When these metaphors are taken literally and out of context, their imagery might appear quite terrifying, akin to a vivid depiction of the Augustinian-Calvinist hellfire:
But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:12
They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:42
Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13
Many Christians envision Hellfire as a place where millions perpetually weep and gnash their teeth day and night forever and ever. I hope they will have sufficient hydration to replenish their bodily fluids and that their teeth, which would otherwise require monthly replacement, will be silicone or steel. I also hope they have some decent dentists there.
Jokes aside, we must not take these metaphors literally. Otherwise, in Matthew 22:13, “outer darkness” is referred to as the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, while in Matthew 13:50, Jesus calls that same place “a furnace of fire.” Again, if we interpret these passages literally, we have a contradiction because fire produces light in contrast with complete darkness.
According to the Physics Department at the University of Illinois:
We usually keep the name “flame” for something that’s burning and giving off light. If we use the word that way, there can’t be a black flame, since “black” means that no visible light is coming from it.
Let’s continue to take the literal line of thinking further. If we look at the context of Matthew 13, we see that it actually rejects ECT in hellfire and supports annihilation: “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.” (verse 40). When a weed is burned, it leaves nothing. Again, if taken literally, this contradicts the idea of eternal torment and supports the view of annihilation.
However, suppose I wasn’t convincing enough. In that same chapter, Matthew 13, it is also mentioned that “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not say anything to them without using a parable.” (Matthew 13:34). Thus, it might be wise to take Matthew’s advice and interpret these as metaphors.
Wise people, especially rabbis, often speak using metaphors and parables. It is the uninformed who misunderstand and take their words literally:
This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
Matthew 13:13
The uninformed were, ironically, the most religious people on the planet. Nevertheless, the ensuing question is, what exactly do these metaphors represent—not to us but to the original Jewish hearers?
Gnashing of Teeth
By now, you might not be surprised to hear that the phrase “gnashing of teeth” already appears in the Hebrew Scriptures in contexts beyond pain or abuse, often symbolizing envy, anguish, despair, or frustration.
Psalm 35:16 says, “With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.” Here, the gnashing of teeth is depicted as an expression of animosity and derision from King David’s enemies. The enemies are portrayed as mocking him while gnashing their teeth. This usage emphasizes the extreme disdain and viciousness of the mockers, possibly stemming from feelings of great jealousy towards the king.
Psalm 37:12 says, “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them.” In these verses, the wicked are depicted gnashing their teeth at the righteous as they conspire against them. Here, the gnashing of teeth seems to symbolize envy and jealousy.
Psalm 112:10 contrasts the righteous and the wicked: “The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desire of the wicked will perish.” In this verse, gnashing of teeth symbolizes the frustration and helpless rage of the wicked, again possibly stemming from jealousy as they witness the success and blessedness of the righteous. They are consumed by envy, leading them to gnash their teeth.
In all these instances, “gnashing of teeth” is associated with strong negative emotions, possibly envy, jealousy, and frustration. It reflects intense mental and emotional responses rather than physical pain. These contexts provide a richer understanding of the term when it appears in the New Testament, particularly in describing the fate of the wicked in eschatological judgments. Rather than indicating eternal torment in fire, it suggests a state of profound emotional and psychological distress that possibly resembles the feelings of envy, jealousy, or regret.
Likewise, in Acts 7:54, some of the “members of the Sanhedrin” were frustrated by what Stephen had said and “gnashed their teeth at him.”
In conclusion, the biblical term “gnashing of teeth” appears to be unrelated to physical suffering or torment but rather symbolizes intense emotions like envy, jealousy, regret, or frustration. Perhaps “gnashing of teeth” can be best understood as the ancient version of FOMO:
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is the feeling of apprehension that one is either not in the know about or missing out on information, events, experiences, or life decisions that could make one’s life better.
“Fear of missing out (FOMO)”, Wikipedia
Have you ever been offered an early opportunity to invest in Bitcoin, only to scoff at the idea and later realize you missed out on becoming a millionaire? That regret, symbolized by the gnashing of teeth, is what we call FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out. The emotional sting comes from recognizing what you could have achieved had you made different decisions in the past.
