The phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” appears seven times in the Bible to express a reaction to a great loss of opportunity throughout and at the end of the age of the gospel message going out to the world. This loss is most often experienced by classes of people and sometimes by individuals but is NOT related to a final judgment after death.

The context of this particular scripture is Jesus’s explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. He identifies the wheat as “children of the kingdom,” the tares (which look like wheat) as “children of the wicked one,” and the field as “the world.” The reason for the destruction is in verse 41, “The Son of Man will send out his angels (messengers), and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness (iniquity)”. The tares are burned because they are not in harmony with God’s kingdom. Similarly, when we have weeds in our garden, we want to remove and destroy them so they do not ruin our garden.

The “furnace of fire” is symbolic just as the wheat and tares are symbolic. It symbolizes difficult experiences. The Apostle Peter wrote, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tried with fire,” 1 Peter 1:7. The “furnace of fire” for the tares is for unbelievers and the trail of faith is for those who have faith, i.e., believers. 

The trial for believers is now. Difficult experiences develop a Christian’s faith and character. James 1:2, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,.

For “tares,” or pseudo-Christians, they experience hard trials without the comfort and grace of God. The trials serve to challenge their status as true Christians within their own minds and as viewed by the world. There is anger (gnashing of teeth) and sorrow (wailing) associated with this.

Additionally, in the resurrection, they will learn they lost their heavenly reward and grieve greatly. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness (iniquity)!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

Additionally, in Matthew 13:42, Jesus does not mention hades or gehenna, Greek words used to describe “hell” in the New Testament.

Scriptures on hell should be studied collectively,  or topically. The King James Version would often translate the Old Testament Hebrew word sheol as “grave” or “hell” or “pit.”  Clear statements also should be harmonized. Ecclesiastes 9:5 is an example. “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing.”

Additional Resources:
Free PDF: “The Truth About Hell”

Christian Questions Podcast Episode #869: “Do the Fires of Hell Come From God? (Part I)”
Defining “weeping and gnashing of teeth” – a scriptural review of all seven times the phrase is used in the Bible
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes