Matthew 13:48

Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Which {G3739}, when {G3753} it was full {G4137}, they drew {G307} to {G1909} shore {G123}, and {G2532} sat down {G2523}, and gathered {G4816} the good {G2570} into {G1519} vessels {G30}, but {G1161} cast {G906} the bad {G4550} away {G1854}.

When it was full, the fishermen brought the net up onto the shore, sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad fish away.

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

which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.

Commentary

Context

Matthew 13:48 is part of the Parable of the Net, which Jesus tells to His disciples, explaining the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. This parable immediately follows the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price and the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, concluding a series of seven parables in Matthew 13 that illuminate various aspects of God's kingdom. The imagery of a net being cast into the sea and gathering all kinds of fish would have been very familiar to Jesus' audience, especially those living near the Sea of Galilee, a region rich in fishing activity. The verse describes the crucial stage of sorting the catch once the net is brought to shore, setting the stage for the parable's climactic explanation of final judgment.

Key Themes

  • Separation and Discernment: The central action of the verse is the careful sorting of fish. This highlights God's ultimate act of discernment, where the "good" are distinguished from the "bad." It signifies that while the Kingdom of Heaven gathers all sorts during its earthly phase, a definitive separation will occur.
  • Final Judgment: The act of gathering the "good" into vessels and casting the "bad" away clearly points to the eschatological judgment. Just as a fisherman separates edible fish from refuse, so too will God separate the righteous from the wicked at the end of the age.
  • Divine Sovereignty: The parable underscores that this separation is not by human effort but by divine decree. God, as the ultimate Judge, has the authority and wisdom to execute this perfect and just separation.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "good" and "bad" to describe the fish. In the original Greek, "good" is kalá (καλά), meaning excellent, wholesome, or fit for consumption. The term for "bad" is saprá (σαπρά), which literally means "rotten," "corrupt," "worthless," or "unfit for use." This strong contrast emphasizes the absolute difference between those who are truly part of God's kingdom and those who are not, highlighting the irreparable nature of the "bad" fish.

Related Scriptures

This verse finds its parallel in the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), where the weeds are allowed to grow alongside the wheat until the harvest, when they are gathered and burned. Jesus explicitly interprets both parables, stating that the separation of the good and bad fish, or the wheat and weeds, represents the separation of the righteous and the wicked at the end of the age. The "vessels" can be understood as representing eternal habitations or the storage of the redeemed, while "casting away" implies destruction or eternal condemnation, echoing the "furnace of fire" mentioned in the parable's explanation.

Practical Application

Matthew 13:48 serves as a solemn reminder of accountability and the reality of a future judgment. It calls believers to live lives that produce "good fruit" (Matthew 7:17-20) and to examine their spiritual standing. For those who genuinely follow Christ, this verse offers assurance of their secure place in God's kingdom. For others, it serves as a warning to consider their eternal destiny and to repent before the final separation. It encourages living with an eternal perspective, understanding that our actions and our relationship with God will ultimately determine our eternal fate.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 13:30 (7 votes)

    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  • Matthew 3:12 (4 votes)

    Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

  • Matthew 13:40 (4 votes)

    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

  • Matthew 13:43 (4 votes)

    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.