Most times, we hear sermons and teachings centered around God’s love, mercy, and grace. It’s a beautiful melody that comforts and inspires us. But have you ever wondered how often Jesus, the epitome of love, spoke about hell? It’s a topic often avoided, perhaps due to its uncomfortable nature. Yet, understanding Jesus’ perspective on hell is vital for a balanced view of His message.
Surprisingly, Jesus mentioned hell considerably more than many realize. His words were often painted with vivid imagery, serving as a stark warning and a call to repentance. It’s crucial to remember that His primary intent wasn’t to scare people, but to illuminate the consequences of our choices and to urge us towards a life transformed by His grace.
This exploration aims to shed light on the frequency of hell’s mention in Jesus’ teachings, examining specific verses to understand the context and intensity of His message. We’ll look at how often Jesus spoke about hell, the different terms He used, and the underlying message behind His words. Whether you seek precise numbers or a deeper comprehension of this often-overlooked aspect of Jesus’ ministry, this exploration will provide valuable insights.
How Many Times Did Jesus Speak About Hell?
Pinpointing the exact number of times Jesus mentioned hell is challenging due to varying translations and interpretations. However, it’s safe to say that He could have spoken about it 14 times, 15 times, or even more.
To gain a clearer picture, let’s examine specific instances where Jesus explicitly referred to hell. These passages offer valuable insights into His perspective and the severity of His message.
The Sermon on the mount
Matthew 5:29-30, Mark 9:43-48
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
Matthew 8:11-12
“ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Matthew 10:27-28, Mark 6:7-13
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
Matthew 25:29-30
For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25:41-43
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
The Parable of the Weeds
Matthew 13:29-30; 40-42
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The Parable of the Net
Matthew 13:48-50
When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
Matthew 11:20-24, Luke 10:15
“Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “
“But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” – Matthew 11:20-24
A Cause to Stumble
Matthew 18:8-9, Mark 9:43-49
“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:32-35
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
Matthew 23:15; 33-36
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.”
The Day and Hour Unknown
Matthew 24:46-51
It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:11-14
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:22-23
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Jesus spoke about hell with a frequency and intensity that often surprises people. His words were filled with vivid imagery and stark contrasts, emphasizing the eternal consequences of our choices. While the exact count of mentions is uncertain, it’s clear that this topic was central to His message.
By examining specific passages, we gain a deeper understanding of the context and meaning behind Jesus’ words. This knowledge is essential for those seeking to understand the full scope of His teachings and for those who desire to effectively communicate the message of hell to others.