Outer Darkness, Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Matthew 8:12

Matthew shared, “when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him. And saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” In chapter eight and verse twelve of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” where we read:

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness:

there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The verse reads, “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” or “moreover and” “the children” which means “the offspring of men, descendants and posterity of anyone” “of the kingdom” or “belonging to the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “shall be cast out” which refers to “will be driven out, sent out and compelled to depart” “into outer darkness” which means “into exterior ignorance respecting divine things and human duties and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality together with their consequent misery in hell”. Jesus shared how the “offspring of men” would be “thrown into and compelled to depart” toward “exterior misery and hell”.

The verse continues, “... there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew added the words, “there shall be weeping” or “where there exists lamentation, crying and wailing” “and gnashing” which means “snarling and growling in the sense of biting which is used to denote extreme anguish and utter despair of men consigned to eternal punishment in hell” “of teeth” which means “the teeth of men”. Matthew shared how there will be “lamentation, crying, wailing and extreme biting” within the “outer darkness” to which people shall be consigned.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we should notice the extremely horrific conditions which shall be in hell. God desires to save people from this horrible fate, however those who reject Him as the “Savior and Lord” shall know the pain and anguish which is associated with this terrible place. This is the reason for the “gospel” or “good news” of Jesus Christ who knows the fate and destiny of those who reject Him. Let all who read these ominous words consider the weight of such a horrible place that includes “Outer Darkness, Weeping and Gnashing of teeth”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus said, “Go your way, and as you have believed, so be it done unto you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.