Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 25 October 2025

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, Matthew 13:49

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).* not available

“Thus it will be in the age’s consummation. The messengers, they will go out and they will separate the evil from the righteous’ midst” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the good fish in the seine would be gathered into vessels, but the bad would be cast out. In explanation of that, He next says, “Thus it will be in the age’s consummation.” The thought is similar to that of verse 39, where the same word, sunteleia, consummation, is used –

“Therefore, just as it is gathered, the darnel, and fire – it consumed, thus it will be in the age’s consummation.”

The parable teaches a similar truth to that one. There is a time of things continuing on, and then there will be a time when things are brought to their consummation. Like the darnel being separated by the messengers from the wheat and cast into the fire, Jesus next says, “The messengers, they will go out and they will separate the evil from the righteous’ midst.”

A new verb, aphorizó, to separate or set off by a boundary, is seen. It is derived from apo, away or from, and horizo, to mark out or bound (as in a horizon). Thus, it signifies a separation of the two by a set boundary.

There will be a separation of the two before things have come to their completion. Considering the end set for the darnel, the end for the bad fish will probably not be so great. What that end is will be seen in the next verse.

As with the parable of the wheat and darnel, the metaphor would have to be so stretched to fit the church age that it would lose much of its intent. There is no separation before the rapture that matches what Jesus is describing here. The people of the world will be going about their lives when, suddenly, and without prior notice, there will be a removal of saved believers.

Only after this will the world enter the tribulation. At the end of the tribulation, a separation will take place before those who are worthy will enter the millennium.

Life application: Jesus’ words in John 3:18 should be remembered –

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Paul repeats this thought in Romans 5 –

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” Romans 5:12-14

Jesus says that people are condemned already. Man doesn’t need to do anything to be eternally separated from God. He is conceived and stands condemned. This is not because of committed sin by the person, but because of sin committed by Adam. As all are in Adam, all stand condemned already.

Jesus came to undo this. Despite being born of a woman (He is fully Man), He did not inherit Adam’s seed, which is transmitted from father to child. Rather, His Father is God (He is fully God) and received His Father’s righteous innocence concerning sin. He cut the line of sin in fallen man, thus fulfilling the sign of circumcision.

In living perfectly after He was born, meaning He had not committed sin, He became a suitable substitute for the sins of the world. By faith in what He has done, man can move from fallen Adam to the innocent risen Christ.

Understanding this, there is nothing cold, uncaring, or malicious in God’s judgment of the darnel and bad fish. Rather, there is the perfection of love in the offering of His Son for fallen, corrupt, and already condemned humanity.

No person will be able to come before God and say, “My condemnation is unjust!” Rather, all people will acknowledge the rightness of the situation in relation to the perfect holiness of God. Be sure to get this right. Understanding that God is fully vindicated in His judgment is something people must be taught. Be sure to let those you talk to know that what He does is perfect and beautiful.

Glorious God Almighty, how great You are in Your judgments. We have no right to accuse You of wrongdoing or having an uncaring attitude toward our plight. Rather, what You have done is the height of loving attention to Your wayward creatures. How good and loving You are, O God. Amen.

Friday, 24 October 2025

which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. Matthew 13:48

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen). *not available at this time

“Which, when it was filled, having dragged upon the beach, and having sat, they gathered the good into vessels, and the bad they cast out” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that gathers every kind in it. He continues that, saying, “which, when it was filled.”

This is where the skill of the fisherman is realized. There is a set time for letting down the net, and there is a time when the net is to be drawn in. Likewise, God alone will determine the times of the kingdom. There is no point in speculating on what the word does not provide. In fact, it is presumptuous to do so. Once the time has come, Jesus gives the next thought, saying, “having dragged upon the beach.”

A new word found only here is seen, anabibazó, to cause to go up. It is derived from ana, up or upward, and basis, a pace (as in a step). Thus, the sense is drawing up, one arm pull at a time. Once the net is entirely drawn up, it next says, “and having sat, they gathered the good into vessels.”

Another new word is seen, aggeion, a receptacle or vessel. It is derived from aggos, a pail. That in turn is derived from agkos, an arm. The arm is curved and is like our own personal carrying vessel when needed. So the words are believed to connect through that thought. There is the curved arm, the curved pail, and the pail leads to the vessel for the fish.

The net is hauled up, the men sit by it and begin sorting them, and the good ones are placed in the vessel, ready to become dinner for some hungry soul. As for the others, Jesus says, “and the bad they cast out.”

