Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. (Matthew 13:47-48)

Inclusive and exclusive. Gathering and separating. Good and something else.

The good are very good indeed. The Greek is kalos. This is beautiful, refined, excellent in every way.

The others are not kalos. They are separated from the kalos. The Greek suggests a careless tossing.

But that which is separated is something other than the opposite of kalos. In Greek literature kakoi is the recurring opposite of kalos.

Instead the parable tells us the other are sapros. This can mean spoiled or overripe or...

The Greek poet Hermippus describes a mature wine as "smelling of violets, roses, and hyacinth." It is sapros, he said.

Above is an ancient Etruscan mural of fishing and hunting.