Eternal death is eternal punishment because it never ends. God has no desire or reason to punish people after they die.
Death itself is punishment enough and always was.
Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience who had no belief in an afterlife. I am not wrong about that verse.
I have been a Bible teacher for over 40 years.....you really want to debate scripture with me?
Let's read that passage in context.....
Matthew 22:1-14:
"Once more Jesus spoke to them with illustrations, saying: 2 “The Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who made a marriage feast for his son. 3 And he sent his slaves to call those invited to the marriage feast, but they were unwilling to come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Look! I have prepared my dinner, my bulls and fattened animals are slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the marriage feast.”’ 5 But unconcerned they went off, one to his own field, another to his business; 6 but the rest, seizing his slaves, treated them insolently and killed them.
7 “The king grew wrathful and sent his armies and killed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The marriage feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore, go to the roads leading out of the city, and invite anyone you find to the marriage feast.’ 10 Accordingly, those slaves went out to the roads and gathered all they found, both wicked and good; and the room for the wedding ceremonies was filled with those dining.
11 “When the king came in to inspect the guests, he caught sight of a man not wearing a marriage garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Fellow, how did you get in here without a marriage garment?’ He was speechless. 13 Then the king said to his servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.’
14 “For there are many invited, but few chosen.”
This is a parable, not a true life account. Those "thrown outside" the venue for the wedding were those who wanted to attend the marriage celebrations, but were not issued the correct attire by the King. This is not talking about life after death. It is talking about those who think they qualify for God's favor but do not have it.
Again, in context....
Matthew 8:5-13:
"When he entered Ca·perʹna·um, an army officer came to him, pleading with him 6 and saying: “Sir, my servant is laid up in the house with paralysis, and he is suffering terribly.” 7 He said to him: “When I get there, I will cure him.” 8 The army officer replied: “Sir, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard that, he was amazed and said to those following him: “I tell you the truth, with no one in Israel have I found so great a faith. 11 But I tell you that many from east and west will come and recline at the table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the heavens; 12 whereas the sons of the Kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.” 13 Then Jesus said to the army officer: “Go. Just as you have shown faith, so let it come to pass for you.” And the servant was healed in that hour."
The "sons of the Kingdom" were originally supposed to be the Jews, but due to their continued defection from true worship, they lost God's favor and were thrown outside into spiritual darkness, "gnashing their teeth" at God's son. Again...nothing to do with life after death.
"However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge·henʹna."
If you don't know the difference between hades and gehenna, then I might suggest you do some homework on that term.
"If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into Ge·henʹna."
Again, please go and learn what "gehenna" is. It isn't "hell" and it has nothing to do with suffering after death.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9:
"This takes into account that it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you. 7 But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, 10 at the time when he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder among all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among you."
Everlasting destruction means everlasting death. Like Matthew 10:28, which says....
"And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna."
Both body and soul are "destroyed" in gehenna.....not tortured.
LOL...in the end it is Christendom's interpretation of the Bible that contradicts its teachings. Those scriptures do not say what you think they are saying......I wonder what else you have wrong?
