Is There a Literal Hell? Matthew 13:36-42

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

The disciples were eager to understand the meaning of the parable.  When we read the bible are we eager to both understand and apply it?  The bible is not just a book to be studied but a manual for life. 

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.  39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

"In the parable of the soils, the seed represented the Word of God; here it represents true believers. The point of the parables is completely different; the parable of the soils shows how men receive and respond to the Word of God, and the parable of the tares of the field shows how God will divide His true people from false believers at the end of this age." (Guzik)

Notice though we preach and teach God's Word, it is Jesus who is at work making the seed to grow.  Believers are meant to grow and produce a harvest.  But like the weeds prevented and choked out the good seed from growing in the parable of the soils, our enemy, the devil, uses people to try and thwart the growth of the Word of God.

38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,

"It was, perhaps, natural that theologians, who saw in heresy the greatest of all evils, should identify the tares with heretics. So far as heresy rises from the spirit of self-will, or antagonism to righteousness, we may admit that they are included in the class, but the true definition is that given in Matthew 13:41, “all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” 

"But the tares are the children of the wicked one: the persons intended by "the tares", are such professors of religion, as both by their principles and practices, manifestly show that they are of their father the devil; they resemble and imitate him, and do his works; and plainly declare, that they were never born of God, and are in no better state, though under a profession, than openly profane and immoral persons; and are more hurtful and scandalous to the interest of Christ, than such are." (Gill)

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 

There will be an accounting for what everyone does with the Word of God (Jesus) at the end of the age.  The angels will playing a role in judging evil (and those who follow evil) and good (the followers of Christ) though Jesus is the ultimate judge in the end times. 

Fire is a symbol of judgment and annihilation.  The weeds are burned up like chaff and are no more.  It is very final.  We can't minimize the challenging nature of this parable because Jesus himself is translating the specific meaning of the parable to his disciples. 

Passages of judgment are hard for me.  How can a loving God seemingly judge people so harshly.  But God is a just judge and cannot just "wink at sin" and those who have opposed him their whole lives.  This makes it even more imperative as believers to shine upon those who are living in darkness.  

41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 

Notice these are Jesus' angels.  They are under his command.  Angels are messengers and in this case, they are carrying out God's judgment.  The culprits are both those who cause others to sin and those who do evil.  Jesus has harsh words for those who lead other ones into to sin, especially "little ones".  He says it would be better if a millstone were tied around their necks.  

"This casts special scorn upon the great evil angel. He sows the tares, and tries to destroy the harvest; and, therefore, the good angels are brought in to celebrate his defeat, and to rejoice together with their Lord in the success of the divine husbandry.” (Spurgeon)

42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

It would be understandable and easy to conclude that there is not literal hell with a blazing furnace where evil people will spend eternity.  How could a good God allow this to happen?  This is definitely one of the challenges in the bible.  After all, we believe God is good, loving, just, and forgiving.  But maybe that is the point.  God has done everything in his power to save us from our sin and facing eternal judgment.  He even went so far to send his only Son to die on a cross to save us from sin, death and the power of the devil. 

2 Peter 3:9 tells us that "God is not willing for any to perish but all to repent and come to a knowledge of the truth."  And yet those who are described as the "weeds", not only spurn God's free offer of eternal life, but continue to do evil and lead others to do it with them.  Since God gave us free will he cannot MAKE anyone receive the free gift of salvation in Christ.   

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

"But what I wish rather to dwell upon is the other thought, the intention that every Christian life should be a life of increasing lustre, uninterrupted, and the natural result of increasing communion with, and conformity to, the very fountain itself of heavenly radiance."

How do you feel about the concept of hell?  Do you think it is fair for God to punish people eternally for rejecting them all of their lives?  Do you think there is a special judgment for those who led others to follow the evil one?  How do you deal with others who seem to be under the sway of the evil one?