Question & Response: Parable of the Dragnet (Matt 13:47-50) – Brad Jersak with Jacob McMillen
Question (Jacob McMillan):
Jacob McMillen is a freelance writer and the editor of Brazen Church
Jacob McMillen is a freelance writer and the editor of Brazen Church
A friend of mine just directed me to this passage, and I haven’t read anything on it. After spending a few mins on it, nothing really comes to mind in terms of as an alternative conclusion. Any thoughts?
Matt 13:47-5247 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.49 So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” 52 And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Response (Brad):
The parable of the
dragnet, similar to the parable of the wheat
and the tares a few paragraphs earlier, is a good example of St Matthew’s
dualistic eschatology. By dualistic,
we refer to the segregation of two classes of people (just and wicked) to two
destinations (the kingdom of heaven and the furnace of fire). What do we make
of this (usually Matthean) approach to eschatology vis-à-vis the various
monistic theologies (found especially in the Pauline corpus and John’s Gospel)?
dragnet, similar to the parable of the wheat
and the tares a few paragraphs earlier, is a good example of St Matthew’s
dualistic eschatology. By dualistic,
we refer to the segregation of two classes of people (just and wicked) to two
destinations (the kingdom of heaven and the furnace of fire). What do we make
of this (usually Matthean) approach to eschatology vis-à-vis the various
monistic theologies (found especially in the Pauline corpus and John’s Gospel)?
‘Monism’ in this context mean that all persons pass through
the same fire of judgment (Mark 9, 1 Cor. 3) and all come to the same
destination (God’s throne, from which flows the river of fire – Dan. 9). The
consuming fire of God’s glorious love either refines everyone for universal
redemption or is experienced as heaven or hell, depending on one’s orientation
to the love of Christ.
the same fire of judgment (Mark 9, 1 Cor. 3) and all come to the same
destination (God’s throne, from which flows the river of fire – Dan. 9). The
consuming fire of God’s glorious love either refines everyone for universal
redemption or is experienced as heaven or hell, depending on one’s orientation
to the love of Christ.
In dualist eschatology, ‘hell’ is seen as separation from
God in outer darkness or a fiery prison, whereas a monistic ‘hell’ would be the
torment of standing in the fiery presence of God unprepared (though monistic
eschatology hopes the divine fire will also purify and glorify everyone
eventually (Mal. 3).
God in outer darkness or a fiery prison, whereas a monistic ‘hell’ would be the
torment of standing in the fiery presence of God unprepared (though monistic
eschatology hopes the divine fire will also purify and glorify everyone
eventually (Mal. 3).
Harmonizing the two eschatological visions is difficult and
various approaches have been attempted. Among these:
various approaches have been attempted. Among these:
· Matthew is sometimes seen as the culprit,
espousing an earlier theology still bound up in retribution and dualism because
the gospel message was still in the process of transforming the apostles’
worldview. Indeed, a comparison of parallel passages between Matthew and Luke
reveals that either Luke has pared back the violence of Matthew’s descriptions or that the violent themes are Matthew’s
own editorial accretions (for rhetorical effect).
espousing an earlier theology still bound up in retribution and dualism because
the gospel message was still in the process of transforming the apostles’
worldview. Indeed, a comparison of parallel passages between Matthew and Luke
reveals that either Luke has pared back the violence of Matthew’s descriptions or that the violent themes are Matthew’s
own editorial accretions (for rhetorical effect).
· Von Balthasar proposed that dualistic
eschatology in the Synoptics represents pre-resurrection
Jewish theology that Jesus assumes (borrows) as a concession to his first
listeners, precisely in order to subvert it. On the other hand, monistic
eschatology in John or Paul represents post-resurrection understandings in
light of Christ’s mission to save the whole cosmos
and his decisive victory over hades.
eschatology in the Synoptics represents pre-resurrection
Jewish theology that Jesus assumes (borrows) as a concession to his first
listeners, precisely in order to subvert it. On the other hand, monistic
eschatology in John or Paul represents post-resurrection understandings in
light of Christ’s mission to save the whole cosmos
and his decisive victory over hades.
