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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Matthew 13:47 - 13:50
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Parable of the net:
v. 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind;
v. 48. which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
v. 49. So shall it be at the end of the world: The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just,
v. 50. and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
This parable offers a picture with which the disciples were very familiar. A large net, as used for deep-sea fishing, is cast into the sea and compasses a great number of fish of various kinds, good and bad, edible and unwholesome. Although the entire net full is drawn to the shore, the value of the catch is in the good fish, the rest being separated by a careful sorting and thrown away. They are not really counted as belonging to the catch. The kingdom of heaven, in the form in which it appears here on earth, is like such a net. The working of the Gospel-preaching results in an outward collection of such as are really members of the Kingdom and such as merely bear the semblance of such membership, but have not accepted the Gospel. The latter add to the bulk, but do not belong to the essence. On the last day the separation will take place, and the sorting will result in the eternal condemnation of those that were merely feigning membership, who care nothing for faith and salvation.