Matthew 13:47-50 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:… The gospel preached may fully be compared to a net. 1. A net is a proper engine or instrument to catch or gather fish; so the gospel, or the Word of God preached, is a proper instrument to gather sinners out of the world into the Church, both visible and invisible (1 Corinthians 1:2). 2. A net is cast into the river or sea before it can take fish, so the word of the gospel must be preached that sinners may be converted. 3. A net takes fish (when they are caught) out of their proper element, and they die immediately; so those sinners who are indeed taken, or spiritually and savingly wrought upon by preaching the Word, are taken out of that element where they lived, and loved to live before — i.e., out of a course of sin and wickedness; and such die presently to sin and to all the vanities of the sea of this world. 4. A net must be cast into the sea or river with judgment by a skilful fisherman; it requires wisdom to use it to answer the end appointed. So ministers, Christ's spiritual fishermen, ought to be men of great skill, knowledge, wisdom, and experience (2 Corinthians 12:16). 5. A net is cast where a fisherman hath ground to hope he may take store of fish; so a minister should preach where multitudes of people are gathered together, when an opportunity doth present; thus did our Lord (Matthew 5:1). 6. Sometimes fishermen labour all night (as Peter and John did) and take nothing; it is God that blesses their labour when they succeed well. 7. A net takes fish of every kind, some great ones, some small ones; some good, and some bad. So the gospel net gathers of every sort, some rich, some poor, some great ones (but not many of that kind), some little ones, who are despised in the eyes of the world. 8. A fisherman's work is very hard, and he is exposed oftentimes to be tossed on the tempestuous sea; so is the work of Christ's ministers. (B. Keach.) Parallel Verses KJV: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: |
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