HYPOCRITES

by Doug
(Florida)

There are several passages in the Bible related to hypocrites.

Who are the hypocrites and are they appointed to hell?

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24

Jesus's earthly ministry was to the Jewish nation of Israel.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

Jesus was teaching that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. This is the earthly reign of The Lord Jesus. It is also the promised earthly kingdom of Israel ushered in at the presence of the Lord Jesus. Israel was to become a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and witness to all the nations. The hypocrites under consideration are believing Jews about to enter the kingdom.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45-51

The believing Jews were to be rewarded with a full blessing and inheritance if found faithful and obedient at The Lord's return. However, if not found living in accord with the anticipation of his coming and inheritance they would lose reward and their portion would be relegated with the hypocrites.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:40-42

Because of the similarity of the weeping and gnashing of teeth of the hypocrite with the wailing and gnashing of teeth of them which do iniquity, some have said that this indicates that the hypocrites are cast into the lake of fire as well. This is an erroneous assumption. Looking at Matthew 13:40-42, we can see that there is a reference to the punishment of the wicked in hell. This passage, however, is differentiated by the use of wailing. Wailing and gnashing of teeth is descriptive of those cast into hell. Weeping and gnashing of teeth is descriptive of those appointed to a portion with the hypocrites.

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:11-12

Being cast into outer darkness is not being cast into hell. It expresses loss of inheritance. Again we see weeping and gnashing of teeth, not wailing and gnashing of teeth. There will be weeping and gnashing due to the acknowledgment of what the loss of reward entails. While they are still children of the kingdom, they will have a diminished proximity to the brightness and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.