God shows longsuffering in delaying judgment. Many Jews felt a tension between their expectation of the coming kingdom and the humble manner in which Jesus chose to reveal it. This parable resolves that tension. Working quietly and unseen, like a net beneath the water, Jesus patiently allows even bad fish to remain for a time, carrying them along with mercy, but people must not mistake his gentleness for weakness. The angels in his service will bring to shore the final reality that the people long for. The Fisher bears this burden with infinite patience for the sake of the fish that must still be gathered in. The humility and patience of the underwater net are thus not signs of impotence, but of the Fisher’s gracious will. Those who reject this now will one day find themselves outside the kingdom, weeping and gnashing their teeth.
God reveals his longsuffering and patience in delaying judgment. For many Jews, there was a deep tension between their expectation of the coming kingdom of heaven and the humble manner in which Jesus chose to reveal it. This parable sheds light on that tension. Jesus works quietly and unseen—like a net beneath the water. He shows patience, allowing even the bad fish to remain for a time, carrying them along with mercy. People must not, however, mistake his gentleness for weakness. The angels are in his service and stand ready to bring to shore the final reality that the people long for. The Fisher bears this burden with infinite patience, for the sake of the fish that must still be gathered in. The humility and patience of the underwater net are therefore not signs of impotence, but of the Fisher’s gracious will. Those who reject this now will one day find themselves outside the kingdom of heaven, weeping and gnashing their teeth.1
49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous