Weeping, Gnashing, and the Furnace of Fire Part One

In Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus, as he often did, spoke a parable about the "kingdom of heaven". The kingdom of heaven here is the same kingdom of God as the other gospel writers speak of. Throughout the parables we see Jesus using a familiar cultural or social situation which those to whom he speaks can relate. Verse 2 ays, "the kingdom of heaven may be compared to...". 

Commonly this passage is used by those who believe in the final place of eternal judgement for the unbeliever as hell. The language used in verse 13 is of "outer darkness" and "weeping and gnashing of teeth". There are five other parables in Matthew and one in Luke that use similar language or phrases such as Matthew 13:42 where Jesus uses the image of a "furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth". Each of the seven passges refers to the same idea; at the end of the age before the kingdom comes, certain people will be cast into outer darkness or into a furnace of fire where there will be great sorrow.  These, as many christians believe, are the unsaved. Is this so? 

Matthew 8:5-13 uses the same idea of outer darkness with the resulting weeping and gnashing in an actual happening rather than a parable. The centurian shows absolute faith not even seen among Jesus' own people. Jesus proclaims that people will come from other parts of the world, as told by the prophet Isaiah, to the light of the world which should have been Israel. In Matthew 8:12 Jesus suggets that the "heirs of the kingdom", the Jews, will be the ones "thrown" into outer darkness. This suggestes that the unbeliever, as thought by todays christian, will be in the kingdom. The problem here is that these passages are pointed to Israel and not the unbeliever, or in this case, the nations. Herein lays the issue with using passages meant for one group of people and applying it to another.

Back to Matthew 22. In chapter 21 and verse 45 the Jewish religious order understands that the parables being spoken by Jesus actually refer to them. I personally believe the "heirs" of chapter 8 are not necessarily the nation of Israel as a whole, but they are those that thought they were the heirs due to their own righteousness. Jesus knew who was listening and he made it a point to ruffle their feathers. At one time Jesus claims the leaders are reserving the kingdom as their own while shutting others out. In chapter 21 the leaders of Israel are told that the kingdom will be taken away from them. It is with this knowledge that the religious "Jews", as John calls them, understand that those cast into outer darkness and the furnace of fire are they themselves and know one else. Matthew 21:31 summarizes this point nicely when Jesus proclaims that sinners will enter the kingdom ahead of them. I want to point out the phrase "ahead of you". Jesus implies that they will also enter the kingdom but most likely at a later time. Their self-righteousness earns them nothing. So, going to Matthew 22, we can safely argue that Jesus is pointedly speaking at these religious leaders, the "Jews", when he speaks of outer darkness and in Matthew 13 regarding the furnace of fire. In 22:15, after being told they will not be the first into the kingdom, and being told they will be thrown into outer darkness, they attempt a way to get back at Jesus. 

These interactions should rightly be seen as a conflict between the "Jews" and Jesus with others watching and listening. Of coure the disciples should be learning because this is part of the message they will be asked to teach in the future. What should be avoided is the urge or need to apply these passages to today and attach them to the message of salvation through the cross of Christ. 

In summary, the parable of the wedding banquet speaks of the leaders who want nothing to do with Jesus and his proclamation of the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and be baptized. The leaders believe they are in the good graces of God already, they have no time for such messages. They believe Jesus is a liar and a fake. The king is furious and invites the common sinner to the wedding and they all come. One leader who tries to infiltarte the banquet is found out and thrown into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This, Jesus says, is how the kingdom will be. The self righteous will be thrown out while the sinner enters. The sinner enters because they know there is only one righteous and that they are worthless in comaprison regarding righteousness. These are the "lost" that Jesus came to seek.