New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 13:47

Secrets of the Kingdom

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. Matthew 13:47 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 13:47, in plain English

The kingdom of heaven is also like a large fishing net that was thrown into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.

Why it's here

Just like the weeds parable, this one is about the fact that the kingdom draws all kinds of people -- and eventually there will be a sorting.

Who's speaking

Jesus tells another parable.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus uses an image every fisherman in Galilee understood: a big net catches everything. The kingdom draws all kinds of people in, but a sorting is coming.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The kingdom is compared to a dragnet (sagene) cast into the sea that catches fish of 'every kind' (pantos genous), illustrating the kingdom's inclusive gathering followed by eschatological separation.

Language and setting

The dragnet (sagene) was a large seine net dragged between boats or from shore, catching everything indiscriminately. This parable parallels the weeds, addressing the mixed composition of those drawn into the kingdom's orbit.

Voice

Jesus tells the net parable.

Significance

Jesus introduces His final extended parable: a fishing net that gathers everything indiscriminately, paralleling the weeds parable with a maritime image familiar to His Galilean audience.

In context

Matthew 13:45–49

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.

46When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.

48When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.

49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

Read all of Matthew 13 — A farmer scatters seed, a woman hides yeast, a merchant finds a pearl. Jesus teaches in parables — and not everyone is meant to understand.

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