Matthew 13:48 Meaning and Explanation
“Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When full, the net is drawn ashore and the fishermen sort the good fish from the bad.
What Does Matthew 13:48 Mean?
The parable continues. When the net is full, the fishermen draw it to shore, sit down, and sort their catch, gathering the good fish into vessels and casting the bad away. Only at the shore does the separating take place.
The sorting comes after the gathering, and it is careful and deliberate, the fishermen sitting down to do it well. The verse pictures the certainty of a final separation that follows the wide gathering of the kingdom. What is good is kept and treasured; what is worthless is discarded. The reader is reminded that there is a day of reckoning, and is gently urged to be found among the good, gathered safely into the vessels of the King.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 13:48
What does Matthew 13:48 mean?
When full, the net is drawn ashore and the fishermen sort the good fish from the bad.