· Gospel preterists in the stream of N.T. Wright
would see ‘the end of the age’ here as referring to the fall of Jerusalem
rather than the Final Judgment at the general resurrection. The gleaning by the
angels would then refer to those who obey Christ in fleeing when they see the
signs of the forthcoming siege. Those who are cast in the fire are those who
ignored the Jesus Way and joined the Jewish rebellion.
would see ‘the end of the age’ here as referring to the fall of Jerusalem
rather than the Final Judgment at the general resurrection. The gleaning by the
angels would then refer to those who obey Christ in fleeing when they see the
signs of the forthcoming siege. Those who are cast in the fire are those who
ignored the Jesus Way and joined the Jewish rebellion.
· A basic consecutive approach harmonizes the
texts by seeing an initial dualist segregation of righteous and wicked,
followed thereafter by the redemption of all through whatever processes that
bring the nations (outside the city) into the city of God (as in Rev. 21-22).
texts by seeing an initial dualist segregation of righteous and wicked,
followed thereafter by the redemption of all through whatever processes that
bring the nations (outside the city) into the city of God (as in Rev. 21-22).
In
any case, I personally take the parable of the dragnet as an authentic Jesus
tradition. I hear its original context and intent while interpreting it in
light of broader canonical revelation. It is essential, in my opinion, not to
race past the raw, first read of what the text actually says into a sterilized
conclusion that conforms to one’s ideology (or even to later biblical
revelation).
any case, I personally take the parable of the dragnet as an authentic Jesus
tradition. I hear its original context and intent while interpreting it in
light of broader canonical revelation. It is essential, in my opinion, not to
race past the raw, first read of what the text actually says into a sterilized
conclusion that conforms to one’s ideology (or even to later biblical
revelation).
So
we begin with the original point of the parable: the separation of the
righteous and the wicked … the points possibly being:
we begin with the original point of the parable: the separation of the
righteous and the wicked … the points possibly being:
- Don’t be wicked!
There are definitely two ways to live (even for the monists) and there
will be a day where we will face the meaning of our lives and pass through the
judgment. - Don’t judge! It is not for you to determine who
is ‘in’ or ‘out.’ Such judgment is left to the angels and is left until the
end. Beware of being presumptuous judges making premature judgments. [Later,
Matthew’s Jesus shifts this responsibility from angels to the Son of Man
himself]. - Perhaps most surprising, this judgment addresses
God’s people: not those in the church versus outside of the church. Rather, the
angels have already gathered the fish into the one dragnet (just as wheat and
tares were in one field). It’s only after the gathering into the nets that the
angels then sort between the righteous and the wicked from among the people of
God.
If this parable does describe the Final Judgment, then the facts of
the parable are that the wicked will be thrown into the furnace and there will
be weeping and great regret. But post-resurrection theology can then add, ‘And
that’s not the end of the story.’
the parable are that the wicked will be thrown into the furnace and there will
be weeping and great regret. But post-resurrection theology can then add, ‘And
that’s not the end of the story.’
Those who pass through the fire may indeed suffer loss and a
great crisis as their lives our opened to them for examination, particularly
the ‘worm’ of regret where the conscience accuses us for rejecting perfect love
or failing to love with the love we were given.
great crisis as their lives our opened to them for examination, particularly
the ‘worm’ of regret where the conscience accuses us for rejecting perfect love
or failing to love with the love we were given.
Nevertheless, it is at least possible that all will pass
through the furnace refined, having the wood, hay and stubble of our old or
false selves consumed in the fire of divine love, while gold, silver and
precious stones of our true or Christ selves shine forth in their glorified
states.
through the furnace refined, having the wood, hay and stubble of our old or
false selves consumed in the fire of divine love, while gold, silver and
precious stones of our true or Christ selves shine forth in their glorified
states.
