The Dragnet

Illustration of The Dragnet

Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a great dragnet cast into the sea that gathers every kind of fish until it is full. The fishermen then draw it ashore and sit down to sort the catch, keeping the good fish in vessels while casting the bad away. This picture points to the end of the age when angels will separate the wicked from the righteous, highlighting the final judgment that secures the eternal distinction between those received into the kingdom and those rejected.

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Category: Judgment & Eternity

Meaning: At the end of the age, angels will separate the wicked from the righteous - like sorting a net full of fish.

Audience: Disciples

Key Passages

The Parable

Matthew 13:47-50

A47gain, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Related

Characters

Did You Know?

1

The net gathers fish of every kind. good and bad. just like the kingdom gathers all kinds of people.

2

The separation happens at the end of the age, not immediately.

3

Jesus explains that angels will do the final sorting. Our job is not to judge who belongs in the net.