Matthew 13:47-50

Matthew 13:47-50. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net— This parable intimates, that by the preaching of the Gospel a visible church should be gathered on earth, consistingboth of good and bad men, mingled in such a manner, that it would be difficult to make a proper distinction between them; but that at the end of the world the bad shall be separated from the good, and cast into hell; which the parable represents under the image of casting them into the furnace of fire, because that was the most terrible punishment known in the Eastern countries. See Daniel 3:6. This parable will appear peculiarly proper, if we consider that it was spoken to fishermen, who had been called from their employments with a promise that they should catch men. Ch. Matthew 4:19. It differs from the parable of the tares in its extent, representing the final state and judgment of wicked men in general; whereas that of the tares describes more particularly the miserable end of hypocrites and apostates. The word σαπρα, rendered bad, Mat 13:48 generally signifies corrupt or putrid, and seems an allusion to the drawing up of some dead fish in the net with the living. It has been observed, that this in the strongest terms represents the hopeless state of sinners at last. See Herbery's Discourse of future Punishment.