“Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth” In Matthew Q. What does “weeping and gnashing of teeth” mean in the Matthew parables? A. The term “weeping and gnashing of teeth” appears seven times in Scripture: Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51 25:30 and Luke 13:28. Four of the Matthew passages (8:12; 22:13; 24:51: 25:30) refer to the remorse a Christian might experience after being cast out from the light of the Lord’s presence. The remaining three passages (Matthew 13:42, 50 and Luke 13:28), however, refer to non-believers and the anguish in hell that they might experience. Because of these two totally opposite applications of the same term, much confusion has resulted and many have automatically associated “weeping and gnashing of teeth” with hell, not realizing that there are other Scriptural uses. The word “gnashing,” or gnash is Strong’s #2786 in the Old Testament and #1030 in the New Testament. This term is found throughout the Bible and can express disappointment or grief rather than anger . See Psalm 35:16; 37:12; 112:10. Gnashing means to give out a creaking or grating sound, i.e., like the grinding of teeth. It’s a vivid representation of the misery of disappointed expectations . So, the true meaning of this phrase needs to come from the context of the Biblical passages. Again, there is nothing inherent in the expression which automatically associates it with unbelievers. In the Septuagint Version of the Bible, the term is used in reference to Joseph (Genesis 45:2; 46:29); the Israelites weeping over Moses death (Deuteronomy 34:8); and God’s anger towards Job (Job 16:9). Anger and rage, however, is indicated by the same terminology in Acts 7:54; Lam.2:16; Job 16:9; and Mark 9:18. It is clear, then, that this term is not used strictly for those suffering in hell. Most of us don’t understand that there will be “weeping” in the Millennium. Revelation 7:17 (referring to the Tribulation Saints) tells us, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them , and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters ; and [as a result] He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” In other words, after He feeds them and after He leads them to the living fountains, He will wipe away their tears. So there will be tears in the kingdom that God will wipe away. (Note: some of the Scriptures in Isaiah that speak about there being “ no more sorrow and tears” are referring either to these same Tribulation Saints or to the final, eternal state at the end of the Millennium. (See Isaiah 25:8; 35:10; 51:11; 60:20; 65:19) Therefore, it’s not until the New Heavens and the New Earth that weeping will cease altogether . Revelation 21:4 says, “ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…” So, “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is really a figure of speech that can evoke the idea of a “severe rebuke followed by profound regret,” and not necessarily the experience of the unsaved in hell. Again, be a Bearean. (Acts 17:11)
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 18:56:00 +0000
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