In the early part of His ministry, Jesus spoke plainly to Israel, offering the Kingdom:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17).
He called the nation to turn to God and receive Him as Messiah. But as rejection mounted—culminating in the Pharisees accusing Him of operating by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24)—Jesus changed His approach. From that point, He taught the crowds in parables. This shift was both judgment on hardened hearts and mercy to those willing to hear.
When the disciples asked why He spoke in parables, Jesus answered:
“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” (Matthew 13:11)
By speaking in parables, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15), hiding truth from those who had rejected it, while revealing Kingdom mysteries to His disciples. These parables introduce truths about the mystery phase of the Kingdom—the period between Christ’s rejection and His return, a phase not revealed in Old Testament prophecy. From a dispensational perspective, the parables of Matthew 13 describe how the Kingdom is present in hidden form, delayed in its visible glory, while God’s redemptive purposes continue to unfold.
The parables are not direct instruction for the Church; that is given in the epistles. Rather, they reveal truths about the Kingdom program during the time of Christ’s rejection.
Words: 1251 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Dragnet
Matthew 13:47–50
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Exposition of the Parable
The Imagery of the Dragnet
In first-century Galilee, fishing was central to daily life, and the dragnet was a familiar tool. Unlike hook-and-line fishing, the dragnet swept through the waters, gathering all kinds of fish indiscriminately. This image would have resonated deeply with the disciples, many of whom were fishermen.
The net in this parable represents the broad and inclusive nature of God’s Kingdom invitation during this age. All kinds of people are drawn in—believers, false professors, the morally upright, the openly wicked. The point is not who is in the net now, but what will happen when the net is pulled ashore—when the time for sorting comes.
The Sorting: The Final Separation
Once the net is full, it is drawn ashore, and the fishermen sort their catch. The good fish are kept; the bad are thrown away. Jesus explains that this symbolizes what will happen at the end of the age:
- The righteous are gathered into God’s Kingdom.
- The wicked are separated out and cast into judgment.
This sorting does not happen during the fishing process. Both good and bad remain together in the net until the end. The parable thus teaches that God’s judgment will come at the appointed time, not before.
Dispensational Significance
From a dispensational standpoint, this parable points to the judgment that will take place at Christ’s Second Coming, at the end of the Tribulation period, when He establishes His Millennial Kingdom. Key truths include:
- The present age is mixed
Just as the net gathers all kinds of fish, so too does Christendom contain both true believers and those who merely associate with the faith outwardly. The Gospel invitation goes out to all, but not all who respond outwardly belong to Christ.
- Judgment occurs at the end of the age
The separation comes not during the present age but at its conclusion. This aligns with other teachings about the end times:
- Matthew 25:31–46: The sheep and goat judgment, where nations are judged at Christ’s return.
- Revelation 20:11–15: The Great White Throne judgment, where the final separation occurs.
- The removal of the wicked comes first
Unlike the Rapture, where believers are taken to be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17), this parable shows the wicked removed for judgment. This matches the pattern seen in Matthew 24:40–41, where those taken are taken in judgment.
- The wicked face eternal punishment
The blazing furnace, weeping, and gnashing of teeth symbolize eternal, conscious torment—a consistent biblical description of hell (Mark 9:43–48; Revelation 20:15).
Comparison to the Parable of the Weeds
Both parables describe:
- A coexistence of true and false up to the end.
- A final, decisive separation by God’s appointed agents (angels).
- The removal and destruction of the wicked.
The Weeds focus on the mixture within professing Christendom. The Dragnet broadens the image to all of humanity, showing God’s universal judgment.
Cultural and Historical Context
In Jesus’ day, the dragnet was a large weighted net that could span significant stretches of water. It was indiscriminate, pulling in everything in its path. The sorting process was labor-intensive, as fishermen separated what was useful from what was worthless.
The image would have been vivid and sobering for Jesus’ audience. They knew the effort involved and the reality that much of what was caught would be discarded.
The Sobering Message of the Parable
This parable is a clear call to self-examination. It warns:
- Merely being part of the visible net (Christendom, the religious community) does not guarantee a place in the Kingdom.
- Outward identification with Christianity is no substitute for true, saving faith.
- The final judgment is certain, final, and inescapable.
The time for repentance is now. Once the net is drawn ashore, once judgment begins, no further opportunity will be given.
