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.

Matthew 13:47-50 (ESV)

 

Jesus compares the kingdom to a net that catches all kinds of fish, and the fishermen must sift the good fish from the bad ones.

The net signifies the gospel of the Kingdom, and just as the net was hurled into the water, drawing numerous fish, the gospel message is spread across the world, drawing numerous people to it. This is to say the present form of the Kingdom will be a Kingdom of “every kind”, including both righteous and wicked people. As a result, while evil and injustice may co-exist within the Kingdom right now, they will ultimately be removed from the future Kingdom. Jesus gives us a promise and a warning here. It will be the fisherman, who are God's angels, who will oversee the judicial separation of the righteous and the wicked at the end of this age.

When it comes to judgement, believers tend to split into two opposing camps. Part of the problem has to do with the vivid descriptions of punishment and retribution. Some people would avoid discussing it for fear of offending others or jeopardising relationships. Others appear to enjoy preaching about it in order to condemn and dismiss people.

We need to recover a healthy understanding of New Testament judgment.

Jesus' purpose to teach about judgement in this parable may not be the same as the assumptions of popular Christianity. As much as we may dislike it, judgement is a major component of Jesus' teaching, and it is also a critical aspect of the gospel message. We know for certain that Jesus did not come to judge or condemn the world, but rather to save it. We also know that God is extremely patient, desiring that none perish but that all come to repentance. We also understand that, while God's patience provides us with great comfort and confidence, no one should try God's patience by wilfully ignoring God’s provision of salvation.

We as Christians will not know who is in the Kingdom and who is not until the final judgement. Only God has that right and responsibility to ascertain the true heirs of His Kingdom. But we must recognise that it is not a judgement of doom and gloom, but rather a positive judgement that points to a future hope in which we are citizens of the Kingdom where God reigns forever and ever.