Whatever “bad” means to a fisherman, including being too small, being unclean according to Israel’s law, or being dead already, fishermen normally chuck the bad ones back in the water as they perform their own function in God’s creation. A different disposition will be seen for these bad fish. The point is that they are rejected by the fishermen, unsuitable for selling to the people.

Life application: It is noted above that the fisherman determines when the net will be drawn in. He is the one to decide the matter. It is his decision alone, and to second-guess him would be to accuse him of doing wrong with his own nets. It is his, and he can make the choice according to his plan.

As is usual, within the past week, the rapture date setters were wrong for the jillionth time since Jesus left. Websites were full of predictions that Jesus was coming to take His church on the 23^rd of September. When this didn’t happen (again!), those who published their false teaching immediately set out to justify why the Lord didn’t follow their carefully set date.

How many times will you listen to such ridiculous people? A review of the top ten videos indicated millions of views. People, like dogs going back to munch on their own vomit, spent their precious time watching worthless information put out by false teachers.

The Bible does not tell us when the rapture will occur. In fact, Jesus explicitly told His disciples when He left that they (meaning them and all who follow) would not know –

“And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.’” Acts 1:7

Paul repeats Jesus’ words concerning the timing of redemptive events –

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” 2 Thessalonians 5:1, 2

Do you really suppose that God is going to violate His own word to speak through these false teachers? It will never happen. Stop wasting your time on the sensational. The Bible is not a book of God’s errors or misstatements. It is a book of what He is doing in redemptive history.

The time that was wasted on these ridiculous videos, meaning millions of hours of productivity, could have been far better spent actually telling people about Jesus, actually learning what the word says, or even spent with family.

We are accountable for what we do with our time. Let us use it wisely –

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Colossians 4:5

Lord God, thank You for Your word. May we not treat it contemptuously, as if it is we who decide what it says. Rather, may we look for what You intend for us to see. Help us to identify false teachers and keep far from them. May our time interacting with You through Your word be a sweet time of learning and growing in You. Amen.

Thursday, 23 October 2025

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, Matthew 13:47

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a seine having been cast into the sea, and from every kind having been gathered.” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. Next, He begins another parable, saying, “Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a seine.”

A word found only here in Scripture is seen, sagéné. A seine or dragnet. It is a derivative of satto, to equip, “especially a pack-saddle (which in the East is merely a bag of netted rope)” HELPS Word Studies.

Such a net is curtain-like. It would be weighted, thus forming a circle for the fish as it dropped. As it is pulled out, the fish would be captured in it and hauled onto the shore or boat. As several of the disciples were fishermen, and as they probably all went out together while in the Galilee, they would all be aware of what Jesus was referring to.

Of this, Jesus next says, it is “having been cast into the sea.” The sea is where fish are, but Jesus is making a metaphor. So understanding the sea in the Bible will help us understand the intent. The sea has several overall connotations, including chaos or a place of chaotic existence, thus unpredictability. In such a place, there is danger, such as sea monsters.

It also gives the idea of the people groups of the earth, who by nature are generally chaotic, even if there are governments and some sense of order. That is seen, for example, in Revelation 17, where the Great Harlot sits on many waters, meaning in lands throughout the earth. There it says –

“The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.” Revelation 17:15

A similar analogy is seen in Daniel 7:2. One can think of the multitude of languages, cultural ideas, and norms, etc. Thus, there is a sense of the chaotic. The net is thrown into the sea, “and from every kind having been gathered…”

The verse stops in the middle of the thought, but one can see that there is a sense of a gathering from the sea. Without going any further, it cannot help but be seen that this extends beyond Israel. If Israel represented one type of fish, there would be harmony, not chaos. Though there may be various accents, there was one language to unite them, etc.

Life application: It is a chaotic world. Despite this, in modern times, there is the ability to supposedly overcome the chaos in ways never thought of before. In the past, if there were nations with distinct languages, say English and Chinese, there was an absolute need to have people proficient in both languages available in both nations for effective diplomacy to take place.

If there were an interpreter from China only, that interpreter could bias the translation on behalf of her country, thereby gaining an advantage. Only by having two independent translators verify one another could diplomacy truly be considered reliable.

