Gathering Stones with the Fisherman's Net
The Parable of the Net
Matthew 13:47-50
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
In the Greek text, the word for “net” in verse 47 is “saghnh” meaning “dragnet” and which translated in Latin is “sagena” and in English is “seine.”
Mendel Nun explains the procedure that is followed in casting the net with seine fishing. The net is as a long wall, measuring 250 to 300 feet long, weighted at the bottom and floated with corks at the top (gourds in ancient times). To explain the technique of seine fishing, the fishermen begin by placing the net in the boat. When the location for placing the net if found, the boat goes to shore and half of the fishermen disembark, holding onto the ends of the net. While the end of the net is being held, the boat sails away, and in doing so, spreads the net across the water. When the length of the net is reached, the boat heads for shore and the second team of fishermen disembark, and both teams begin to pull in the net.
While the net is being pulled toward shore, the fishermen climb from the shore, and the boat is set near the water’s edge. If there is a problem and the net snags on the bottom of the Sea, the captain of the ship dives and loosens the net so it may freely drag the floor of the Sea so no fish may dive and escape. The team of fishermen on each end drag or pull the net away from the shore. As the net is dragged, the first man drops the net and returns to the water’s edge to become the last man, and thus the system follows until the net is pulled to shore.
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Then, the catch is sorted. The fishermen sit in the shallow water and everything in the net which is not “clean” is rejected. There is a variety of catfish in the Galilee, but catfish were “unclean” and were rejected in the sort. The net may bring in stones or other debris which is also cast away. But the good catch is stored in vessels prepared for their safekeeping.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The parable fits the description of seine fishing in detail, from “drawing to shore” “sat down” and “cast the bad away.” Jesus used parables with circumstances that the people would hear and understand, and certainly in the area of the Galilee, the people understand seine fishing techniques, and by understanding seine fishing techniques, they could understand and comprehend that when God casts the net for the believers and followers of Jesus, that while everyone is pulled in, there will be a judgment, a sorting of people and the “unclean” will be sorted out and cast away into the “furnace of fire” while the “just” are placed in vessels prepared especially for them.
Wow... what a picture.
Matthew 13:47-50
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
In the Greek text, the word for “net” in verse 47 is “saghnh” meaning “dragnet” and which translated in Latin is “sagena” and in English is “seine.”
Mendel Nun explains the procedure that is followed in casting the net with seine fishing. The net is as a long wall, measuring 250 to 300 feet long, weighted at the bottom and floated with corks at the top (gourds in ancient times). To explain the technique of seine fishing, the fishermen begin by placing the net in the boat. When the location for placing the net if found, the boat goes to shore and half of the fishermen disembark, holding onto the ends of the net. While the end of the net is being held, the boat sails away, and in doing so, spreads the net across the water. When the length of the net is reached, the boat heads for shore and the second team of fishermen disembark, and both teams begin to pull in the net.
While the net is being pulled toward shore, the fishermen climb from the shore, and the boat is set near the water’s edge. If there is a problem and the net snags on the bottom of the Sea, the captain of the ship dives and loosens the net so it may freely drag the floor of the Sea so no fish may dive and escape. The team of fishermen on each end drag or pull the net away from the shore. As the net is dragged, the first man drops the net and returns to the water’s edge to become the last man, and thus the system follows until the net is pulled to shore.
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Then, the catch is sorted. The fishermen sit in the shallow water and everything in the net which is not “clean” is rejected. There is a variety of catfish in the Galilee, but catfish were “unclean” and were rejected in the sort. The net may bring in stones or other debris which is also cast away. But the good catch is stored in vessels prepared for their safekeeping.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The parable fits the description of seine fishing in detail, from “drawing to shore” “sat down” and “cast the bad away.” Jesus used parables with circumstances that the people would hear and understand, and certainly in the area of the Galilee, the people understand seine fishing techniques, and by understanding seine fishing techniques, they could understand and comprehend that when God casts the net for the believers and followers of Jesus, that while everyone is pulled in, there will be a judgment, a sorting of people and the “unclean” will be sorted out and cast away into the “furnace of fire” while the “just” are placed in vessels prepared especially for them.
Wow... what a picture.
posted by ~serapha~ at 6:24 PM
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