The parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) is one of the "Kingdom Parables" Jesus used to explain spiritual realities. Jesus explicitly explained that the sorting of "good" and "bad" fish represents the judgment at the end of the age. Just as fishermen sort fish on the shore, Jesus stated that "the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous".

The parable concludes with the "bad" being thrown into a "furnace of fire". This is a symbol of the final day of reckoning for all humanity.