[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:20) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You are listening to Christian Questions. Experience more episodes, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.
Our topic is: "What does 'Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth' Mean?" --an exclusive listener Q&A series. Here's Rick and Julie.
[Rick] (0:22 - 0:28) Welcome everyone, I'm Rick, I'm joined by Julie, a longtime contributor. Julie, what's our theme scripture for this episode?
[Julie] (0:29 - 0:45) Matthew 13:41-42: "The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
[Rick] (0:46 - 1:47) In Part I of this series, we looked into what Jesus really meant when he talked about "hell" and "unquenchable fire." "Gehenna," the word Jesus used for hell, describes a valley in which horrible acts of idolatry occurred. God proclaimed that this valley would be known as a "Valley of Slaughter," a valley that would symbolize utter destruction. Further, we discovered that when Jesus spoke of "unquenchable fire," he was referring to Old Testament fires of destruction that would burn until there was nothing left to be consumed. While these realizations take the eternal torture in flames out of the concept of hell, we still have other words of Jesus to consider. What about all of the times that Jesus said some would experience "weeping and gnashing of teeth?" What was he describing? The phrase "weeping (or wailing) and gnashing of teeth" is used only by Jesus, and it's used seven different times.
[Julie] (1:47 - 2:03) Six times in Matthew and once in Luke, and some believe this expression describes a terrible fate of extreme pain and misery in hell that includes never-ending anguish and regret for not following Jesus in this lifetime. Rick, what's our position on this phrase?
[Rick] (2:03 - 2:50) We believe that all seven uses of this phrase express a deep regret related to a great loss of opportunity throughout and at the end of the age of the gospel. This loss is most often experienced by classes of people and sometimes by individuals, and it is not related to a final torment after death, and it does not last forever. That's our view.
Why do we think that? We're going to go through the scriptures and lay them out. This regret of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" will take place as Christ's kingdom is underway, and the sorting out of who gets what resurrection begins to be made clear. Let's set that context with John 5:28-29:
[Julie] (2:50 - 3:37) "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment." This scripture is very pivotal because it shows that we've got these two broad categories of resurrection; "life" and "judgment." The "resurrection of life" is for those who have already been tested, they've been found faithful, and in heaven that's the most faithful "church class" and the less faithful "great company," also called the "great multitude." Then there's the faithful ones of old--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and many others who were born before Jesus. Some of these faithful ones are highlighted in Hebrews 11. They're resurrected back on earth, and we sometimes refer to those as the "ancient worthies."
[Rick] (3:37 - 3:51) The "resurrection of judgment?" Everybody else. Everybody else! That judgment we know is not a resurrection of final judgment. It was a resurrection of a judgment time, a resurrection of a time which we know is the time of reconciliation.
[Julie] (3:52 - 3:53) Where do they get resurrected?
[Rick] (3:53 - 4:22) It's an earthly resurrection. It's very plain, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven." We're putting the resurrections and we're sorting them out and that's where "weeping and gnashing of teeth," that's where it applies. Every instance of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is the result of a squandered opportunity relating to the gospel. It's part of personal accountability. Let's look at a couple of scriptures that give us the sense of personal accountability. Julie, let's start with Matthew 12:36:
[Julie] (4:23 - 4:40) "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." I'll add John 12:48: "He who rejects me (Jesus) and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day."
[Rick] (4:40 - 4:59) In the Matthew scripture, it was judgment based on words. In the John scripture, it's a judgment based on actions. Words and actions together create this "resurrection of judgment." You have to look at what you've done, what you've said, how you've been, and you respond to that. That's where we're putting the "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
[Julie] (5:00 - 5:25) Let's define those. "Weeping," sometimes translated as "wailing," like you said, means "lamentation." This is a deep emotional response.
It shows great sadness or regret. It never refers to physical pain. Now, in Matthew and in Acts, there's two other times that it indicates mourning.
"Gnashing" is, you clench your teeth with great pressure and you show great disappointment or distress at having failed. That's the "gnashing of teeth."
[Rick] (5:25 - 6:05) Those are two very simple words that have very straightforward meanings. How do they apply in scripture? Well, we've got these seven examples.
We're going to go through all seven. The first two examples of Jesus teaching about "weeping and gnashing of teeth" were focused on the Jewish nation at the time of Jesus in his first advent. In this first example, which is "The Parable of The Closed Door," Jesus was graphically illustrating the depth of loss that would come to those who at that time rejected him as their Messiah. Julie, Luke 13:25-28, we're going to drop in to the middle of the story.
