THE PARABLE OF THE NET.

: New Testament Stories

These fishermen have just returned to shore with their net full of

fish. Now this is not a casting-net, which is thrown out from the boat

and drawn in again, but a drag-net which is of great length, and which

is drawn constantly through the water until it is well filled with

fish. It is then hauled up to the shore, and the fishermen sit around

it, and take out the fish. Many of these, of course, are unfit for

food, or
ot liked. They cast those into the sea again, but the good

fish which they can sell for food are carefully placed in vessels

brought for the purpose.



Christ said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast

into the sea, and gathered every kind (of fish): which, when it was

full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into

vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the

world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among

the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be

wailing and gnashing of teeth."



At another time Jesus taught His disciples the same truth; when He

spake of His coming and of the gathering of all nations before Him,

the good entering into eternal life, but the wicked being cast away.

"When the Son of Man shall come in His glory," said Jesus, "and all

the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His

glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall

separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from

the goats. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats

on the left."



More

;