The Outer Darkness

I. Introduction
   A. Matthew 8:10-12
   B. Three times in Matthew, Jesus speaks of a place known as the 
      "outer darkness"
   C. From all indications, it is not a pleasant place
   D. What is this outer darkness?
   E. Where is it?
   F. Who is going there?
   G. How can we avoid it?
   H. Let us consider these questions today

II. The Outer Darkness
   A. We see the "outer darkness" mentioned in three passages
      1. Matthew 8:10-12 (v. 12)
      2. Matthew 22:1-13 (v. 13)
      3. Matthew 25:14-30 (v. 30)
   B. Why "outer darkness"?
      1. Jesus' attempt to describe the spiritual reality of the 
         situation
      2. John 1:5, 8:12: Jesus as the light
      3. 1 John 1:5: God is light, in Him is no darkness
      4. If God is light, and we read of "outer darkness", we 
         understand that "outer darkness" represents entire 
         separation from God
   C. Outer darkness, then, refers to complete and entire separation 
      from God, the source of all life
   D. Lack of God's presence should not be assumed to mean that the 
      "outer darkness" is simply the lack of all that is good!
      1. Each time the "outer darkness" is mentioned, Jesus 
         mentions that there will also be "weeping and gnashing of 
         teeth" there
      2. Another place where there is "weeping and gnashing of 
         teeth" is the fiery furnace of Matthew 13:42; 13:50
      3. It would seem that the "outer darkness" and the "fiery 
         furnace" are the same place: hell!
      4. It is certainly not just the absence of good-- it is a 
         terrible place!
   E. Lest one find any inconsistencies…
      1. Fiery furnace would assume the light of fire, yet Jesus 
         speaks of "outer darkness"!
      2. As we have seen, the "outer darkness" is not literal-- 
         it represents ultimate separation from God
      3. There is no inconsistency: when one is separated from God, 
         one is in a fiery furnace for eternity!
   F. What can be known about the outer darkness?

III. The Nature of the Outer Darkness
   A. The outer darkness represents separation from God
      1. Separation from God requires a separation from all that 
         is good, holy, and right
      2. It is separation from light and the Source of life
      3. What a lonely, desolate, bitter place!
   B. Exemplified by what goes on there
   C. "Weeping"
      1. There is much sorrow and lamentation in the outer darkness
      2. Weeping over all the mistakes and errors
      3. Weeping over not taking the opportunities presented to 
         obey God!
   D. "Gnashing of teeth"
      1. A highly descriptive demonstration of the great pain 
         endured by those in the outer darkness
      2. They are in such pain that they grit their teeth together 
         in the agony
      3. Not a pleasant place indeed!
   E. Fiery furnace
      1. We can deduce quite fairly that the outer darkness is the 
         same as the fiery furnace, since both places are where 
         there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth"
      2. The last place we really want to be!
   F. Who are those who will be in the outer darkness?

IV. Those in the Outer Darkness
   A. Matthew 8:10-12
      1. The "sons of the kingdom"
      2. In context, reference to Israelites
      3. Disobedient Israelites
      4. A good warning to us!
   B. Matthew 13:37-42
      1. The fate of the "tares" in the parable of the wheat and 
         tares
      2. Most likely refers to those of the world who do not obey 
         the Gospel
   C. Matthew 13:47-50
      1. Another illustration, same principle
      2. Those as the bad fish cast into the furnace forever
   D. Matthew 22:10-13
      1. The one without a wedding garment
      2. Understood to be one who refused the good will of the king 
         in wearing the garment given to him
   E. Matthew 24:42-51
      1. The wicked servant who does not behave himself properly
      2. The Master comes, and he is cast where the hypocrites are
      3. We understand from this that hypocrites will be in the 
         outer darkness
   F. Matthew 25:14-30
      1. The "worthless" servant
      2. Note: he is one of the Master's servants, but does not 
         properly use his talent!
      3. The consequence: cast out into the outer darkness
   G. Luke 13:23-28
      1. Those who professed Jesus but found by Him to be working 
         iniquity
      2. Cast into the place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth"
      3. Place not explicitly mentioned, but best understood as outer 
         darkness/fiery furnace
   H. Such, then, are those destined for this location

V. Conclusion
   A. The outer darkness
      1. It is manifestly a place none of us want to be!
      2. A place of great sorrow, lamentation, and suffering
      3. Highly unpleasant
   B. We must do all we can to not be cast there!
      1. Those who never obey God will be cast there
      2. Yet so will many who profess Christ!
      3. We even see the warning that unproductive Christians will 
         also be cast there!
   C. We must be obedient to Christ-- not just in part, not just 
      showing up, but in full!
   D. Let us be faithful in all things, so that we may never be 
      separated from God!
   E. Invitation/songbook