Matthew 13:48

48 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.

Matthew 13:48 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 13:48

Which when, it was full
As the Gospel, and the Gospel church state may be said to be, when all the ends of the preaching of the word are answered; when all are called by the one, and into the other, that were designed to be called; when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in, and all Israel shall be saved.

They drew to the shore;
which will be done, when the end of the world comes; then will an end be put to the Gospel ministry, the net will be drawn to shore; the preaching of the Gospel will cease, and no more use be made of it:

and sat down;
the ministers of the word having done their work, enter into the joy of their Lord, and rest from their labours:

and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away;
as fishermen used to do; though this last office seems, by the application of the parable, to be what will be performed by angels; who, as many as they find to have a good work of grace wrought and finished in their souls, they will gather into Christ's barn, into the everlasting habitations, the mansions in Christ's Father's house, he is gone to prepare: but as for the bad, who shall appear to be destitute of the grace of God, and righteousness of Christ, notwithstanding their profession of religion, they shall be rejected, as good for nothing, and shall be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.

Matthew 13:48 In-Context

46 When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.
48 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.
49 So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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