The topic of hell is one that often provokes strong reactions and opinions. Though not a pleasant subject, it is one that Jesus addressed directly during His earthly ministry. What exactly did Jesus teach about hell? A comprehensive look at the gospel accounts provides insight into this sobering doctrine.
The Reality of Hell
Jesus affirmed the reality of hell frequently throughout His teachings. He referred to it as a literal place of judgment for those who reject God. For example, in Matthew 13:40-42 Jesus taught that at the end of the age, “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This vivid description highlights key characteristics of hell:
- It involves severe judgment.
- It is a place of torment characterized by “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- It is inescapable for those condemned there.
Jesus often used the imagery of fire to depict hell as a place of unending torment. In Mark 9:43 He warned it was better to lose body parts on earth than to be thrown into the unquenchable fire of hell. The fire signifies extreme anguish and separation from God. Jesus emphasized hell as a definite fate for the unrepentant rather than merely a theoretical possibility.
Reasons for Hell
Jesus warned that the consequence of hell awaited all who rejected Him and God’s truth. People essentially condemn themselves to hell by stubbornly refusing salvation. In John 3:18, Jesus stated that those who do not believe in Him are condemned already. Elsewhere, He lamented the unbelief of some cities, recognizing their pending judgment (Matthew 11:20-24). Hell awaits all who deny, ignore, or revile Jesus’ message of redemption and the gift of eternal life offered through Him.
However, Jesus also indicated there are degrees of punishment in hell depending on one’s level of knowledge and willful disobedience (Luke 12:47-48). The greatest punishment is reserved for those claiming Jesus’ name but denying Him by their actions and false teaching (Matthew 23:13-15). Though hell awaits all who reject Christ, greater condemnation falls on the religious hypocrites misleading others.
Hell Compared to Heaven
To underscore the horrors of hell, Jesus frequently contrasted it with the eternal blessedness of heaven reserved for the righteous. In Matthew 13:49-50, He taught that at the end of the age, the angels will separate the evil from the righteous and throw the wicked into fire while the righteous shine in the kingdom of heaven. The two eternal destinies stand in stark opposition.
Similarly, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, the rich man suffers torment in Hades while Lazarus enjoys eternal comfort in the presence of Abraham. Again, Jesus highlights the radical distinction between the fate of the lost and the saved. One enters unending punishment while the other receives abundant life, even after death.
A Place of Separation from God
Some descriptions of hell indicate that at its core, hell represents separation from the presence and goodness of God. In Matthew 7:23 Jesus declares that in the judgment He will reject those who practice lawlessness, saying “I never knew you; depart from me.” Being told by Jesus to depart signifies exclusion from His kingdom and fellowship. Similarly, in Matthew 25:41 Jesus indicates that those cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil have no place with the righteous; they are eternally separated.
Hell means remaining under the curse of sin with no hope of redemption or rescue. While Scripture may leave questions about the precise nature of hell, Jesus’ warnings make it clear that it signifies irreversible loss far surpassing any earthly suffering. Avoiding its horrors should spur people to turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
A Place for Satan and Demons
Jesus taught that hell was originally created for Satan and his demonic forces, not humans. In Matthew 25:41, He declares that the eternal fire was “prepared for the devil and his angels.” Though humans tragically choose to share that fate by rejecting Christ, hell was designed as a place of punishment and confinement for the rebellious angelic beings who oppose God.
However, Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day that they were more worthy of hell than the demons they claimed to cast out (Matthew 23:15). Those who attributed Jesus’ work to Satan reflected a heart even more deeply hardened against the truth. Yet this again demonstrates Jesus’ belief in hell as the default destination for those in league with the devil through unbelief.
A Place of Eternal Suffering
Jesus taught that hell’s torments are not temporary or reversible. Several passages indicate the wicked will endure eternal, conscious punishment apart from any hope of relief or second chances. In Mark 9:48, Jesus quotes Isaiah 66:24 saying that hell is a place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” The unending nature of suffering is in view.
Other statements from Jesus forbid speculation about any potential end to hell’s miseries. In Luke 16 regarding the rich man in Hades, Abraham responds to his plea for mercy saying, “between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us” (Luke 16:26). Hell’s confines are final; no escape exists.
A Place of Regret and Hopelessness
Jesus intimated that those in hell will be conscious of the blessed eternal state they forfeited. The rich man fixated on the relief of Lazarus rather than his own anguish. His knowledge seems to intensify his misery and sense of despair. With no further chances to repent after death, such regret will compound the pain of condemnation.
Jesus’ descriptions of hell consistently evoke images of despair, disorder, and hopelessness. It will inflict deep anguish of soul alongside physical torments. The warnings of Christ should instill within people on earth an urgency to turn to Him in repentance and faith.
A Motivation for Repentance
Jesus leveraged warnings about hell to motivate His listeners to pursue repentance and salvation. He urged them to live righteously, believe His message, and come to the light while there was still opportunity (John 12:35-36). Warnings about hell remind us that the choices made in this life have eternal significance. They emphasize Christ as the only means of rescue from condemnation.
Additionally, Jesus cautioned His followers against fearing those who can kill the body but not the soul. Instead, He says to fear God who has authority over one’s eternal fate (Luke 12:5). The horrors of hell are intended to instill a reverence for God and a motivation to avoid His wrath through faith in Christ.
A Manifestation of God’s Justice and Holiness
Though tragic in outcome, hell testifies to God’s unrelenting holiness and justice. His righteous character requires that rebellion and evil be addressed decisively. Hell reserved for the wicked manifests the glory of God’s justice and wrath against sin. It makes plain the cost of spurning God’s offer of mercy through His Son.
Additionally, the severity of hell underscores the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice to rescue sinners. It reveals God’s just wrath against sin that Jesus bore on behalf of those who trust in Him. The existence of hell does not contradict God’s love but instead aligns with and magnifies both His holiness and mercy.
A Choice Each Person Must Make
Jesus emphasized that the path to life or destruction, heaven or hell lies before every person (Matthew 7:13-14). Through one’s response to His claims and message, an individual decides his or her eternal fate. Hell demonstrates the default outcome for all apart from faith in Christ. Yet it remains avoidable, thanks to God’s offer of salvation to all who believe.
Hell stands as a sobering reality awaiting all who persist in unbelief and rebellion against their Creator. Just as Jesus warned of its certainty, He likewise offers escape through His atoning work on the cross. The horrors of hell and wonders of heaven motivate urgent trust and surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord.