The Kingdom of Heaven Like a Net - Matthew 13:47

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it”, and in chapter thirteen and verse forty-seven of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus tells His disciples how, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net” where we read:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

The verse reads, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, ...” Matthew began with the word, “again” which means “further and moreover” “the kingdom” or “the royal dominion, kingship and rule” “of heaven” which means “belonging to the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “is like unto” or “is similar and in likeness to” “a net” which means “a large fishing or drag pack-saddle or netted rope”. Matthew wrote how Jesus employed the example of a fishing “net” to share about the “kingdom of heaven”.

The verse goes on to say, “... that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:” Matthew continued with the words, “that was cast” which means “which was thrown or let go of without caring where it falls” “into the sea” or “in the large body of water such as the Mediterranean or Red Sea”, “and gathered” which means “and collected, brought together and assembled” “of every kind” or “belonging to each, all and the whole of kindred, stock, sort or offspring”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “kingdom of heaven” was like the fisherman with their “net” who threw it into the “sea” and caught various types of sea creatures.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus began another example concerning the “kingdom of heaven”. This time he employed the example of a person “casting a net” into the “sea” and catching all sorts of different sea creatures. God desires to have a relationship with people through His Son Jesus from various cultures and belief systems all over the world. He has in effect “cast His net” into the “sea” of people within the world, and when they receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, regardless of where they come from or what they have previously believed, they shall be “saved” in the “kingdom of heaven” when they put their “faith and trust” in Him.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples how the “net”, “when it was full, they drew to shore”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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