Now Jesus did not take the parable that far, because this
was a word of dire warning to Jewish dualists in spiritual peril in the
presence of the Judge himself. It was not a word of comfort to
post-resurrection Christian monists seeking God’s mercy as they face their
future. Might the parable still function today as it did when Jesus first
uttered it?
was a word of dire warning to Jewish dualists in spiritual peril in the
presence of the Judge himself. It was not a word of comfort to
post-resurrection Christian monists seeking God’s mercy as they face their
future. Might the parable still function today as it did when Jesus first
uttered it?
It is possible. For example, St Silouan the Athonite, an Orthodox monk of the twentieth
century, spoke to a fellow Christian who showed too much glee at the prospects
of the exclusion of others. He said,
century, spoke to a fellow Christian who showed too much glee at the prospects
of the exclusion of others. He said,
“If the Lord saved you along with the entire multitude of your brethren,
and one of the enemies of Christ and the Church remained in the outer darkness,
would you not, along with all the others, set yourself to imploring the Lord to
save this one unrepentant brother? If you would not beseech Him day and night,
then your heart is of iron – but there is no need for iron in paradise.”
and one of the enemies of Christ and the Church remained in the outer darkness,
would you not, along with all the others, set yourself to imploring the Lord to
save this one unrepentant brother? If you would not beseech Him day and night,
then your heart is of iron – but there is no need for iron in paradise.”
Yes, perhaps some should yet consider this parable and fear
exclusion from paradise. Not the pagan, the murderer or adulterer, for their
hearts are often softest to the Bridegroom’s call (so says the Jesus of Matthew
many times). But the one who
perchance ought to tremble is that soul who knows
they are ‘in’ and knows someone
else is ‘out,’ and insists on dogmatizing their own privileged dualism. Hell
may be a mysterious existential reality for those who have wielded it as a
threatening club at others.
exclusion from paradise. Not the pagan, the murderer or adulterer, for their
hearts are often softest to the Bridegroom’s call (so says the Jesus of Matthew
many times). But the one who
perchance ought to tremble is that soul who knows
they are ‘in’ and knows someone
else is ‘out,’ and insists on dogmatizing their own privileged dualism. Hell
may be a mysterious existential reality for those who have wielded it as a
threatening club at others.
Far better the humility of hope for all that imagines no one in hell but oneself, yet (as
Silouan says) despairs not.
Silouan says) despairs not.
Does this help?
Question (Jacob):
Absolutely. On multiple levels. I appreciate your willingness to take it piece by piece without forcing it into a predefined narrative. I also find your final exhortation to be particularly meaningful, although I must say that, while I despise religious dogma more than most, I can’t make sense of a perspective that places religious dogma in a special class of “sin”.
I’ve noticed this idea in several of your writings – the idea that perhaps the Pharisee will be deserving of unique consequences (if I understand it correctly). I feel like there is a place in the NT, maybe Paul’s writings, where he potentially alludes to this idea – that a shepherd or leader who leads others astray has a greater weight of consequence – but as much as I am horrified by those who mislead the religious masses, I find it hard to think of them worse than the rapist or child abuser who I believe God will still reach out His hand to.
I might be misunderstanding your comments, but if not, I’d be interested to hear more about your thought process here.
Response (Brad):
Yes, of course you are right, re: the Pharisees (modern and ancient) … they of course aren’t more deserving of, or destined for, hell, but what Jesus did and what Silouan and I am attempting is a kind of rhetoric that says to those who use hell on others that they must ponder what it’s like to put themselves in the shoes of those they torment … not least because the pride of presumption (that leads them to condemn others without any thought that others could enter the kingdom before them) is like running with scissors.
Jacob:
I see. That makes a lot of sense. And Jesus is talking to Pharisees in many of these situations, so it would make sense he is making a point that highlights their issues, as you mentioned.
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