Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Luke 13:28

Luke the beloved physician wrote about Jesus, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not who you are. Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not who you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-eight of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “there shall be weeping an gnashing of teeth” where we read:

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

The verse reads, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, ...” Luke began with the words, “there shall be weeping” or “there will exist lamentation and wailing” “and gnashing of teeth” which means “and snarling, growling and a sense of biting of the physical teeth which was used to denote extreme anguish and utter despair of people consigned to eternal punishment in hell”. Luke shared how people would “lament and wail” as they “grind their teeth” in anguish after God banishes them from Him forever.

The verse goes on to say, “... when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Luke continued with the words, “when you shall see Abraham” or “at the time the people listening to Jesus will observe, perceive, notice and discern Abraham whose name means father of a multitude and was the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation”, “and Isaac” whose name means “laughter” and was “the son of Abraham and Sarah”, “and Jacob” or “and heel-catcher or supplanter” who was the second son of Abraham, “and all the prophets” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the men who were moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”, “in the kingdom of God” or “within the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule belonging to the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “and you yourselves thrust out” which means “the people listening to Jesus who rejected Him being driven and cast out” of God presence. Luke shared how the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” by those banished from God would occur as they observed “Abraham, Issac, Jacob and all the prophets” within God's Kingdom, but they were “driven out” of God's presence.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn of the physical and emotional devastation that will occur in people who have refused to receive Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Not only will God banish them from Himself as He “drives them out” of His presence, but they will physically respond by “wailing, lamenting and grinding their teeth” in anguish. This is a horrific destiny, and it does not have to be for anyone who is reading these words. Jesus Christ came to the earth to die for the sins of every person, and when they “believe and trust” in Him to “save, forgive and cleanse” them from their sins, they will have a personal relationship with God that allows them to live with Him forever. Those who refuse and reject Jesus have seen their future in Jesus' words, and woe be to those who do not humble themselves and receive Him as their “Savior”.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “they shall come from the east, west, north and south”, 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".