47"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
51Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"
They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
52Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
The last parable indicated that heaven is seeking us. In fact it is as a dragnet, pulling in all that it catches. The pull of heaven is great. But it pulls in every soul of every kind. Being caught in the net of heaven isn't an indication that you are a chosen one. Feeling God's blessings around you doesn't mean you will see salvation at the end of the age. For at the end of the age, the wicked will be separated from the just.
Out of curiosity, I just looked up the meaning of the words wail and gnash in my dictionary to see if their exact meanings might provide any more insight. To wail means to grieve or protest audibly, to lament, or to make a high-pitched mournful sound. To gnash means to grind the teeth together. You grieve when you feel a loss. Being removed from the Kingdom of heaven would be a great loss worth grieving. You protest when you feel something was done unjustly. Those who are cast out of heaven may not have been expecting it, had assumed they would be saved. You gnash your teeth when you are so angry that you cannot come up with words to express your feelings. Those who are cast out of heaven may be angry at the Father if they felt their judgment was unjust, or at themselves for not being a better soul when they had a chance.
It will be those who do not understand these things that will grieve most, protest most, and express the most anger. So Jesus asked if they understood all these things. If you understand these things, treasure them, for the end of the age will come, and hopefully your knowledge of the kingdom of heaven will help to lead you on the path to being one of the just.
Know that both good and evil seeds are planted on earth, are planted in your heart. Just as there are different types of soil, don't ignore what you are taught thus letting the wicked one snatch away the good seed. Don't give up on the good seed just because you are going through some tough times. Don't let your desires of material things of this world choke out the good seed. But take the good seed to heart and become fruitful with it.
Know that the unjust are being allowed to grow alongside you, and that as long as we have not yet reached the end of the age, it is never too late for you, or even some unjust person next to you, to change, to become fruitful. We are all in the kingdom of God and all will receive blessings from God from time to time. If you see an unjust person receiving a blessing, it does not mean their actions are justified by God. We cannot judge who is just and who is not just.
Know that the kingdom of heaven provides the best possible strength, support, and shelter. Don't turn to something else.
Know that you too can help spread the kingdom of heaven, even if what you spread seems to be only a tiny seed. That tiny seed can grow into something great.
Know that the kingdom of heaven will spread, even if there are those who try to hide it, and know that it cannot be contained.
Know that the kingdom of heaven has more treasures than we can possibly imagine and that it is of more value than anything else we thought we would treasure. Give up your possessions joyfully if that is what it will take for you to posses the kingdom of heaven.
Know that heaven is seeking us, even though we don't deserve it. Our price has been paid.
Know that the kingdom of heaven encompasses all, attracts all, including good and evil. But at the end of the age, evil will be cast out.
Know all this, treasure all this, and do what it takes to see to it that you aren't one who will be cast out.
Jesus said that those who understand this are like householders who bring out of their treasure things new and old. A householders treasure consists of things he has gathered for himself and things which have been saved in the household for generations. Understanding the kingdom of heaven expands the knowledge they already had. They should treasure both the old and the new. At least I had a few new surprises as I read these parables of the kingdom of heaven. And as I discover more treasures of the kingdom of heaven, I'm sure I will have more new treasures to add to my collection.