Chapter

Matthew 13:50

ESV and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NIV and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NASB and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
CSB and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NLT throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
NKJV and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

What does Matthew 13:50 mean?

Those found to be evil on the day of judgment—anyone not saved through faith in Christ (John 3:16–18)—are consistently said by the New Testament to be cast into a place of terrible distress. This is often referred to as a fiery furnace, as in this verse. This place is often described as one of crying and teeth gnashing, traditional expressions of great misery. This is Jesus' usual picture of what we commonly call hell (Matthew 13:42; 18:8; Mark 9:48; Luke 3:17; John 15:6).

In these parables, Christ does not provide details on what causes a person to be sorted either into the kingdom of heaven or into hell. The point of the parables is simply that a separation will occur—that God is going to classify people into one of only two categories. However, the Gospels and the remaining New Testament explain the criteria clearly. The righteous do not become so on their own by their good choices (Romans 3:10). Instead, they are the ones who receive "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" (Romans 3:22; Titus 3:5; John 3:16–18).

Those who reject this path to righteousness through faith in Jesus are identified by the sorting angels as evil, children of the Devil (Matthew 13:38; John 8:43–47), and are thrown into the furnace (John 3:36).
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