The Fishing Net

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea. As it spread through the water, it gathered fish of every kind. Jesus began with a familiar picture, but he was using it to teach about the kingdom of heaven.

When the net was full, fishermen pulled it up onto the beach. They sat down and sorted the catch. The good fish were gathered into containers, but the bad fish were thrown away. In the story, the gathering comes first, and then the sorting.

Jesus then explained the meaning. At the end of the world, the angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous. His parable points to a real and final division, not just to fish on a shore.

Jesus spoke seriously about the outcome for the wicked. They will be thrown into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This warning shows that Jesus was teaching about judgement, not simply about fishing.

Then Jesus asked them whether they had understood all these things, and they answered yes. He said that every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder bringing out treasures that are new and old. Understanding Jesus' teaching should lead to wise use of it.