It is remarkable the little “details” the Bible records. For example, Matthew 4:21 … “And going on from thence, he (Jesus) saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, MENDING THEIR NETS; and he called them.”
“Catching” fish, I understand.
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, CASTING A NET into the sea: for they were fishers.” Matthew 4:18
But such little details, “mending” the nets, surprises me!
Of course, if someone does not mend the nets, soon no fish will be caught at all! “Torn nets” do not catch fish!
Obviously, it’s that little word for “mending” that has caught my eye.
It is spelled “katartizo” in Greek. It bends the preposition “kata” (simply intensifying the action) and the adjective “artios” (fitted, completed, specially prepared) … giving us a verb that carries the idea of something “perfected.”
Restoring useless nets to prime condition!
Now, let me show you “katartizo” in a few other New Testament situations, keeping in mind this basic definiton.
Of its 13 locations in the Bible (New Testament since it is a Greek term) 1 Corinthians 1:10 is a good Specimen. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER (katartizo) in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
No holes or rips in our fellowship as Believers!
The verb is especially poignant in Galatians 6:1. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, RESTORE (katartizo) such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Repair the “holes” in the person’s testimony, character, love for the Lord!
Can we have “holes” in our faith?
Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 thinks so! “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and MIGHT PERFECT (katartizo) that which is lacking in your faith?”
In the sense of making something “perfect” or ideally “complete” … Hebrews 11:3 illustrates: “Through faith we understand that the worlds WERE FRAMED (katartizo) by the word of God …”
Now, I will let you the reader apply this last occurrence in our short lesson … “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, MAKE YOU PERFECT (katartizo), stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
Apply it and live it!
Christians without “holes!”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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