PARABLES OF JESUS || The Net

As we continue this series on the parables of Jesus, we shall dwell on another parable He used to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. — Matthew 13:47–50 (English Standard Version)

The Net, Sea and the Fish in It

In ancient times, a dragnet was a type of fishing net that was dragged along the bottom of a body of water, in order to collect a variety of fish. In this parable, we see the sea being likened to the present world that harbours all humanity, as well as the fish being compared to us, humans.

Just as the net is cast into the sea, so also is the Gospel of Christ being spread through the earth. The Gospel draws all men to it; both those who genuinely accept Jesus and faithfully live according to His precepts as well as those who reject the Gospel or are attracted to its message but do not commit themselves (from the depth of their hearts) unto the way of Christ.

When the net is pulled out of the sea, it catches all kinds of fish; the good fish who truly seek and follow Jesus for who He is and the bad fish who do not have their hearts set on Him.

Separation After the Catch

Verse 48 shows that after the net is drawn, there will be a sorting of fish with the good ones kept in containers and the bad thrown away. Jesus went further to elucidate on this in the next verses, stating that the angels will separate the evil ones from the righteous and throw them into the blazing fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Though we are only told that the good fish are kept in containers (some translations use vessels, baskets), I can confidently say that these containers belong to the Master and as such, this set of fish remain safe and secured in God’s Kingdom.

Also, I’d like to state that there will be no escape from the net at the end of time. When the end comes, all of us will be called to judgement by God. It would not matter what colour, sex, tribe or race any of us belongs to, nor the wealth, status, prestige that we may have acquired on earth. Rather, we will be judged in accordance to the lives we lived here on earth.

Mark 16:16 clearly states that whoever believes (in Me) and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. This belief Jesus Christ referred to encompasses trust and total acceptance of Him (including His death, burial, resurrection) through faith. It implies that we acknowledge that we are sinners who need the Saviour that came to die for all mankind. It connotes that we confess Him as our Saviour and Lord to whom we hand our lives to in total submission.

Sadly, a large number of us today reject the salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ. Many of us claim to believe in God yet deny His Truth in Jesus Christ. Some of us are lukewarm to the Gospel of Christ while others are hearers of the Word without doing it. Some of us attend church regularly yet do not allow the Water of the Word and Holy Spirit to purify us from within. A lot of us do not seek to do the Father’s will but remain attached to the things of this world with our hearts being far away from the Lord. Yet, one thing is certain — the end will come at a time none of us know.

Today, we are encouraged to retrace our steps and seek Jesus who is the only way to the Father. We are reminded to mend our ways and open our hearts to Him so that we can accept the light that comes with the Good News. We are called to seek the Kingdom first and its righteousness, calling on the One who can truly save us from everything including ourselves. Today, we are enjoined to come closer to the King and place Him as priority in everything we have, seek, do and are.

May Christ help us as we make efforts to align ourselves with Him. Amen.