The Parable’s Relevance Today
In our age, where cultural Christianity is widespread, this parable reminds us that only genuine faith in Christ will stand in the final judgment. As Charles Ryrie noted:
“The parables of the Kingdom present both the spread of God’s work and the certainty of His coming judgment, separating the true from the false at the end of the age.”
The Parable of the Dragnet is not just a lesson for scholars of prophecy. It is a personal challenge to ensure we are among the righteous who will be gathered into God’s Kingdom.
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related
The Parable of the Dragnet – Matthew 13:47–50
Published by Brother Woody BrohmIn the early part of His ministry, Jesus spoke plainly to Israel, offering the Kingdom:
He called the nation to turn to God and receive Him as Messiah. But as rejection mounted—culminating in the Pharisees accusing Him of operating by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24)—Jesus changed His approach. From that point, He taught the crowds in parables. This shift was both judgment on hardened hearts and mercy to those willing to hear.
When the disciples asked why He spoke in parables, Jesus answered:
By speaking in parables, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15), hiding truth from those who had rejected it, while revealing Kingdom mysteries to His disciples. These parables introduce truths about the mystery phase of the Kingdom—the period between Christ’s rejection and His return, a phase not revealed in Old Testament prophecy. From a dispensational perspective, the parables of Matthew 13 describe how the Kingdom is present in hidden form, delayed in its visible glory, while God’s redemptive purposes continue to unfold.
The parables are not direct instruction for the Church; that is given in the epistles. Rather, they reveal truths about the Kingdom program during the time of Christ’s rejection.
Words: 1251 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Dragnet
Matthew 13:47–50
Exposition of the Parable
The Imagery of the Dragnet
In first-century Galilee, fishing was central to daily life, and the dragnet was a familiar tool. Unlike hook-and-line fishing, the dragnet swept through the waters, gathering all kinds of fish indiscriminately. This image would have resonated deeply with the disciples, many of whom were fishermen.
The net in this parable represents the broad and inclusive nature of God’s Kingdom invitation during this age. All kinds of people are drawn in—believers, false professors, the morally upright, the openly wicked. The point is not who is in the net now, but what will happen when the net is pulled ashore—when the time for sorting comes.
The Sorting: The Final Separation
Once the net is full, it is drawn ashore, and the fishermen sort their catch. The good fish are kept; the bad are thrown away. Jesus explains that this symbolizes what will happen at the end of the age:
This sorting does not happen during the fishing process. Both good and bad remain together in the net until the end. The parable thus teaches that God’s judgment will come at the appointed time, not before.
Dispensational Significance
From a dispensational standpoint, this parable points to the judgment that will take place at Christ’s Second Coming, at the end of the Tribulation period, when He establishes His Millennial Kingdom. Key truths include:
Just as the net gathers all kinds of fish, so too does Christendom contain both true believers and those who merely associate with the faith outwardly. The Gospel invitation goes out to all, but not all who respond outwardly belong to Christ.
The separation comes not during the present age but at its conclusion. This aligns with other teachings about the end times:
Unlike the Rapture, where believers are taken to be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17), this parable shows the wicked removed for judgment. This matches the pattern seen in Matthew 24:40–41, where those taken are taken in judgment.
The blazing furnace, weeping, and gnashing of teeth symbolize eternal, conscious torment—a consistent biblical description of hell (Mark 9:43–48; Revelation 20:15).
Comparison to the Parable of the Weeds
Both parables describe:
The Weeds focus on the mixture within professing Christendom. The Dragnet broadens the image to all of humanity, showing God’s universal judgment.
Cultural and Historical Context
In Jesus’ day, the dragnet was a large weighted net that could span significant stretches of water. It was indiscriminate, pulling in everything in its path. The sorting process was labor-intensive, as fishermen separated what was useful from what was worthless.
The image would have been vivid and sobering for Jesus’ audience. They knew the effort involved and the reality that much of what was caught would be discarded.
The Sobering Message of the Parable
This parable is a clear call to self-examination. It warns:
The time for repentance is now. Once the net is drawn ashore, once judgment begins, no further opportunity will be given.
The Parable’s Relevance Today
In our age, where cultural Christianity is widespread, this parable reminds us that only genuine faith in Christ will stand in the final judgment. As Charles Ryrie noted:
The Parable of the Dragnet is not just a lesson for scholars of prophecy. It is a personal challenge to ensure we are among the righteous who will be gathered into God’s Kingdom.
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related