem -- the key to the East. Listen to the words of the Prophets:- "For, Behold, in those days and in that time, WHEN I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I WILL ALSO GATHER ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land" (Joel iii.1,2). "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee, for I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS against Jerusalem to battle" (Zech. xiv.1,2). My determination is to GATHER THE NATIONS, THAT I MAY ASSEMBLE THE KINGDOMS, to pour upon them My indignation" (Zeph. iii.8). "Haste ye and come, ALL YE NATIONS round about, and gather yourselves together; thither cause THY MIGHTY ONES (i.e. the angels) TO COME DOWN, O Lord. Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I SIT TO JUDGE ALL NATIONS round about" (Joel iii.11,12). "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory, and before Him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS, and He shall separate them" (Matt. xxv. 31-33). As we read these prophecies it is abundantly manifested that the gathering of the nations is to be expected at the time of the end. Matt. xxv. shows that the nations who have well treated the "brethren" of the King shall enter into the kingdom, while the nations who have ill-treated the Jew are an offense, and are gathered out of that kingdom. Matt. xxv. is national. As nations they enter the kingdom, or as nations they are debarred. It is quite contrary to the teaching of the passage to make the kind acts of the nations a basis for "doing all things unto the Lord," for these nations did not consciously do what they did to Israel for Christ's sake at all; they only learn that when they stand before His throne. The peculiar time of Israel's trouble, which is coming, will be a great temptation to all the nations to take advantage of the helplessness of this down-trodden people, but the Lord will reward that nation which acts kindly to His people. "Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom"; "the righteous into age-abiding life" (Matt. xxv.34,46) is typified in the parable by the putting of the good fish into the vessels. "For every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles" (Zech. xiv.16). These are the good fish of the parable. The nations who are thus blessed will have a blessed portion in the kingdom; many, however, will forfeit their place when Satan is unbound at the end. Israel's preeminent position in the kingdom is emphasized in the parable of the Tares, for of them it adds "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Thus, at the end of the age there will be two siftings and two gatherings in connection with the kingdom. First from Israel itself (as indicated in the "Tares"), He shall thoroughly purge His floor -- hypocrites and sons of the wicked one, those who say they are Jews and are not, but who are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. iii.9) -- and then from the nations round about as already seen in the quotations from the Prophets and Matt. xxv. These parables show us that great care is necessary in reading the Word that we do not overlook the divisions that are made among various classes in the kingdom. We have the "Treasure," Israel, as distinct from the nations. We have the "One Pearl," the Remnant, as distinct from the nation. We have the good and bad fish, the division made among the nations themselves. Evil shall not always reign. That kingdom so long looked for will come, and then shall begin the final step towards the goal -- "A new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."