“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.” Matthew 13:47-48
Jesus’ Explanation of this parable is:
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:49-50
My Summary & Reflection
In this parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a net used by a fisherman. In his net, the fisherman catches the fish he is searching for as well as debris and other things that he was not searching for. Similarly, in Jesus’ explanation, at the end of the world everyone and everything will be caught in the net. As the fisherman separates the good fish from the trash, so will the angels separate that which is to remain in the kingdom, from that which will be cast away into the furnace of fire.
As in the parable of Separating Tares from the Wheat, this story speaks of the separation of good from bad, the wanted from the unwanted, wheat from the tares, the fish from the trash that will occur at the end of the world. When I read this, I am reminded that imperfections on this side are just a part of life and are integrated into our lives. Like the good fish alongside the bad, the wheat alongside the tares, there are the “bad” that are intermixed with the “good” wherever we may be, whether we realize it or not. In our families, in our neighborhoods, at our jobs, at our places of worship, among our friends, everywhere where there are people gathered, there are interspersed among the good, some that are bad. With this parable, Jesus informs us that at the world’s end, a filter will be applied that allows only the good to pass into the kingdom.
Your Reflection
- What can you do to separate yourself from evil deeds, evil words, and evil intentions?
- What can you do to perpetuate in yourself that which is good?