[Julie] (6:05 - 7:01) Sure, and let me give you just a little bit of context. Jesus' Jewish audience is asking him, "Master, are there only a few who will answer what you're calling them to?" Jesus gives them this parable of the door of opportunity coming to a close. He's trying to focus them on what they're going to miss if they don't follow him as the Messiah--a dramatic opportunity of favor. We start the scriptures in verse 25: "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you...stand outside and knock on the door, saying, Lord, open up to us! then he will answer and say to you, I do not know where you are from. Then you will...say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets; and he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out."
[Rick] (7:01 - 7:31) These were the first to be offered the invitation to be Jesus's followers and have the highest favor. Who had the highest favor up to that point? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the prophets.
They were the righteous ones from their times. Jesus is telling the Jews at that time, you can be righteous too. You can be in that same kind of category, favored of God.
But in this parable, what Jesus is saying is, but you're missing it and you're going to be thrown out of that favored place, that favored opportunity like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
[Julie] (7:31 - 7:54) If I was going to summarize this, this was directed primarily at the Jews living at the time of Jesus who had the opportunity to follow him. When they are raised from the dead and realize that opportunity they gave up--it was to be in heaven as part of his called-out ones--they're going to be sad and upset with themselves. The Bible does promise the Jewish nation will still have great favor from God, but it just won't be in this same way.
[Rick] (7:55 - 8:46) Exactly. But there is a loss that they had because Jesus was right in front of them. This is the consternation of this loss. This "weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes the deep regret of great loss. I'm going to say this again and again; there is no hint of eternal torture here. There's no hint that that "weeping and gnashing of teeth" goes on forever and ever and ever. It's a response that needs to be reconciled. That's what the Day of Judgment is for. Let's go on to our second example. The faithful centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant--I'm sure everybody remembers that--Jesus volunteered to go to his home and the centurion responded, no, no, no, I'm unworthy! As one who possessed authority, the centurion told Jesus, look, all you have to do is say the word. I know that, I command other men; and the healing would take place. He showed great, great faith. Let's look at Matthew 8:10-13:
[Julie] (8:46 - 9:37) "Now when Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who were following, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed. And the servant was healed that very moment." Aside from having goosebumps at that story, Jesus here is very pleased with the faith of this Gentile centurion.
But again, we've got Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. This time they're at a table. We have weeping, we have gnashing of teeth, but with a twist. It's now as a result of being cast into "outer darkness." What's happening?
[Rick] (9:38 - 10:40) We've added "outer darkness" to it. "Outer darkness"--why? In the first example, we saw a clear view of some Jews of Jesus' day rejecting him.
He was telling them of the sorrow and the consternation this rejection would bring at losing their place at the table of God's faithful individuals. That's the key -- their place at the table of God's faithful individuals. They could have been there, but they weren't.
Here in the second example with this centurion, this Roman centurion. The same sorrow and consternation exists, but now they're being replaced at this table of God's favor by a Gentile! You can't get more frustrating than that! What do you mean they get that favor and I don't?! You can see this "weeping and gnashing of teeth" crashing into reality. "Outer darkness" symbolized the blindness of the world without God, without the enlightenment of God's favor. They were put out of that and the centurion, and those like him, would be brought into it.
[Julie] (10:40 - 10:44) Rather than this being about being burned eternally, this is a role reversal.
[Rick] (10:44 - 10:45) Yes.
[Julie] (10:45 - 11:07) The "sons of the kingdom" who have this "weeping and gnashing of teeth," they probably include the scribes and Pharisees. They lost this great opportunity. They lament their loss. This is about those who have come to Christ, having been called out of darkness. These Gentiles were figuratively in "outer darkness" because they weren't favored by God at all, but they came out of the darkness into the light.
[Rick] (11:07 - 11:24) How do we know that for sure? We know that because we always look to use scripture to prove scripture. Let's look at Isaiah 60:1-3, and as we go through the scripture, take note of who's in what place in terms of light and darkness:
[Julie] (11:24 - 12:00) "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." That's interesting, because you've got this "outer darkness" that the Gentiles were in--that's the temporary blindness of the world without this enlightenment of God's favor. A loss of God's favor brings you to darkness, but it's not permanent. These Gentiles came back.
