The gospel ‘net’ extends to catch anything it can… It must gather into itself ‘all manner of fish,’ some are good and some are bad… the angels will pick through the ‘net’ and gather out of it ‘the good’ fish to be kept.
Galilee · Teaching in Parables
Hidden Treasure, Pearl & the Net
The day of parables closes with three more likenesses of the kingdom and a word about the teacher himself: a treasure a man finds and sells all to secure, a pearl a merchant sells all to buy, a net that gathers every kind until the good are kept and the bad cast away — and the scribe of the kingdom who brings out of his treasure things new and old.
Matt 13:44–521 of 5 accountsReading: CCE
Study — reading text with parallel accounts; changes available.
? How to read this edition
The reading is the Covenant Christian Edition — the Joseph Smith Translation reading — carried beside each Gospel and set against the King James baseline. Headers give both numbering systems: the CCE chapter and verse, and the traditional KJV reference.
JST
Green — Joseph Smith Translation. Where the Covenant Christian Edition departs in substance from the King James text and the change is in the JST (confirmed against the parallel-column edition). Modernized English (“has” for “hath,” “you” for “thou”) is not marked.
CCE
Burgundy — Covenant Christian Edition. Where the CCE’s reading departs from the King James but the change is not in the Joseph Smith Translation — the CCE’s own editorial reading (e.g. “this day I have begotten you” at the baptism).
DS
Plum — Testimony of St. John. The TSJ (a separate scripture text) and Denver Snuffer’s later commentary share the plum mark.
Each movement Joseph discusses carries a JS link down to his letter; the letter carries a roman-numeral link back up to the movement.
I
The Hidden TreasureMt
A man finds a treasure hidden in a field and, for joy, sells all that he has to secure it and buy the field. The kingdom is worth everything one has.
Mt 13:44
44Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. And when a man has found a treasure which is hidden, he secures it, and immediately, for joy thereof, goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
II
The Pearl of Great PriceMt
A merchant seeking goodly pearls finds one of great price and sells all that he has to buy it. The one thing worth all is found, and all is given for it.
Mt 13:45–46
45Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
III
The NetMt
A net cast into the sea gathers of every kind; when it is full, the good are gathered into vessels and the bad cast away. So at the end of the world the angels sever the wicked from the just.
Mt 13:47–50
47Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world — and the world is the children of the wicked. The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just 50and shall cast them out into the world to be burned. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
IV
Things New and OldMt
Asked whether they have understood, the disciples say yes; and Jesus likens every scribe instructed in the kingdom to a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.
Mt 13:51–52
51Jesus said unto them, Have you understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52Then he said unto them, Every scribe well-instructed in the things of the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a householder, a man therefore who brings forth out of his treasure that which is new and old.
JS
Joseph’s 1835 letter, concluded
Joseph Smith on the Treasure, the Pearl, and the Net
The 1835 letter closes its run through Matthew 13 by reading these last parables as the gathering: the treasure and the pearl as the Saints selling all to gather to Zion, the net as the seed of Joseph spreading the gospel net over the earth, and the householder’s things new and old as the Book of Mormon, the covenants, and the translation of the Bible.
Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 Nov.–1 Dec. 1835 · Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (Dec. 1835) · Joseph Smith Papers ↗But to illustrate more clearly this gathering, we have another parable:
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The Saints work after this pattern. See the Church of the Latter-day Saints selling all that they have and gathering themselves together unto a place that they may purchase for an inheritance, that they may be together and bear each other’s afflictions in the day of calamity.
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The Saints again work after this example. See men traveling to find places for Zion and her stakes or remnants, who, when they find the place for Zion, or the pearl of great price, straightway sell that they have, and buy it.
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
For the work of this pattern, behold the seed of Joseph spreading forth the gospel net upon the face of the earth, gathering of every kind, that the good may be saved in vessels prepared for that purpose, and the angels will take care of the bad. So shall it be at the end of the world — the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just.
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed in the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things that are new and old.
For the works of this example, see the Book of Mormon coming forth out of the treasure of the heart; also the covenants given to the Latter-day Saints, also the translation of the Bible — thus bringing forth out of the heart things new and old, thus answering to three measures of meal undergoing the purifying touch by a revelation of Jesus Christ and the ministering of angels, who have already commenced this work in the last days, which will answer to the leaven which leavened the whole lump. Amen.
So I close, but shall continue the subject in another number — in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant.
DS
Latter-day witness
Denver Snuffer on the Net
Denver Snuffer reads the gospel net as two processes — first the wide cast that gathers every kind, good and bad, and then the angels who pick through it at the end and keep out the good.
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