Hell Is Not a Mere Natural Consequence of Bad Choices
The word wrath is important for understanding what Jesus meant by hell. Hell is not simply the natural consequence of rejecting God. Some people say this in order to reject the thought that God sends people there. They say that people send themselves there. That is true. People make choices that lead to hell. But it is not the whole truth. Jesus says these choices are really deserving of hell. "Whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to [that is, guilty of, or deserving of] the hell of fire" ( Matt. 5:22). That is why he calls hell "punishment" ( Matt. 25:46). It is not a mere self-imposed natural consequence (like cigarette smoking leading to lung cancer); it is the penalty of God's wrath (like a judge sentencing a criminal to hard labor).
The images Jesus uses of how people come to be in hell do not suggest natural consequence but the exercise of just wrath. For example, he pictures the servant of a master who has gone on a journey. The servant says, "My master is delayed," and he "begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards." Then Jesus says (referring to his own sudden second coming), "The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" ( Matt. 24:48-51). This picture represents legitimate and holy rage followed by punishment. Jesus will "put" () him with the hypocrites.
Fear Him Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell
This is why Jesus said, "Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" ( Matt. 10:28). The fear he commands is not fear of hell as a natural consequence of bad habits, but of God as a holy judge who sentences guilty sinners to hell. This command to fear God In the same breath Jesus says, "Fear God who casts into hell" and "Do not fear because God is your Father.
The word wrath is important for understanding what Jesus meant by hell. Hell is not simply the natural consequence of rejecting God. Some people say this in order to reject the thought that God sends people there. They say that people send themselves there. That is true. People make choices that lead to hell. But it is not the whole truth. Jesus says these choices are really deserving of hell. "Whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to [that is, guilty of, or deserving of] the hell of fire" ( Matt. 5:22). That is why he calls hell "punishment" ( Matt. 25:46). It is not a mere self-imposed natural consequence (like cigarette smoking leading to lung cancer); it is the penalty of God's wrath (like a judge sentencing a criminal to hard labor).
The images Jesus uses of how people come to be in hell do not suggest natural consequence but the exercise of just wrath. For example, he pictures the servant of a master who has gone on a journey. The servant says, "My master is delayed," and he "begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards." Then Jesus says (referring to his own sudden second coming), "The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" ( Matt. 24:48-51). This picture represents legitimate and holy rage followed by punishment. Jesus will "put" () him with the hypocrites.
Fear Him Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell
This is why Jesus said, "Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" ( Matt. 10:28). The fear he commands is not fear of hell as a natural consequence of bad habits, but of God as a holy judge who sentences guilty sinners to hell. This command to fear God In the same breath Jesus says, "Fear God who casts into hell" and "Do not fear because God is your Father.
COME LORD JESUS
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?