Matthew 24
Many times in the gospel, Jesus mentions a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Commonly this place is considered hell. But why does Jesus describe this place with “weeping and gnashing of teeth”? What do weeping and gnashing of teeth signify?
As for the ‘weeping’, this weeping wouldn’t be out of the repentance of sins or the sorrow for one’s eternal punishment. It’s because unrepentant souls are sent to hell. This weeping would come rather from their undying desire for selfish satisfaction because these souls are now no longer able to enjoy what they previously indulged themselves in. It is more of whining about their wretched state.
‘Gnashing of teeth’ sounds more serious than ‘weeping’. The souls in hell would grind their teeth either because of the pain they have to endure from the torments in hell or because of their unquenchable anger against the Lord. Even under the unbearable pain, they have to suffer for eternity, the souls in hell wouldn’t recant their evil ideas or repent their evil deeds. Their hatred and anger to the Lord would increase. The shame and pain would fuel their resentment against the Lord and all the saints in heaven. The souls in hell wouldn’t desire peace and harmony on earth or in heaven. They rather curse on every good and wish deviation and destruction for everyone on earth as well as in heaven.
Many saints who had visions of hell said they would rather die than see hell again. It is so unbearable just to witness hell. But some people are already living like in hell here on earth. When souls are solely occupied with satisfying selfish desires, they cannot truly enjoy the gifts of life the Lord gives us, because there is no bottom for greed and lust. Greedy and lustful souls are never satisfied, always whining for more and more. When souls are filled with anger and hatred, they are already being burned in unforgiving revenge and destructive violence.
If any of us already experience the foretaste of hell, let us awake and turn away from the preview of hell. As good souls prepare for heaven here on earth, so do evil souls prepare for hell here on earth. Good souls lead a good life on earth, and evil souls already walk a life of hell here on earth.