This process required integrity, time, sound education, etc. Today, the world’s languages are quickly being digitized, and in real time, languages are able to be interpreted in both languages through the power of computers. Curiously, there is the obvious play on this by the tech giant Google. The place where languages were separated was Babel –

“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. ⁷ Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:5-9

In an assent to this event, the modern Google translator is called Babbel. It is as if they are attempting to undo what God had done. Obviously, God knew this would occur, but the point is that man’s efforts, like at Babel, are being directed to uniting the people of the earth as if to show their primacy and ability to cast off God.

Nothing has changed. Man believes he has the ability to do anything. But there are underlying divisions in the world that would have to be dealt with. An example of this is found in Daniel 2:41-43. Such things must be dealt with, and it will lead to great slaughters of people in an attempt to harmonize the goal of world unity.

The problem with that is that no two people think exactly the same. The only way to have absolute unity is to eradicate everyone else. God understands this. Hence, Jesus said –

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:21, 22

How desperately man needs God’s hand to direct him. Without that, we are all goners. Thank God for Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind.

Gracious and glorious heavenly Father, thank You that we have a hope that extends beyond this tragic, fallen world. Because of our Lord Jesus, there is hope for humanity. Someday, we who believe the gospel will be gathered before You for all eternity. There will be no more war or conflict. Won’t that day be wonderful? And so, we pray You speed the coming of it. May it be so. Amen.

Wednesday, 22 October 2025

who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:46

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“who, having found one highly valued pearl, having departed, he has sold all – as many as he had, and he purchased it” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus began the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. That continues with the words, “who, having found one highly valued pearl.”

A new word, polutimos, highly valued, is seen. It is derived from polus, much or many, and timé, a value. Thus, this signifies something of great value, a large sum of money, great honors, etc. Continuing, Jesus says, “having departed, he has sold all.”

Another new word is seen, pipraskó, to dispose of as merchandise or into slavery. One can see him taking his wares and selling them so that he has enough to make the purchase of this one pearl. He sold, “as many as he had, and he purchased it.”

The pearl merchant was willing to make this complete exchange to obtain this single pearl, knowing its value was more than what he already possessed. He saw the object, he understood its immense value, and he was willing to give up all else to obtain it.

As with the previous parable, this cannot be speaking merely of salvation during this dispensation, as pretty much every commentary states. If it is, the lesson would have to be stretched to the utmost extreme.

It is Jesus who purchased our salvation for us (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23, Ephesians 1:14, etc.), not the other way around. The parable follows the same pattern as noted in the previous parable –

*Another parable He near-set them, saying, “It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens, to a man having sown good seed in his field.”
*Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like treasure having been concealed in the field, which a man, having found, he concealed…
* Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a man, a merchant…

Jesus is the merchant. In this case, a pearl merchant. The pearl is the effect of the gospel, meaning those who live by faith, trusting the Lord alone for their salvation. This is why Paul could say that even Abraham was included in the gospel –

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” Galatians 3:8, 9

It explains why the “gospel” could be preached to Israel even before Jesus completed His work (as in Matthew 4:23, etc.). Jesus was willing to give up all He had to make this purchase –

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8

It is through this that He made His purchase. This is just what it says, using the same Greek word, in 1 Corinthians 7:23, “You have been purchased [agorazó] at a price” (NAB).

A point about pearls should be considered. They are taken from shellfish, something deemed unclean under the Law of Moses. The point is that in a world full of unclean individuals, either for being condemned apart from the law or those who are condemned because of the law, God is looking for those of faith.

These comprise the pearl that is precious in God’s eyes. It is not those who are self-boasting and proud of their deeds under the law that God is pleased with. God has set the parameters, and He has confirmed them in His use of metaphor. Be sure to be a person of faith. This is what God is most pleased with.

Life application: As with the previous parable, this analysis bucks against almost all others. The scholar John Gill (1697-1771) seems to have figured this out, but what he penned is otherwise pretty much ignored.

But it is unthinkable to equate what is offered freely to believers with what is stated here. It is Jesus who does the work. It is we who are prized above all in His eyes. For whatever unimaginable reason, the Bible reveals it is so. Even David struggled with this –

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4

We cannot do a change-up switcheroo in the subject of these parables without coming to a faulty conclusion about what is being said. Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 13:37 that the Sower is the Son of Man.

Taking these two parables and changing the subject confuses the lessons. Jesus is the reason for Scripture’s presentation. We are the reason Jesus came. Were it not so, He would have no need to depart heaven, giving up all. There would be no point in it.

Instead of trying to earn God’s favor through the incorrectly taught explanation of these parables, stop and consider your value to God when you believe the gospel. How can it be that He would find those of faith so precious? And yet, it is so.

