Sadly, many who assume they’re Christians today will experience “weeping and gnashing of teeth” when they’re cast out of God’s kingdom after Christ’s return. In this article you’ll learn who these so-called Christians are, and why God casts them out, so that you can ensure you’re not one of them.
In the gospels, Jesus used the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” 7 times to describe four types of pseudo (counterfeit, fake) believers that He will eject from His kingdom. All these people think they’re ‘saved’, but they’re not. And, unless they change, their destiny is in one of these four groups.
The seven verses, grouped into four types of false believers are color-coded in the chart below:
- Lazy, unbelieving, unsanctified believers
- Lawless seeds of the Devil
- People who listen and follow Christ, but without any commitment
- Wicked leaders who abuse disciples and prosper from them
The two white boxes above are verses that don’t explicitly include the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth”. However, I’ve included them because their characteristics closely match other verses in their grouping. For example:
- In Mt 7:21-23 they’re both ‘workers of lawlessness’
- In Mt 25:12 they’re both going to be shut out from the heavenly wedding banquet
The Four Kinds of Pseudo-Believers
Here’s an outline with hyperlinks to each section:
- Lazy, unbelieving, unsanctified believers
1A Wicked, lazy servants cast out
1B The Centurion’s Great Faith
1C The Parable of the Wedding Guest - Lawless Seeds of the Devil
2A Parable of the Wheat and Tares
2B Workers of Lawlessness
2C The Wicked - The Uncommitted
3A Believers without commitment
3B Parable of the 10 Virgins - Wicked Leaders
- Conclusion
1. Lazy, unbelieving, unsanctified believers
Jesus will command angels to cast lazy, unbelieving, and unsanctified pseudo-believers into ‘outer darkness’.
In the three sections that follow, the wicked lazy servants, the sons of the kingdom, and the unsanctified wedding guest all share a common destiny. They’ll be cast out of the kingdom into outer darkness, where there’ll be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1A Wicked, Lazy Servants cast out
Parable of the Talents
Mt 25:14-30 14For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. 16The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. 17Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
Time to Settle Accounts
19After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. 20The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ 22The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’ 23His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
The Wicked Servant’s response
24Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’
Judgement of the Wicked, Lazy Servant
26‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. 28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
1B The Centurion’s Great Faith
Mt 8:8-13 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
The sons of the Kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness
11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
1C The Parable of the Wedding Guest
A King prepared a wedding banquet for his Son
Mt 22:1-14 Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. 4Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.
Invite All to Come
8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Wedding Guest cast out
11But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. 12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless. 13Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Wedding Garment Symbolizes our Sanctification
No man has the wedding-garment by nature, or can form it for himself. The day is coming, when hypocrites will be called to account for all their presumptuous intruding into gospel ordinances, and usurpation of gospel privileges. Take him away. Those that walk unworthy of Christianity, forfeit all the happiness they presumptuously claimed. Our Saviour here passes out of the parable into that which it teaches. Hypocrites go by the light of the gospel itself down to utter darkness. Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, and seek to be approved by the King. (emphasis mine)
Quote from Biblehub.com
2. Lawless Seeds of the Devil
In contrast to the group above that are cast into outer darkness, God’s angels will cast all the ‘lawless’ pseudo-believers into a fiery furnace.
2A Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Weeds)
Mt 13:36-43 His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The End Time Harvest
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
2B Workers of Lawlessness
(Mt 7:21-23 doesn’t include the phrase ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’, but it’s clearly teaching the same concept as the other two passages in this group–they’re all ‘workers of lawlessness’.)
Mt 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘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.’
In contrast to lawlessness, Jesus’ disciples walk in the Law of Christ.
2C The Wicked
Mt 13:47-50 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. 49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
3. People who listen and follow Christ, but without any commitment
This group won’t be cast into outer darkness of a fiery furnace. Instead, they’ll weep and gnash their teeth in regret when the door to the wedding banquet is shut and they’re thrown out and forbidden to enter.
3A Believers without commitment
Enter through the Narrow Door
Luke 13:22-30 Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. 23“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered, 24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
Shut Out!
25After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
The Narrow Gate
Mt 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
3B Parable of the 10 Virgins
(Mt 25:1-13 doesn’t include the phrase ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’, but it’s clearly teaching the same concepts as the other passage in this group–the Lord says “I don’t know you, and then the door is closed and they’re shut out.)
Mt 25:1-13 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
The Five Foolish Virgins Shut Out
8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later, the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
4. Wicked leaders who abuse disciples and prosper from them
Mt 24:45-51 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’ 49And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. 51Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This passage speaks about people the Lord puts in charge, in a position of responsibility. But, these wicked leaders abuse their fellow believers and carouse with sinners. These wicked leaders will be beaten severely and then cast out with the hypocrites.
Conclusion
Jesus used the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” 7 times to describe four types of pseudo-believers that He will eject from His kingdom. These are people who think they’re ‘saved’, but they’re not. Unless they change, their destiny is in one of these four groups.
- Lazy, unbelieving, unsanctified believers
- Lawless seeds of the Devil
- People who listen and follow Christ, but without any commitment
- Wicked leaders who abuse disciples and prosper from them
Make your salvation secure
If you fall into one of these groups, it’s not too late to change your destiny. Commit yourself to change. Dedicate yourself now to being a faithful, sanctified, and committed disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:10-11