[Rick] (12:00 - 12:54) That's the point! We're showing that what Jesus is doing is what he's always done. When he tells stories, when he speaks parables, when he gives illustrations, he bases them on the Old Testament and he's got a solid foundation. Here's the problem, folks: We use our imaginations. We have for generations and generations and generations to say, "Hey, this is what this must mean," instead of using scripture to say, "Ah! this is what it means because the Old Testament verifies it." That's why we see "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in a very different perspective, because we see, in this case, that "outer darkness" being someplace outside of God's favor, logically, because it's not burning forever. It talks about the world being in "outer darkness" right now. They're not burning forever. They're just lost. They're just lost. "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes the deep regret of great loss. It does not symbolize eternal torture.
[Julie] (12:54 - 13:09) Right. These first two examples, they apply to a specific time, to a specific people, regarding the Jewish loss of God's favor and opportunity to have a better resurrection. With the centurion, this example could also apply to Christians in general as well.
[Rick] (13:10 - 13:46) Let's move forward now. The focus is now going to broaden beyond the Jews of Jesus' time to the gospel preached to all nations. The centurion sort of introduced us to that. Now in example three, we are going to be looking at the "Parable of the Wedding Guest." Now this is the wedding guest that goes to the wedding but he doesn't have the wedding garment. We don't have time to read the entire parable, Matthew 22:1-13. We're going to skip over. You can read that on your own to get the context, but Julie, let's pick up with the consequences of being at this wedding feast and not wearing this wedding garment; Matthew 22:11-14:
[Julie] (13:46 - 14:17) "But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes? And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." Well Rick, this seems a little harsh for wearing the wrong outfit, but we do know that a parable always has layers of meaning.
See what I did there? Layers...like clothing?
[Rick] (14:18 - 15:06) I did see that. That was very, very well placed.
Now, but here's the thing; a parable, the thing said, is not the thing meant. Let's remember that when we look at the fact that you're talking about clothing and "weeping and gnashing of teeth." Those are both symbols and that's the important thing. This is a stark lesson of choice and loss for all who are called to the heavenly calling. The garment in question is--we're interpreting it--the merit of Christ. The individual had this glorious opportunity and yet he didn't comply with the opportunity. He was too willful. He was too full of himself and he had no excuse when the master says to him, what's going on here?
It says he was speechless. He had no excuse. Now in the parable it says the binding "hand and foot" signifies tying the guy up and carrying him out.
[Julie] (15:07 - 15:07) Yeah. That's a little harsh.
[Rick] (15:08 - 15:17) It does. It signifies the removal of all of his influence from that opportunity. He was now not able to affect others in what he was doing.
[Julie] (15:17 - 15:20) It's not a literal binding...
Rick: Right!
Julie: ... it just means he can't do anything.
[Rick] (15:20 - 15:47) It's a parable. It's a story. When have you ever seen that happen?
Really, you've got to think about this! This is a Gospel Age picture. He couldn't go where he wanted.
He couldn't do what he wanted to do. Alright, it's just very very simple. He's then cast into "outer darkness," away from the light of favor because he didn't "clothe" himself. He didn't "take on" what he needed to take on to accept the beauty of this. A parallel scripture of how this works is Matthew 5:20:
[Julie] (15:47 - 15:53) "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
[Rick] (15:54 - 16:15) There's a parallel here because the scribes and Pharisees acted the part but they weren't the part. They weren't the people who accepted Jesus but they acted as though they were holy. Well, in this parable you have this man acting the part but not being the part because he's not putting Jesus upon him. That's the principle that's being described here.
[Julie] (16:16 - 17:15) We want to encourage our listeners to get the CQ Rewind Show Notes for this episode. We list every scripture, much of our discussion, and also recommendations for other episodes that will go deeper into these individual examples. Also, please write us at [email protected] if you have any questions. In summary about this particular parable, the king here is God. He's preparing a wedding for His son Jesus. The invitations were first sent to the entire Jewish nation during Jesus' three-and-a-half-year ministry, but it says his own "received him not." They were unwilling to come to this parable wedding. But the wedding would proceed and it explains how Israel's refusal to accept Messiah necessitated the invitation had to go out to others, the Gentiles, to fill the needed number. Without this proper "attire," you said, of the covering of Christ, he's then cast into "outer darkness" away from the light of favor because he didn't "clothe" himself to accept it. There's a consequence for not doing what he should have done.
[Rick] (17:15 - 18:19) Right. The whole point of the parable is to be clothed with Christ. That's the way to acceptability.
When you are playing the part without being the part and are tossed out, you're found out. There's great regret because--I was so close! I was right there! But this "weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes deep regret of great loss. Just like this parable said, it is not eternal torture. There's nothing in here that says it's going to go on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever. It just says there's great regret. You can see why. What a loss! Let's move on. Our fourth example: "The Parable of the Talents." Again, this is a parable that most of us are very familiar with.
