This parable is the culmination of the parable of the Wheat and Weeds. That is, its teaching begins where the parable of the Wheat and Weeds stopped. This is the third parable Jesus taught his disciples privately. The Parable of the Fishing Net is found only in Matthew 13:47-50.
The Story
"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When
it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but
threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from
the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew
13:47-50, New International Version).
At least four of Jesus' disciples were fishermen and the rest understood how fishermen fished in that day. The net
(Greek, SAGENE) was a dragnet or large seine (trawl), pulled by a boat. The large net was pulled to shore when it was
full. Then the fishermen sorted the good fish from the bad. The good fish were placed in vessels, but the bad were thrown
away.
The Interpretation
The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds teaches us that both God's people and Satan's people will be together on earth
until the judgment. In that parable we learned that we are not supposed to separate the two groups of people. The
Parable of the Fishing Net teaches us that God will command his angels to separate the two groups. Jesus did a partial interpretation. Here, then, are the story characters and the real persons that they represent:
1. Fishermen Angels
2. Good fish Christians (sons of God)
3. Bad fish Evil people (sons of Satan)
4. The lake The inhabited earth and the place of departed spirits.
5. Dragging the net God acting through his angels to gather all humanity of all time
6. The furnace of fire The place of eternal punishment.
The interpretation of the story is as follows: At the end of the age, God will command his good angels to gather all of humanity, dead and alive, from all time, both good and bad. Through his good angels, he will remove the evil people and place them in the place of eternal punishment.
Central Truth
A FINAL DAY OF JUDGMENT IS COMING.
Conclusion
Because there is a final day of judgment coming, each of us should insure that we are right with God. This sobering
truth should cause us to not be vindictive or judgmental toward the lost, but to speak the truth in love to them. We
must, by all good means, win the lost to the Lord.
END