The Hebraisms of Light Versus Darkness in Yeshua’s Saying

Matthew 8:12, Children/Sons of the kingdom. This is a Hebraism or biblical metaphor for the Jewish people. They are the ones who were first presented with the gospel message, but most of them rejected it. The sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness because they didn’t accept Yeshua the Messiah, who is the light of the world (John 1:9; 8:12). It’s rather ironic to be cast into darkness for not accepting the light. Unrepentant sinners prefer darkness over the light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19), so in the end they get what they really wanted.

Anointing

Outer darkness. (Also 22:13; 25:30.) Ancient banquets were held at night in brilliantly lit rooms, and anyone excluded from the feast was cast outside into outer darkness. In his teachings, Yeshua’s uses this term as a metaphor for judgment in reference to those who will be excluded from his kingdom. In the oriental mind, in the days before street lights, it was a dreadful thing to be found outside, late at night no lamp or simply a small clay lamp of that day that put out a tiny, dim flame (Manners and Customs, pp. 62–63). This speaks of the fear that those whom Yeshua will reject will experience.

 

3 thoughts on “The Hebraisms of Light Versus Darkness in Yeshua’s Saying

  1. Can the expulsion into outer darkness be taken to mean the casting into ‘hell’? And if so, how does it relate to the understanding of the Heb. word “olam” (and its Grk. usage?)

    I’ve grown up believing hell was “eternal” – as in those who die rejecting Messiah as their Lord would burn and suffer forever.

    That was what I thought.
    What i believed.
    I recently heard a teaching that made me question this…

    Based around what you have said re: the meaning of being cast in outer darkness and the…well, the usage of the Heb. word “olam” [and its Grk. equivalent]. Not so much its meaning (although that clearly is very important), but how the word is used in the Scriptures.

    It has definitely challenged my paradigm.

    But you know what. So be it!

    Now, it is on my list of Heb. words to study [along with tzadek and chesed] because of the richness of our Father that is seen through them when explained by a Torah loving disciple of Messiah Yeshua.

    Not trying to be Hebrew. I am VERY comfortable with who I am.

    But my Father now…

    He loves expressing Himself through Israel.

    Hence, back to my question regarding outer darkness. Also, what do Orthodox Jews understand by outer darkness? Do they have references to “outer darkness” in any of their orthodox teachings? (Talmud, Zohar, Targums?)

    Thank you and
    Shalom [another truly BEAUTIFUL word!]

    • Good question. Not sure of the answer. Being cast into outer darkness doesn’t seem to be a reference to the lake of fire judgment at the end of the Millennium, which is fire, not darkness. Perhaps it refers to a lower level of spiritual reward in the New Heaven and Earth after the Millennium. The New Jerusalem will be bathed in the light of Elohim/Yeshua and perhaps those who have a lower spiritual reward will live for eternity further away from that light source where the light is dimmer. Just speculating.

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