What Is the Parable of the Net — In Biblical Context
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a net cast into the sea that gathered fish of every kind—at the end, the good are kept and the bad are cast away.
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a net cast into the sea that gathered fish of every kind—at the end, the good are kept and the bad are cast away.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind." — Matthew 13:47 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
In Matthew 13:47-50, Jesus told of a dragnet cast into the sea that caught fish of every kind. When it was full, fishermen pulled it to shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into vessels while throwing the bad away. Jesus explained: '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.' Like the parable of the wheat and tares, this parable teaches that good and evil coexist in this age but will be separated at the final judgment. It warns against complacency and encourages genuine faith.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Matthew 13:47, sits inside Matthew 13. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind."
Supporting Passages
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just."
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