When you feel that you are lacking value, all you need to do is remember what Jesus Christ was willing to do to purchase you back from Satan’s power. Be assured and be reassured that you, because of your faith in Him, are a part of the pearl of great price.

This perfectly describes why the gates of the New Jerusalem are pearls, as noted in Revelation 21:21. They are a reminder of this fact.

Heavenly Father, we cannot imagine what our value is in relation to what Jesus was willing to give up in order to buy us back to You. Whatever it is, may we be people of ongoing faith, accepting that You have done it and so it must be. Thank You for the care and attention that You have lavished upon us. Amen.

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, Matthew 13:45

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a man, a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus gave the parable of the hidden treasure. He next turns to another parable, beginning with, “Again, the kingdom of the heavens, it is like a merchant man.”

The word emporos, merchant, is introduced. It will be seen four more times, all in Revelation 18. It is derived from en, in, and poreuomai, to traverse, go, depart, etc. This would be a wholesale merchant who moves trade. Thus, he is an “in-traveler.” In this case, he is “seeking beautiful pearls.”

Being a merchant, he would be the go-between for those in the pearl diving trade and the jewelers who set the stones. This is a person who understands the nature of pearls. There are various aspects of a pearl that increase or decrease its value.

In today’s world, there are natural and cultured pearls. The natural ones are more valuable. At the time of Jesus, there were cultured pearls, but this was rare and limited to the area of China. Much later, in the late 1800s and on, they were cultured in Japan.

Natural pearls are prized for various aspects, such as size, luster, shape (perfect spheres being the most valuable), and color. Along with that, surface quality is also evaluated. Like anything that is prized among men, pearls have value based on their rarity. This traveling merchant specialized in pearls. He would have obsessed over every nuance, looking for the finest of them all.

Life application: Our search in life, if we appreciate quality, is to improve our surroundings and possess things that are different and special. It is true that many people are steeped in mediocrity, but even then, they will normally choose the better option of something if given the chance.

Looters, for example, are not the upper crust of society. They may live in rat holes and get a monthly welfare check, but when the power goes out and the getting is good, they will grab the 48” TV before a 36” TV. The fact that it has more value, either for showing off in the house or getting more when pawned to buy drugs, makes it the preferred target.

If we consider our place in this walk of life, we demonstrate wisdom if we are willing to search for that of the absolute highest value. But that will come down to what we think is of value.

Baseball fanatics may search for the rarest baseball card. Auto collectors may sell all they have to own a Stutz Bearcat. But these things, despite being rare, are just things. James speaks of priorities in his epistle –

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” James 5:1-3

Baseball cards can get stolen, lost, ruined, etc. Cars, no matter how well tended, corrode and require constant care. But they can be destroyed in a moment during an earthquake, fire, etc. In fact, nothing physical has any true lasting value. Time causes things to change, degrade, die, etc.

The wise person will look around himself at all the great things that have been created and say, “If this is so great, God who created it all must be even greater!” In understanding this and then taking it to heart, that person will begin to admire and cherish the Creator for who He is, even if that is all he knows about Him.

But what if the Creator has provided information about Himself that goes beyond the plainly evident world? And what if there are people who have come along and said things about the Creator that make a similar claim? Is there a way to know which is the true information and which is not?

This is the search of those who truly want to know. “How can I know if this information is truly from God or not?” This is a study that will lead to the most blessed joy of all when the truth is found. Why? Because the Creator is greater than everything else.

No longer will the temporary searches for beauty, uniqueness, or cash value matter. When one truly understands who God is and knows that he possesses God intimately, the things of this world no longer bear the importance we thought they did.

How can we know if the information in the Koran, the Sutri texts, or the Bible is correct? The answer is that it will match what must be true about the Creator. This is where we as humans need to use our thinking caps. But if we truly desire God, we will be willing to consider the things of God.

In the end, if you are willing to accept it, the Bible alone contains information that is truly from God. Don’t trust this commentary at face value, though. Pick it up and read it! There you will find God because there you will find Jesus. And in finding Jesus, you will find what is most valuable of all.

Heavenly Father, how good You are to us. You have not only created a world filled with wonder and delight, but You have extended our grasp to interact with You, reaching into the infinite realm of Your love, goodness, and wisdom. May we be responsible with our time, seeking You all our days. It is a search that is well worth the time we spend. Amen.