28 "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
Judgment is certain for those who refuse Jesus’ message of salvation. This truth is mentioned many times from the mouth of our Lord. We find this again in Matthew:
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 13:40-43 (NIV)
“Weeping” suggests the sorrow and grief that accompanies the emotional agony of those lost in hell and the “gnashing of teeth” or grinding of one’s teeth denotes the extreme pain or physical suffering of those doomed to destruction. I am reminded of the rich man and Lazarus found only a few chapters later in the pages of Luke:
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' Luke 16:19-24 (NIV)
Hell, as real as heaven, is a place of constant agony and torment. A total separation from God and anything that is righteous, pure or holy. Disorder, mayhem, pain, destruction, misery – a wretched state of mind and outward circumstances, an elusive desiring to die with a hope for nothingness circumvented, blackest darkness and the total absence of light, wickedness and eternal are a few of the choice descriptions of the future home of those who choose to go their own way refusing to believe the Savior of their souls. Such a frightening domain that those who trust in our Lord and believe in His words should take Jesus’ half brother Jude’s words to heart and move to action when he states:
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23 (NIV)
The word translated “snatch” is from the Greek word “Harpazo” meaning to seize upon with force, lay hold of violently, and forcibly; apprehend and capture; to remove by swiftly and aggressively grasping. How unmerciful of us to know Truth and yet not share it. I am not just talking about foreign missions here but neighbors – those in our sphere of influence, those who come across our path. Scripture tells us:
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)
Some of us are in great need of a pedicure! Daniel renders this same truth in the following way:
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Dan 12:3 (NIV)
This motivated the saints of the past. Paul in particular comes to mind:
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life --in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Phil 2:14-18 (NIV)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary states the following about the above passage: “The world today, like theirs, is unscrupulous and perverted. Most people have turned their backs on God and truth. In this kind of world God’s people are to “shine like stars” (Phil. 2:15; cf. Matt. 5:14-16). They are to be children of God without fault. A child of God is in God’s family, but the unregenerate are alienated from Him. They are His enemies. God’s sovereign plan is to use His Word, administered by God’s people, to transform His enemies into His friends by the regenerating work of God’s Spirit.”
The Irish evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, "There are five Gospels: Matthew Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four."