Matthew 13:42

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

And {G2532} shall cast {G906} them {G846} into {G1519} a furnace {G2575} of fire {G4442}: there {G1563} shall be {G2071} wailing {G2805} and {G2532} gnashing {G1030} of teeth {G3599}.

and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where people will wail and grind their teeth.

And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:42 KJV describes the dire consequences awaiting those who reject God's kingdom and persist in wickedness. It is a powerful warning about the final judgment and the ultimate separation of humanity.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Tares (or Weeds), found in Matthew 13:24-30. After His disciples requested clarification (Matthew 13:36), Jesus explained that the "field" is the world, the "good seed" are the children of the kingdom, and the "tares" are the children of the wicked one. The harvest represents the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels (Matthew 13:39). Just as tares are gathered and burned, so too will those who cause sin and practice lawlessness be gathered out of the Kingdom and face this severe fate.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: The verse unequivocally states the certainty of judgment for those who oppose God's will. It highlights God's justice in dealing with evil.
  • Separation of Righteous and Wicked: This passage reinforces the theme that at the end of time, there will be a clear and irreversible division between those who follow Christ and those who do not. The wicked will be removed from the righteous.
  • The Reality of Eternal Consequences: The imagery used emphasizes the severity and enduring nature of the punishment for unrepentant sin. It underscores the biblical teaching on hell and eternal suffering.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Furnace of fire" (Greek: kaminos tou pyros): This imagery evokes a place of intense, consuming heat and torment. It is a powerful metaphor for extreme suffering and destruction, similar to the fiery furnace in which Daniel's companions were tested, but here symbolic of divine wrath.
  • "Wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Greek: ho klauthmos kai ho brygmos ton odonton): This phrase is used multiple times in Matthew (e.g., Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 25:30) to describe the profound anguish, despair, and bitter regret of those cast out of God's presence. "Wailing" signifies deep sorrow and lamentation, while "gnashing of teeth" suggests pain, rage, and utter frustration with an unchangeable fate.

Practical Application

Matthew 13:42 serves as a solemn warning and a call to introspection. It compels listeners to consider their spiritual standing and the ultimate trajectory of their lives. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Repentance and Faith: The urgency of turning from sin and embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to avoid this terrible fate.
  • Living a Righteous Life: Understanding that genuine faith produces good fruit and a life lived in obedience to God, contrasting with the "tares" who practice lawlessness.
  • The Seriousness of Eternity: Reminding believers and non-believers alike that life has eternal consequences and that choices made today impact one's ultimate destiny.

This verse, while stark, also implicitly highlights the immense grace and mercy offered through Christ, providing an escape from such a judgment for those who believe and follow Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 13:50

    And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

  • Revelation 20:10

    And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

  • Matthew 8:12

    But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  • Revelation 20:14

    And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

  • Revelation 20:15

    And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

  • Luke 16:23

    And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

  • Luke 16:24

    And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

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