Good Fish - Bad Fish, New and Old Treasure
June 16 | Discipleship Guide
Be Real Together:
Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DNA, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DNA share their story.
Read Together: Matthew 13:47-52
Jesus uses these last of the parables in Matthew 13 to create a sense of ownership and urgency within the disciples. He uses the analogy of a large fishing net to illustrate the large quantity and variety of people (fish) who will be gathered before the end of this era. At “the end of the age”, they will then be sorted between “good fish” and “worthless fish”, separating the evil from the righteous. The fate of those found to be evil is not just separation, but torment. They will burn and cry in agony. This sorting shows there is a real, objective standard by which our lives will be measured.
Jesus then asks the disciples if they understand and then advises them that every teacher should bring out “treasures new and old.” That they understand the “new truth” that Jesus is the Messiah who was testified about in the “old truths” of the Torah and Prophets.
Jesus then asks the disciples if they understand and then advises them that every teacher should bring out “treasures new and old.” That they understand the “new truth” that Jesus is the Messiah who was testified about in the “old truths” of the Torah and Prophets.
The One Question:
Ask this question at your family meal or DNA.
How does the imagery of the large net help us understand the inclusivity of the kingdom of heaven?
Use these questions to go deeper with your DNA or for personal study.
- How does this parable connect with the broader themes of Matthew 13, such as the parables of the sower and the wheat and the weeds?
- Who might the fishermen represent in this story?
- How does the picture of angels separating the evil from the righteous affect your understanding of the final judgment?
- What steps can individuals take to ensure they are among the "righteous" rather than the "evil"?
- What implications do these parables have for evangelism and outreach efforts?
Pray Together:
Take time to pray with and for each other.
Deeper Study:
Enduring Word Commentary: Matthew 13
Resources:
Recommended Resource: Erasing Hell by Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle