Definition: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible passage together. It’s a pretty rich and symbolic verse! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a gathering of people – or good things – and separating out the bad. It's about choosing who is valuable and worthy, and leaving behind those who aren’t. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Which, when it was full…” This refers to a time when something was complete or overflowing with something good – like a harvest, a pool of water, or even a group of people. It's about reaching a point of abundance. “…they drew to shore…” This is the key! "Shore" means the edge of a lake or ocean. The people moved closer to the edge of the fullness. They weren’t completely consumed, but they were focused on it. “…and sat down…” This suggests a pause and reflection. They were considering what to do with this abundance. It's not just about having something; it's about using it wisely. “…and gathered the good into vessels…” This means they carefully selected and collected the best, most valuable things – like precious metals, gems, or perhaps the most important people. "Vessels" are containers – a ship, a boat, etc. “…but cast the bad away.” This is the contrast. The "bad" represents anything negative or unworthy - maybe someone who wasn't kind, or something that was flawed. They discarded or removed the undesirable parts. So, putting it all together: The passage describes a time when something precious and good was abundant. People chose to focus on the best parts and carefully collected them into a safe place (the "vessels"). Then, they removed anything that wasn't valuable or beneficial. What does this mean in a broader sense? This is often interpreted as a metaphor for: The church: “Drawing to shore” represents the church being filled with God’s grace and truth. “Gathering the good” symbolizes spiritual growth and enlightenment. “Casting away the bad” represents resisting temptation, negativity, or harmful influences. Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you a few examples of how this principle applies to real-life situations (like choosing a career path)?