GNASHING OF TEETH
Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us try to see if we can better understand this phrase, often repeated by the Lord. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance the word “gnashing” means, “to grate the teeth (in pain or rage).” And Mark 9:18 tells us that it has to do with demon possession. “And wheresoever he, (the demon), taketh him, (this man’s son), he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.”
Let us seek farther into the scriptures in order to find out more concerning demon possession. Would it surprise you to learn that demon possession can come from hearing the gospel preached? The Apostle Peter gives us an understanding of how this happens. For he instructs us that just a bare hearing of the truth of the gospel of Christ, without fully embracing it as one’s new way of life, only helps one escape the sensuous habits of the sin life! And that sets one up for a worse condition than before they heard it. For they are then confirmed in their old nature as a dog, or a sow, but never a sheep! And as such they will, without fail, return to their old sinful habits, but this time never to be recovered again! 2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Matthew informs us that this person has indeed temporarily ‘cleaned up his act,’ but has not received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in true redemptive grace! He may have ‘joined the church,’ and been baptized, but is still said to be “empty, swept, and garnished.” But as his nature has not changed, he eventually seeks to return to his way of life that his unrenewed nature dictates. – The dog to that which he once vomited out, and the sow to her beloved muddy mire! And that attracts more demons than before! Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
The only prevention of becoming demon possessed is to become Holy Spirit possessed! James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. It is either one or the other. For it cannot be both! Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore those who have experienced the Spirit’s new birth cannot be indwelt with demonic forces! One who is born from above can be influenced by demons, but never indwelt! 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Our Lord Jesus sets this forth as listed in the third chapter of John’s gospel. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The one who is a believer, being therefore born again, experiences a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory! (1 Peter 1:8) But all who do not believe shall be cast into an “outer darkness” corresponding to their inner spiritual darkness. This causes them to react to the pain of that total absence of every particle of God and his mercy by a reaction in their mouth. For those who once gnashed with their teeth in their fury upon the Lord’s people, will in that darkness of total abandonment by God, “gnaw their tongues for pain.” Revelation 16:10
This hellish condition was once displayed upon rebellious Egypt, who refused to acknowledge the Lord as sovereign God, and allow his people to go free. Exodus 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
It was a darkness like was not known before. It was not only restrictive, but also could be felt! Because in this life we all have what the Puritans called, “common grace,” (the grace that is common to all human kind), therefore the unregenerate of our land do not realize the horrors of what a total abandonment of every single mercy of God will be like! All protection from the terrors of the demonic forces will be removed. Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Revelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up …
Dear Reader, the only unforgivable sin which will confine the soul to this eternal torment is refusal to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ! Remember that John 3:18 verse listed above: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
But remember, the returning Lord Christ shall suddenly return without any provision for the forgiveness of another sin! It will then be too late! Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. – that is, without any provision of forgiveness for another single sin! James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
And it shall be a sorrowing like as the death of an only son, without any comfort! Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
Jeremiah 13:16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
It is a real day and it is fast approaching. Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Do not be as Lot’s sons-in-law! For they all died in the flaming meteorites that set alight Sodom with those five cities of the plains! Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. 24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
The Lord Jesus, during his earthly ministry preached on this subject. Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Is there any comfort for us who walk in reverential fear before the Lord God? Yes. For as the Lord God controls the light, he is also sovereign over darkness. Therefore carefully consider these verses: John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Psalm 97:1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
He is said to dwell in darkness. But not as a threat to His glory! Exodus 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
He was both light to his people, while at the same time was darkness to the Egyptians. Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
Believe the preaching of the Lord Jesus! Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
For those who believe on him, the Holy Lamb of God has taken on this darkness for them. He has overcome hell, sin, and the grave for us. Bless His Holy Name! The Light of Life died in darkness in order that his people would not have too! Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
For the Lord Jesus Christ, the Day Star, has arisen in their sin-darkened hearts to shine forth the light of the glory of God unto them. 2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: “Thank you Lord Jesus!”
Pastor Gene Breed
October 06, 2021
