Matthew 13:47

III. THE WICKED SEVERED FROM THE JUST.

47. The kingdom of heaven is like. net.

The Savior's illustrations all come home to his audience. Many were husbandmen; many were women familiar with the culinary art; some were merchants; many were fishermen.. drag net or seine is meant.

Gathered every kind.

Here again, as in the parable of the Tares, it is taught that, at the end-of the world, the angels shall sever the wicked from the just; in the parable of the Tares the reference is to the wicked generally; here to those who are found in the church. It would be found in all experience that some of these would be found in the earthly kingdom and that no effort could keep them out. The Lord teaches that they will not enter the New Jerusalem, but shall, at the end of the world, suffer the same fate as the rest of the wicked.

The sea

is. scriptural symbol for "the nations" (Revelation 17:15; Isaiah 8:7; Psalms 65:7).