What Does Jesus Teach About Hell? – Part 2

Hell… Seriously?

I wrote an article on Hell about a three months ago. It was meant to simply open the conversation. Based on the comments, and from experience, the topic of Hell rubs many people the wrong way. How is it possible? How can a good and loving God devise such a place?

The comments ranged from claims that the Catholic Church made it up, to it’s simply invalid (even though the RCC arguably didn’t form until the 6th century). One man even said, “Your God is a bully and full of hate,” which was surprising. He had “Rev.” in his name.

It seems that we should revisit this topic and specifically we should discuss what Jesus says about it. After all, if Jesus taught it, then those to profess to be Christians should believe that it exists. It should be that simple, at least.

H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

Did you know that in the original languages, Jesus never says a word that means Hell? You did!?

So did I. What follows from this?

Nothing…

It’s not a convincing argument for the non-existence of Hell. Jesus spoke about judgment and the afterlife a lot. In fact, he spoke more about the concept of Hell and judgment more than Heaven in the Gospels.

On another note, Jesus doesn’t say verbatim: “Hey y’all I’m God.” Yet we as Christians see no problem making the claim that Jesus is in fact God. Jesus makes these claims in a very Jewish way: Claiming to be one with the Father, accepting titles that only God receives, accepting worship, healing people, commanding the weather, etc. (I have a series of articles about this by the way. Check out the first one HERE.)

In the same way, we should expect Jesus to communicate about Hell in the context in which He was. So, let’s take a look at some moments where Jesus taught about Hell.

Check Out Matthew 13: 40-43

Pause. Go ahead and read this passage.

“The kingdom of Heaven is like…” Jesus often starts important messages like this. Similes, metaphors, other literary devices are at his command. He employs strategies that the best teachers do in order to get a point across. Of course, this is to be expected. The teaching about the weeds in the field is being explained to the disciples here. And Jesus makes a huge statement: All of the weeds are pulled and burned in fire. Like what? Like it is at the end of the age.

Jesus continues on. He says that he is going to take care of everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They’ll be in the fire at the end. Weeping and gnashing of teeth are their gain. And the righteous will be with the Father. The next parable follows the same pattern, yet uses fishing as an analogy.

Check Out Matthew 10: 26-31

Jesus sends out the 12 to the towns of Samaria. He gives them information that is pertinent for their mission and gives a warning that all believers should take heed. Wrapped up in a warning is comforting and sobering statement: “Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can kill both body and soul in hell.” Not only do substance dualists rejoice, but we receive a reminder that human beings do not deserve our reverence or fear. But the God of the heavens does. He has the power to judge the living and the dead and will do so. He is the one who should garner our focus.

Check Out Matthew 25: 1-46…

…and then tell me final judgment, and a place like Hell does not exist in the mind of Jesus.

Jesus teaches 3 parables here and they all end with judgment in some kind of way: the 5 foolish virgins are judged because they are not prepared for the bridegrooms return, the wicked servant are sent out to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, and the goats are sent out to a place of eternal fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels.

So far, it seems that the concept of Hell was well within Jesus’ theology and to avoid believing that Hell exists, is to disagree with Jesus.

Where Does This Leave Us?

Awe?

Reverence?

Disdain?

Disgust?

Fear?

Wherever you are with the concept of Hell, please understand this.

We all fall short of God’s glory. This is a consequence of the Fall. We are all deserving of God’s judgment. BUT. We are also offered forgiveness and redemption through the cross of Christ.

If we confess our sins, repent of sin, and put our faith in the finished work of Christ, then we are saved. We are free from this judgment. We are justified by the blood of Christ that was shed as atonement for us, and we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit as we are being conformed by the renewing of our minds.

Take heart. For Christ can truly set you free!