This is not about people trembling because they are whipped endlessly in hellfire. Rather, it’s about the regret—by Christians too—over the rewards and honor they could have secured had they chosen differently in life.
In biblical terms, this concept possibly refers to individuals who missed their opportunity to accumulate significant rewards in God’s kingdom. In this life, you have a unique opportunity to gather rewards and treasures that will await you in the world to come. You can spend your money on a luxury boat, but you can also “invest” in your spiritual future by, for instance, feeding the poor, building wells for the less fortunate, or supporting a struggling, cheeky Bible scholar in Israel. This spiritual investment is likely to yield far greater returns in your eternal future:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”
Matthew 19:21
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Revelation 22:12
Consider also: Matthew 5:12, 6:1-4, 6:19-21, 10:42, 18:4, 19:21, 20:26-28, 25:21 25:34-40; Mark 9:41, 10:29-30; Luke 6:22-23, 12:33-34, 18:22; Revelation 22:12.
One day, the stingy, mean, unkind, uncaring, unempathetic, and arrogant will gnash their teeth in regret. In contrast, those who are lovingly sacrificial, kind, generous, caring, empathetic, and understanding will inherit all the blessings the Kingdom has to offer. Yes, it’s that simple!
It is my personal belief that in the future Kingdom, much like in our worldly ones, there will be a variety of roles and hierarchical positions. It is, after all, God’s Kingdom, not a communist country. Many Christians will have had the opportunity to secure—not their salvation from hellfire—but an elevated status in this forthcoming Kingdom through acts of sacrifices, generosity, and kindness. When they eventually recognize that their malevolent and self-centered deeds have relegated them to the lowest echelon in the impending Kingdom, they will gnash their teeth in remorse. This anguish will be so profound that it will, metaphorically, sear their hearts like an unquenchable flame, for there will be no further chances to ascend the ranks. Spiritually, this is the ultimate Fear of Missing Out.
Outer Darkness
In the Old Testament, the term “darkness” has multiple meanings depending on the context. It can signify despair, ignorance, or the state of being excluded from God’s protection and blessings. For instance, the Torah parallels lack of prosperity and misfortune with darkness:
And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.
Deuteronomy 28:29
In the New Testament, the term “outer darkness” metaphorically represents exclusion. It is depicted as an exclusion from a vibrant banquet or celebration. Envision an ancient town in first-century Israel where, at night, darkness envelops all but one place—a radiant banquet hall in the center of the town square. In ancient times, much like today, banquets and celebrations were celebrated at night, often offering the only source of light in the area.
Being outside a kingdom at night during those ancient days meant complete darkness, as there were no modern light sources or electricity. Thus, being in the “outer darkness” symbolized being excluded from the joyful, light-filled celebration. This state is described as one of “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” indicating profound frustration, perhaps stemming from the regret of those left out of the party. This image bears a resemblance to the contemporary expression “being kept in the dark.” Missing out on a party, however, does not mean that you will be tortured in fire forever. It simply means you were not considered worthy to be invited to the banquet.
Conclusion
The images discussed, like that of gnashing of teeth or outer darkness, convey the emotional and spiritual distress associated with being excluded from the most significant celebration imaginable. It is akin to the feelings of isolation and desolation one might experience when not invited to an important social gathering while feeling they deserve to partake.
If the link between celebrations and darkness seems unclear, reflect on the employment of these metaphors in Jesus’ parable:
Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:8-14
An invitation is extended to all, but only the deserving—represented by wedding garments—will be found worthy to dine and dance in the grand festivity. In Middle Eastern tradition, such celebratory imagery is not associated with hellfire but rather signifies esteemed roles, honor, dignity, glory, tribute, rank, and social standing. These signify those who will be found worthy. This doesn’t mean others won’t possess eternal life and partake in the everlasting dominion of Jesus Christ on earth and across the cosmos. Yet, they will forgo the initial coronation festivity marking the establishment of His throne on earth. Not being invited to a celebration does not imply one will be subjected to eternal torment. It simply means they were not found worthy of this kind of blessing: “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 14:15)
This article was a copy-paste from my new book on hell: HELL: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine
