The Unexpected Regret & Hatred in Hell

We all understand, to a degree, what weeping and gnashing of teeth means. But how does it relate to hell? Are there different levels of weeping? What in hell would cause the gnashing of teeth? What other unexpected emotions will people experience in hell?

Jesus mentioned “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” and “wailing and gnashing of teeth,” seven times.

Matthew 8:12
Matthew 13:42
Matthew 13:50
Matthew 22:13-14
Matthew 24:51
Matthew 25:30
Luke 13:28

It is interesting that He mentioned it seven times, as seven is the number of completeness. Hell, then, invoking the lowest state of depression a person could fall into, would cause the most severe weeping. Those in hell realize they have lost everything, and they know it is their fault. Their continual denial of Jesus Christ throughout their lives brought irreversible consequences.

The gnashing of teeth is the result of the pain they are experiencing and their anger and hatred toward God. Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 1424: “The weeping indicates remorse and the gnashing of teeth speaks of violent hatred of God.”

Weeping and Wailing

Vine’s Expository Dictionary, page 206, “Weeping”: “loud expression of grief, bewail, lament.”

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, page 1299, “Wailing”: “a mournful cry of grief, sorrow, or lamentation.”

Encyclopedia of Biblical Words, page 615, “Wailing”: “agonized mourning…anguished cry of distress.”

To Gnash

Vine’s Expository Dictionary, “gnash”: “To bite, to eat greedily.”

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, page 500, “Gnash”: “an expression of hatred and scorn.”

Holman Bible Dictionary, page 656, regarding “Gnashing”: “an expression of anger, reserved for the wicked…future punishment—an expression of the futility of the wicked before God’s judgment or else a demonstration of their continual refusal to repent and acknowledge the justness of God’s judgment.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary, page 1750, “Gnashing”: “speaks of great vexation and indignation.”

We all have experienced a time when we wept profusely over something too painful to describe. However, there are varying levels of despair that cause weeping. Sometimes it may be from a wrong choice or a foolish monetary decision. This would bring a certain level of tears. Yet, if we lost a friend, it would invoke more severe weeping. Then again, if we lost our spouse or child, it would be even worse. Yet, with all that pain experienced, it will be far worse for people in hell for several reasons:

First, the pain in hell will be unbearable. The torments are many and unrelenting. There will not be a moment without agony.

Second, those in hell will never see their loved ones again. They will never even have the comfort of saying goodbye. There would be no finality in their parting.

In addition, if they had children who were raised without knowing Jesus, they would now understand that their children will eventually die and be in hell.

They would realize it is their fault because they did not raise them knowing God. The regret of parents knowing their child will also be in hell would be more than a person could bear. They will never see their family again. This regret and pain will continue for all eternity. This is far worse than any regrets on earth because it is eternal.

Those in hell understand that their family, who are still alive on the earth, do not realize they still exist, suffering horribly in hell. They are unaware of their anguish. They probably think, as most do, “They have gone to a better place.” Yet, that could not be further from the truth.

This reminds me of the true account Jesus told us in Luke 16 about the rich man in hell. He was concerned about his five brothers, who would also be coming there unless they could be told to repent. He wanted Lazarus to go and testify to them. He showed concern for his family. But his request would never be granted.

There is another emotion experienced in hell.

The gnashing of teeth in hell is because of pain inflicted, but also because of hatred for God.

Here are a few examples:

In Mark 9:18:

“And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.” This is a demon causing the gnashing of teeth. Demons in hell will also be a cause of gnashing of teeth.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary: “Devils, the executioners of God’s wrath, will be their tormentors forever.”

Here is another example of pain causing the gnawing of their tongues on the earth. In addition, they blasphemed God.

Revelation 16:9-11, “And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory…and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

Their hatred and anger were also because they could not do anything against the One they hated. They could not retaliate against God. Blasphemy is expressive of their hatred of God. This is a similar reaction to the gnashing of teeth.

In Acts 7, the Pharisees became so angry with what Stephen said.

“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him.”

Their anger was so intense that they rushed upon him and committed murder, ignoring the law requiring a trial before stoning. Notice it says, “They stopped their ears.” Truth can bring some to intense anger and rage.

We know Jesus is the truth. This is why many persecute Christians, because their existence confronts them with the truth and their accountability to God.

As for those in hell, most would be grinding their teeth in hatred of God. I am sure there are some who regret their foolish decision. They will weep for their loss, but not for their sins and their rejection of God. Many in hell will even curse God, just as in Revelation 16, when God is pouring out His wrath on the earth. Men, rather than repent, curse and blaspheme God. Hell would be the same.

The people in hell will remember that they had countless opportunities to repent. In Luke 16, the rich man in hell understood that his brothers needed to repent.

They will remember all the Christians who tried to share the way of salvation.

They will remember all the church services they were invited to and declined.

They will remember all the videos on their feed or television programs preaching the gospel that they ignored.

They will realize that all of nature that surrounded them throughout their life screamed of design and a Designer, a Creator.

They will remember the dreams God gave them about Himself throughout the years, as Job 33 states.

They will realize that they purposely pushed God away, as Romans 1 states.

With their own mouth they denied Jesus was the only way, as He said He was (John 14:6). They refused to repent of their sins. Their own words of denial condemned them to hell, as Jesus said they would in Matthew 12:37.

Those in hell will experience a level of weeping and gnashing of teeth that is far beyond what anyone could ever experience on earth, along with paralyzing regret. These emotions and feelings, along with the many other forms of suffering in hell, will go on forever.