The outer darkness is that place of the punishment of the wicked. We do not know whether it is physical or metaphorical. But, it is described as a place so far away that it is always in darkness. The phrase is used three times in the New Testament, only in the Gospel of Matthew, and always by Jesus. He unites it with the phrase “the weeping and gnashing of teeth.” So, in each instance, wicked people will be thrown into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is a grim prophetic reality upon all who have denied the Savior, Jesus Christ. Here are the three places the phrase occurs.
- Matt. 8:12, “but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matt. 22:13, “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matt. 25:30, “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
There are different interpretations of exactly what it is. Some interpret it as hell, which is the place of eternal punishment. Some say it is symbolic language used to describe the incredible separation from God that the wicked will experience. An interesting point is that, generally speaking, prophecies are fulfilled literally. So, we could also legitimately interpret the outer darkness to be exactly that, a place so far away that is completely in darkness. Either way, it is going to be an awful, eternal existence for those who have not trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins.