The different servants are given a different number of talents. They're told to go and trade to make those talents go to work. The servant who received the one talent did at the time of his accountability, contrary to what we just read in this previous parable, this guy was loaded with excuses.
Remember the last guy was speechless. This guy...very different! Matthew 25:24-26, 28 <EDITOR'S NOTE: verse 30 was also read.>:
[Julie] (18:19 - 18:48) " ...Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed..." Well, that's interesting. He's blaming his master for why he didn't do this. "... And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what's yours. But his master...said to him, You wicked, lazy slave...take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten... Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
[Rick] (18:49 - 19:39) Very similar. "Throw out the...slave out into the outer darkness... there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Notice he didn't have to be bound "hand and foot." He was on the inside working, or supposedly working. This is another pointed lesson to those called into the light of the gospel. In this example, those called into the light of the gospel are accepted into the Master's service and given God's spirit. They are given opportunities to directly benefit the Master's cause but--never like what comes after that word--but instead, they bury those opportunities under their own preoccupation with the world. Here, here's what's yours.
It just was this incredible loss! Incredible opportunity! But no, they didn't act on it. When you realize--Wow! Look at what I didn't do! That is a cause for great, great regret.
[Julie] (19:40 - 19:42) He didn't act on it, but others did.
[Rick] (19:42 - 19:42) Yes.
[Julie] (19:42 - 19:43) They were very profitable at it.
[Rick] (19:43 - 19:44) Right!
[Julie] (19:45 - 20:11) So you know it was possible. If I was going to summarize that, "outer darkness" here means to be surrounded with worldly influence, out of God's favor. That was fitting for this servant because he hid that one talent in the earth. Still no talk of torture, fire, or eternal darkness. Just like the Jews, any Christian given this opportunity to the gospel who doesn't use it will lose that privilege. They're going to be sorrowful. There's still hope for them, but it's a different hope than they would have had.
[Rick] (20:11 - 20:27) We're seeing a consistency. Different examples, different time frames, but a consistency here. "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes what? Deep regret of great loss. It does not speak of eternal torment.
[Julie] (20:28 - 20:45) The actions in our four examples so far have all taken place throughout the time since Jesus came, and they all have the same theme; losing the opportunity to be a true follower of Jesus. But it's not final judgment. Something changes with these next examples.
[Rick] (20:45 - 21:24) You're right. The next two "weeping and gnashing of teeth" examples have very specific "end-of-the-age" applications. In our fifth example, it's the "Parable of the Wheat and the Tares." That's another parable that we're very, very familiar with. This is the "end-of-the-age" harvest, and it adds another dimension. By harvest ... what's a harvest? It's when all of the planting has been done, all the growth has happened, and now you're bringing in the benefits of all of that growing for the entire season. It's the end of the season, it's the end of the age, it's the end of the Gospel Age. That's what the parable describes.
In this new dimension, this brings in a "furnace of fire." Let's look at Matthew 13:38-43.
[Julie] (21:25 - 22:22) This is especially important to us because we are living now at the end of the age in this harvest. The scripture says this: "And the field is the world...the good seed...are the sons of the kingdom...the tares are the sons of the evil one (Satan)...the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." Finally, here at our first "end-of-the-age" example, we get fire. There's fire associated with "weeping and gnashing of teeth," but what does this mean? Why is it showing up so much later in relation to this specific time frame?
[Rick] (22:23 - 22:51) We're looking at the end of the age. What is this furnace of fire? Is this furnace of fire the "hell" that many Christians believe in? The answer is no! It is unequivocally not. It is the "time of trouble," the great "time of trouble." How do we know that? Because we seek to prove scripture with scripture. Let's go back to Malachi 4:1. It talks about a specific day, and just listen to how it explains that day:
[Julie] (22:51 - 23:23) "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." Okay, so this reference is a time at the end of the age when the gospel message is still going out. It's a great time of trouble before the Day of Judgment when everyone's resurrected, but this does make it sound like God is setting evildoers on fire; "sets them ablaze," "every evildoer..."
[Rick] (23:23 - 24:45) Hang on, hang on, hang on. It says "the day...will set them ablaze." What it's saying is the time in which this happens, "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation" (that's in Daniel 12) that sets everything to a destructive mode, because this "time of trouble" reduces everything to rubble and ash. It's not talking about burning individuals. It's talking about the taking down of the false systems. Nobody's burning in fire, but everything is being taken down and destroyed because that's one of the things fire does. Fire consumes and destroys. This parable is specifically an "end-of-the-age" picture that is shown as a "furnace of fire," both in Malachi and in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares that we just read previous to that. Let's sum all of this up. This parable refers specifically to separating out the false Christian systems--not people, systems--at the end of the Gospel Age. The false Christian systems-- why do we say systems, not people? Simple! Because you have the planting at the beginning of the age, and then you have the harvesting and the destruction at the end of the age. Well, there's 2,000 years in between.
You can't have somebody starting and ending it. It doesn't show you individuals, it shows you systems. The next point, the tares, these false systems are destroyed in fire.
They're not tortured, they're destroyed.
[Julie] (24:46 - 24:53) Yeah, well a tare is a weed, it can't really be tortured. Again, so this is a parable, we can't take its components literally.
[Rick] (24:53 - 25:03) Right, next point; this is the "furnace of fire" of the great "time of trouble." This is not the Gehenna of scripture, which is the "second death."
[Julie] (25:04 - 25:20) It's important when topically studying "hell," "weeping and gnashing of teeth," this Greek word "Gehenna" that we looked at last week, the Greek word "Hades"...they all represent distinctly different kinds of judgments, which makes this study really exciting. You can't just lump them in all together.
[Rick] (25:20 - 25:30) We have to differentiate, because Jesus is making important points about regret. The weeping and so forth refers to the anger and lamenting at being exposed as false.
[Julie] (25:31 - 25:31) ... and hypocritical.
[Rick] (25:32 - 25:59) Then this is a pre-judgment day expression here in this Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. "As the righteous will shine"--that's what it says in Matthew 13:43 of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares--they will "shine" once this separation has been completed. There's something good that follows, and we know that that is the resurrection of judgment, which is actually the resurrection of reconciliation for all mankind on earth.
[Julie] (25:59 - 26:20) Quick summary; the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares isn't about individual people, it's about the process of the development of the true church. The true church develops in an environment where there's a lot of corruption, there's false church systems -- we can see that around us now -- and if the two are developing together until the harvest time, there has to be some sort of sifting out or separation work.
[Rick] (26:21 - 26:32) Absolutely. What do we get from this? "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes the deep regret of great loss. It does not symbolize eternal torture! There's nothing hinted at eternal torture here.
[Julie] (26:32 - 26:42) Again, we're only covering the really high-level points on these examples, so get the CQ Rewind Show Notes and email us with any questions at [email protected].
[Rick] (26:42 - 26:49) Next example is example number six, the "Parable of the Dragnet" that's cast into the sea. Matthew 13:47-50:
[Julie] (26:50 - 27:38) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Okay, "end of the age," this is the comparison to when these fish get separated. We've got a time marker on this one. It's that same time period as we just read with the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. There's a final separation and a judgment taking place within the religious systems.
Our "weeping and gnashing of teeth" here has a "furnace of fire," but no more "outer darkness." Why? Where's the outer darkness?
[Rick] (27:39 - 28:27) Yeah, it's "the furnace of fire." That's essentially what's happened, because you've run out of time. Let's expand that.
Okay, what's been added by these two examples? Previously to the end-of-the-age pictures, "outer darkness" meant loss of favor that was a result of the weeping. The loss of favor--you're out of God's favor, you're far away, you were in and now you're out. This went on throughout the entire Gospel Age. Now that you're at the end, the "outer darkness" is ended, because now it's time for destruction. It's time for everything to be taken down so God's kingdom can be built up.
Daniel 2:44: "...in that day I will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed..." It talks about a kingdom on earth. That's the timing here. The "outer darkness" is ended, the time to destroy all systems opposed to God has arrived, so you have the "outer darkness" expired and now it's simply destruction because there's no more time left.
[Julie] (28:27 - 28:38) We've talked about this before. There's not a renovation of the existing systems. It's a complete take down to nothing, and that's what this fire is supposed to do; get rid of it all so we can build back up.
[Rick] (28:38 - 29:16) Exactly, exactly, exactly! But again, "weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes deep regret of great loss at the "end-of-the-age," just like during the Gospel Age, just like the Jews at the time of Jesus; the same kind of regrets. It doesn't show eternal torture.
Nothing hints at eternal torture. Let's go to our final example of "weeping and gnashing of teeth." This one is different, much more clearly individually focused.
Example seven is after Jesus' great prophecy of his return and the conditions within Christianity at that return. He gives this parable about an individual; Matthew 24:44-51.
[Julie] (29:17 - 29:43) We're going to read this out of the Weymouth Translation: "...you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect him that the Son of Man will come. Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the appointed time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes shall find so doing! In solemn truth I tell you that he will give him the management of all his wealth.
[Rick] (29:43 - 29:45) This sounds really, really good so far!
[Julie] (29:45 - 29:48) Yeah, this man, this servant, is doing what he's supposed to be doing.
[Rick] (29:48 - 29:48) Right.
[Julie] (29:48 - 30:18) Continuing with verse 48-- uh-oh! This isn't good: "But if the man, being a bad servant, should say in his heart, My master is a long time in coming, and should begin to beat his fellow servants, while he eats and drinks with drunkards; the master of that servant will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him and at an hour of which he has not been informed; he will treat him with the utmost severity (you might have heard the King James Version translate that as "cut him asunder") and assign him a place among the hypocrites..."
[Rick] (30:19 - 30:22) This place has already been established by our previous examples.
[Julie] (30:22 - 30:25) "... there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
[Rick] (30:25 - 31:57) This is a somewhat unique example as it's focused on personal responsibility, especially one person specifically here, but personal responsibility as a principle. It highlights the potential consequences for this servant appointed to dispense appropriate spiritual food, if he should not be entirely faithful to his task.
There is a consequence, a MAJOR consequence, for not following through on the goodness and the opportunity and the privilege and the grace that you've been given! That's what this whole "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is. This example really sums it up. This example truly teaches that with great privilege comes great responsibility and blessing, as well as the potential for great loss! The greater the leadership, the greater the potential fall. This is a sobering example of "weeping and gnashing of teeth." Now look, it doesn't say the servant is going to do that. It says if he does fall short, he would have incredible regret. We see the potential.
"Weeping and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes what? Deep regret of great loss, not eternal torture. It's that simple.
There's a lot of responsibility here. Let's look this over as we wrap this up. We've seen "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in several different ways. First, through the Jewish nation at Jesus' first advent being given an exclusive invitation to become part of his church. Their inaction opened the door for the Gentiles to follow.
[Julie] (31:57 - 32:07) That applied to our first two examples, the Parable of the Closed Door and the Faithful Centurion. The Jewish nation was called to accept Jesus as their Messiah, but as we saw, they didn't respond.
[Rick] (32:08 - 32:20) The second point; all Christians throughout this age of the gospel since the time of Jesus up till now, whether they are false or true Christians, this "weeping and gnashing of teeth" consequence applies to them as well.
[Julie] (32:20 - 32:33) We saw that in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet and the Parable of the Talents. Every Christian in the last 2,000 years has had to either individually move forward and follow Jesus or be shown as unfaithful and regret later.
[Rick] (32:33 - 32:42) Absolutely! It makes so much more sense now. The next application; Christianity at the end of the age, as the false systems are destroyed for their hypocrisy.
[Julie] (32:42 - 32:47) Yeah, we saw that in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares and the Parable of the Dragnet. That was systems, not individuals.
[Rick] (32:48 - 32:55) Absolutely! Finally, the individual challenges to those who are given great responsibility.
[Julie] (32:55 - 33:28) Especially leadership, and this was shown in Jesus's prophecy of his return. "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" applies to accountability in following Jesus. It's in different time frames for different groups of people. Sometimes it's individuals, sometimes it's systems. It's interesting to me that in five out of these seven examples, the only time that this phrase is used are parables; stories to teach a lesson that's often symbolic of something else. Yet today, we use emojis to represent a whole range of meanings with just one symbol.
This "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is like an emoji.
[Rick] (33:28 - 34:33) It is. It's a tremendous, tremendous symbol, and it's a very sobering lesson here, because what we are seeing with this sobering lesson is the opportunity to do good and the opportunity to let go of doing good. The sobering lesson is that once Jesus proclaimed the gospel, no one associated with it is left out of the potential for the regret and loss that brings this "weeping and gnashing of teeth." It sounds like a pretty sad note to end on, so let's end with this: Rather than succumb to giving in and giving up and being sidetracked and going the wrong direction, let's take the lesson and say, "That's not going to be me! I am going to do the things I must do! I will live a life of sacrifice. I will honor God with every part of me so that I can give back blessing because I've received so much blessing!" Think about it.
Folks, we love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com. Next week: "What Does Being A Good Samaritan Really Mean?"
Final Notes: copyright @2024 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.