This expression occurs only 7 times and always with reference to the eternal judgment of the unbeliever. It has nothing to do with the reward seat of Christ or with believers.
Matthew 8:11-12
In reference to the faith of the Gentile centurion, Jesus said, “I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”
“Many will come from East and west and recline with Abe, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
This is a reference to Gentile participation in the mil kingdom (believers of course).
But the sons of the kingdom: This is a reference to the Israelites, for whom the kingdom was designed as promised to Abe. However, THESE are unbelievers and no unbeliever will be allowed entrance into the mil kingdom.

Luke 13:28-30 shows us that Jesus had the unbelieving Pharisees in mind when He said, “weeping and gnashing of teeth there when YOU see Abe . . . and YOURSELVES being cast out.”
Thus, cast out into the outer darkness, which is eternal torment in the lake of fire.

Mat. 13:42, 50, “furnace of fire . . . weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

It is called “the gloom of the darkness” at 2Peter 2:17 and Jude 13.

“Weeping and gnashing” is an expression of extreme pain and torment which is what will be experienced in this “place” of judgment. Rev. 14:9-11.

Darkness could refer to physical darkness, and the eternal “smoke” might contribute to that. However, it probably refers to the fact that the unbeliever will exist in spiritual darkness away from the face (presence) of the Lord (2 Thes. 1:9). God is light.

There are two kingdom parables at Matthew 13 that communicate the separation of unbeliever OUT FROM the believer; the tares and the dragnet. Both show the unbeliever being removed out from the world, leaving only believers to go alive into the mil kingdom.

The tares are taken out FIRST and thrown into the fire.
The bad fish are taken away from the good fish. “The angels shall come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This is what is described at Matthew 25:31-46. It is a second advent context with two stages in view.
First stage: “when the Son of man comes in His glory and all the angels with Him.”
This is the ONE AND ONLY second coming of Jesus which will initiate the Day of the Lord; the gathering of the elect; and the start of the judgment on the unbelieving earth dwellers who remain behind (trumpets and bowls). Then after an unknown amount of time, the judgments will culminate with the Armageddon campaign after which He will sit on His throne and separate the living unbelievers OUT FROM the living believers.
Second stage: “then He will sit on His glorious throne” and He will separate the sheep from the goats; the unbelieving Gentiles out from the believing Gentiles.
And the unbelievers will be cast into the “eternal fire” (eternal punishment).
This will also happen for the Jewish people as seen at Ezekiel 34:7-22 (fat and lean sheep).

Matthew 25:14-30 the parable of the talents.
The details are not directly pertinent to this study, but can be found here:
Basically, there is ONE reward: The faithful ones (believers) will “enter into the joy of your master.”
And there is ONE punishment: the unfaithful one (unbeliever) will be “cast into the outer darkness; weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 22:9-13

The man without wedding garments is the Gentile unbeliever who is cast into outer darkness; weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24:45-51, Parables use everyday things to communicate spiritual concepts. The use of “slave” does not necessarily mean it is referring to a believer. Details at:

The slave is someone who is owned by the master and OWES the master obedience. Every member of the human race is responsible to relate to God on God’s terms. This can only happen when a person first trusts in the promised savior.

The faithful slave is the unbeliever who responds to the gospel.

The evil slave is the unbeliever who rejects the gospel.

The unbeliever fails to fulfill God’s purpose for him and will be assigned a place with the hypocrites; weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Questions and comments are always welcome

Return to BIBLE FRAGRANCES index

©Ron Wallace, http://www.biblefragrances.com. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it,
but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's consent.

Home | Recent Additions | Studies | Commentary

Prophecy | Articles | Topical | About Us