In the previous blog we saw what the Hebrew Tanakh says about gnashing of teeth and in this blog we will look at the Scriptures in the New Testament where weeping and gnashing of teeth are mentioned. That is, minus the texts from Matthew 24 and 25, five occurrences.
outside the Kingdom
In all these cases it concerns those who are placed outside the Kingdom and have no part in the Kingdom of the Messiah on earth. That is what this last pericope in Matthew 24 is about and especially what the parable of the two servants is about. Those who are placed outside the Kingdom will weep and gnash their teeth in anger and frustration.
the centurion
In Matthew 8:5-10, Jesus heals the servant of a centurion who says that the Lord does not need to come into his house because he is not worthy and that the Lord only has to speak a word and his servant will be healed. Jesus’ response to this is that He has not found such great faith even in Israel. Then it says:
Matthew 8
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and from the west, and shall dwell with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven,
12 But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
cast out of the kingdom
Many will come from the east and west, from the nations, and enter the Kingdom with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. While those of the Jewish people, whom the Lord here calls ’the sons of the Kingdom’, will not enter the Kingdom, but will stand outside. Although they were originally promised the Kingdom. The sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. We find something similar in:
Luke 13
25 From the time that the owner of the house wakes up and bolts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ And He will answer and say to you: I do not know you, whence are you?
(…)
28 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, and you are cast out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall recline at table in the kingdom of God.
Earlier we saw in the parable of the tares from Matthew 13, that at the end of the eon, the sons of the Kingdom and the sons of the evil one will be separated. The latter are presented in the parable as weeds.
Matthew 13
40 Just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so will it be in the end of the aeon.
41 The Son of Man will send his messengers, and they will gather out of his kingdom all snares, and those who practice lawlessness,
42 And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom.
out of the Kingdom
The unbelievers will be taken, gathered out of His Kingdom and removed. They are outside the Kingdom and are cast into the furnace of fire, which here is undoubtedly a picture of the lake of fire (Rev.19:20). The righteous (>believers), however, will shine in the Kingdom of their Father.
We also find this principle later in the same chapter, in the parable of the dragnet.
49 So shall it be in the end of the aeon. The messengers will go forth, and they will separate the wicked from among the righteous,
50 And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The wicked will be separated from the righteous at the end of the aeon and will not enter the Kingdom. This is also the case a few chapters later.
Matthew 22
11 And the king came in to see those reclining at table, and he saw a man there who had not put on a wedding garment.
12 And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither without a wedding garment? And he became speechless.
13 And the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
inside or outside
In Matthew 22 there is mention of a wedding hall as a representation of the Kingdom. We will see the same thing later in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. A divorce also takes place here. The Kingdom will be established on this earth and that is why we already saw that unbelievers will be taken out of His Kingdom (Matt.22:41). Here someone is unlawfully in the wedding hall and we see him being cast out. From the light (Rev.21:11, 23-24) of the Kingdom (>the wedding hall) to the outer darkness, outside the Kingdom.
conclusion meaning ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’
The weeping and gnashing of teeth in Scripture is never an expression of pain, but always of anger, frustration and enmity. It is associated with those who will have no part in the Kingdom and will be outside of it. Religious Judaism excludes others, but will itself be excluded. They thought they were the chosen people, but many of them will not participate in the Kingdom, causing great anger and frustration