What Does Gnashing Of Teeth Mean In The Bible?

What Does Gnashing Of Teeth Mean In The Bible? August 15, 2015

What does the term “gnashing of teeth” mean in the Bible? What Bible verses can help us understand what this phrase means?

Gnashing of Teeth

The phrase gnashing of teeth appears only in the New Testament and so we must restrict our Bible verses to them and in particular, the gospels of Matthew and Luke, which are the only gospels and books in the Bible to mention gnashing and this phrase only appears seven times. The way this word was used at one time would be to describe someone gnashing their teeth in impotent rage. Gnashing means to strike or grind the teeth together and it is usually the result of intense anger and rage and that is the way that it is used in the two books of Matthew and Luke.

The Context of Gnashing of Teeth

Jesus was speaking about entering the kingdom through difficulties and hardships when He said “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). Someday many will say “Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from” (Luke 13:25b). What will be the fate of those who Jesus doesn’t know? He says “‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil” (Luke 13:27) and where are they sent too? Jesus tells us that “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:28-29). Imagine how angry the religious leaders were at that time? How dare Jesus tell them that because they believed that since they are the children of Abraham, they had inherited the right to be in the kingdom by birthright but Jesus says that, on the contrary, they would be cast out! I wonder if they were already gnashing their teeth’s in anger over this.

In-that-place-there-will

The Day of Judgment

Jesus also used the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in the context of the final judgment of those who refused to believe in Him, saying “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear” (Matt 13:41-43). Who are the “law-breakers?” They are those who know what is the right thing to do and yet don’t do it. James wrote “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22) and Jesus said “everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like” (Luke 6:47) which means “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15) so if you don’t keep Jesus’ commandments then you are a law-breaker and all law-breakers who have never repented and trusted in Christ will be “throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Wedding Crashers

There will be many turned away on that day of His visitation when many expect to enter the kingdom and Jesus said that “many will come saying “’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:21-23). Once again Jesus refers to law-breakers or in this case, “workers of lawlessness,” which is the same thing. Jesus once said that some will try to show up at the wedding feast without an invitation, which is symbolic of the wedding feast of the Lamb of God or the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ when He marries His bride, the church, and when these wedding crashers showed up, “the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 22:13).

Unprofitable Servants

For those who did not do what their Master asked them to do, which is what the “unprofitable servant” is all about, they saw that their Master was delayed and began to live a sinful life (Matt 24:48-49) and did not commit to the king and so “the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 24:50-51) and so the final words that the unworthy servant will hear is “cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matt 25:30).

Conclusion

The weeping and gnashing of teeth is symbolic of utter despair, regret, anger, and uncontrollable rage. Have you ever been waiting on someone and they are late and it is getting later and later and you start to grind your teeth in anger? That is what is called the gnashing of teeth. The weeping part of the gnashing of teeth is the utter despair, hopelessness, and tears of regret for not having trusted in Christ as their Savior. Jesus spoke twice as much about hell as He ever did heaven because He desires that no one go there (2nd Pet 3:9). That is my desire too. Is it yours too?

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.


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