Bible Strands
Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The master in the parable of the talents speaks to his household servants after evaluating their stewardship. This declaration concludes the parable immediately before the narrative shifts to the Son of Man’s judgment in Matthew 25:31.
The words — ἀχρεῖον (achreion) translates literally as worthless or useless, and ἐκβάλετε (ekbalete) commands to cast out or throw out. These terms define the servant’s failure and the master’s final rejection.
The thread — The exact phrase "weeping and gnashing of teeth" appears in Matthew 8:12, Matthew 13:50, and Matthew 22:13, while the motif of being cast into outer darkness runs through Matthew 8:12 and Matthew 22:13. Matthew 13:50 substitutes outer darkness with a fiery furnace (κάμινον τοῦ πυρός).
Why it lands — The text requires a direct evaluation of one’s use of entrusted resources and states that inaction results in total exclusion. It asks the reader to accept that failure to serve produces irreversible separation from the kingdom.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Cross-references
- Matthew 8:12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 22:13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Hebrews 6:7 For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
- Revelation 3:15 I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!
- Titus 3:14 And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
- Jude 1:13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
- Jeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go!
- Matthew 13:42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 24:51 Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.