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Matthew 25:30
ESV And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
NIV And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
NASB And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
CSB And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
NLT Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
KJV And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What does Matthew 25:30 mean?

The servant described as sinful and lazy by his master (Matthew 25:24–27) now faces consequences. The master has him thrown into the place of outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is language almost always used to describe the eternal torment of judgment in hell (Matthew 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 24:51; Luke 13:28). The servant who refused to serve his master is declared worthless and removed to a place of suffering.

This point should be clear, in context, but it has often been misinterpreted. The person being cast into this outer darkness is not being punished because he did not accomplish enough for the master. He's not being damned for his disobedience. Rather, his actions prove he's not a true servant at all: he's a pretender. When the master gave him a talent, he blatantly refused to use it, and made derogatory excuses (Matthew 25:24–25). In a sense, the lazy man is not losing his servanthood; he's proving he never really had it in the first place. As a result, he'll be rejected by the master.

Jesus' point is clear. Those who refuse to serve Him while waiting for Him to return are demonstrating that they do not truly trust Him (John 14:15). They have not placed their hope in Him, and He is the only way to be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven and a relationship with God the Father. Without Jesus, there is no hope (John 3:36).
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