1. The kingdom is like a drag net.
   1. What is a drag net?

   2. How is a drag net used? For what purpose?

2. When did the "sorting" begin?
   1. What happened to the "good" fish (those that were eatable)?

   2. What happened to the "bad" fish (those that were not eatable)?

3. When will all this happen?

Things to note about the kingdom:

1. The kingdom (by God's design) is intended to "catch all kinds of fish."

2. The "good" and the "bad" will be in the kingdom together until the judgment when the angels separate the wicked within the kingdom from the righteous within the kingdom.

3. The "sorting" is a task given to the angels, not to those within the kingdom.

4. When people within the kingdom attempt to "sort," we use criteria that meet our approval, address our concerns, and serve our purposes. We often use:
   1. Special theological criteria: "Are you in theological agreement with me?"

   2. Ceremonial criteria: "Do you do things the way I do them?"

   3. Traditional criteria: "Do you do things the way we did them in the past?"

   4. Moral criteria: "Do you define good and evil as I define good and evil?"

   5. Emotional criteria: "Are your feelings identical to my feelings?"

   6. When these criteria are our creation, we (or those we follow) determine and set the standards to be used in "sorting."

5. When God's angels "sort" at the end of the ages, they will use one primary standard that we are unable to use--the heart of the person.

Angels Sorting on the Basis of Hearts

I was asked to give a more complete discussion of the sorting in the kingdom at judgment on the basis of the heart.

1. We emphasized that the angels were given (by God) the task of separation; we were not given that task.

2. We emphasized, by God's design, that the kingdom caught the good and bad within the kingdom.
   1. We were not commissioned to designate who is good and bad.

   2. The kingdom was formed to be "a net" by divine intent and design; it is not a flaw that we need to correct.

3. Since we are incapable of "reading hearts," we are incapable of sorting.

4. Our sorting tends to go in the directions "of those who agree with our conclusions."
   1. Regarding theological criteria: "Are we in theological agreement?"

   2. Regarding ceremonial criteria: "Do we do things the same way?"

   3. Regarding traditional criteria: "Do we follow our past?"

   4. Regarding moral criteria: "Do we define good and evil in the same way?"

   5. Regarding emotional criteria: "Do we have the same feelings?"

It is for this reason that we began by researching the concept of the kingdom in Jesus' teachings. Please recall some things we examined in our background study.

Matthew 5:20--To enter the kingdom, a person must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Can a person exceed their righteousness:

1. By knowledge of the scriptures?

2. By obedience to laws?

3. By compliance to ceremonial instructions?

4. In the matter of sacrifices?

5. In accepting scripture as God's binding authority?

6. In stressing the necessity of "literal" obedience?

7. As the rest of Matthew 5 illustrated through contrast, one can exceed their righteousness only through internals, only by the heart.

Matthew 8:1-13--The faith of the Roman officer who asked Jesus to "speak the word" long distance and heal his servant. Jesus declared that no one in Israel had shown such faith. He declared that many would come "from the east and the west" (people who were not Israelites) to be with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but the sons of the kingdom would be cast out. Those who would join Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did so because of faith.

1. Would these non-Israelites be more knowledgeable of the law?

2. Would they be more proficient in the correct sacrifices?

3. Would they be more correct in ceremonial detail?

4. Would they be better practitioners of the ten commands?

5. No. In these matters, they would not even be equals.

Then why would these non-Israelites have fellowship in the kingdom with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while many of the Israelites were "cast out"? Because of their hearts. Those who came from the east and west recognized what God was at work in Jesus, recognized the kingdom for what it was, and responded in faith. It was heart rejection of God at work in Jesus versus heart acceptance of God at work in Jesus.

Matthew 21:23-32--The chief priests and elders of the people asked Jesus to declare by what authority Jesus performed signs.

After the confrontation, Jesus declared that the tax collectors (who had an earned reputation for dishonesty and theft) and the prostitutes would enter the kingdom before the chief priests and elders of the people did.

1. Would this occur because of moral superiority?

2. Would it occur because of superior worship?

3. Would it occur because superior sacrifices were offered?

4. Who was more obedient?

5. Whose daily conduct had been superior in "doing the right things"?

6. Who was more knowledgeable of the law?

The contrast is between the "morally successful" and the "moral failures." Why would the "failures" enter the kingdom prior to the "successful"? Because of hearts. The "failures" heard John's message, repented, and responded in faith. The "successful" listened to John, showed no remorse, and had no faith. Their hearts were in total contrast.

Do not forget the emphatic point of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee spoke the truth, but his trust was in performed externals. God possessed his body, but not his heart. The tax collector asked for nothing but mercy--he laid his heart before God. His heart response resulted in forgiveness; performance of externals resulted in rejection. Obedience is meaningless and powerless unless the person's heart belongs to God. Primary heart expressions are faith and repentance.

Heart responses are a part of the person's conversion. Conversion is primarily a heart process. Conversion from the heart begins the process of transformation of personal life and behavior.

David Chadwell

Jesus' Kingdom Parables Study Guide (part 8)
Wednesday evening Bible class, 10 June - 18 November 1998
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1998
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

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