NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHRASE “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (PART 1: GALILEE)

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Narrative Criticism

A simple example that narrative criticism has not provided an extensive discussion of the phrase is David Garland, who in his book entitled Reading Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary says nothing about the Matthean formula.36 Like Garland, Jack Kingsbury in his Matthew as Story does not provide any analysis of the phrase.37 However, in another of his writings, he notes that Matthew points out that when someone has an encounter with Jesus that person needs to make a decision, either to enter into the “gracious sphere” of God or enter under the power of Satan. In the final days those that make the second choice, will experience “eternalpunishment”, such as the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (8:12; 13:42, 50).38 This understanding is repeated by Richard Edwards, who in his Matthew’s Story of Jesus asserts briefly that each of the six times that the phrase appears it illustrates the certainty of God’s punishment.39
An important interpretation of the Matthean expression is provided by Janice Capel Anderson, who from a narrative and reader-response critical perspective40  nalyzes how Matthew’ story uses verbal repetition during the narrative process.41 She shows that the Jewish leaders in the story are described repeatedly as hypocrites, being the first candidates for judgment and, for that reason, will be with those who are “weeping and gnashing their teeth” (8:12; 22:13).42 Besides this, she explores how these verbal repetitions are connected with the plot of the story. To do that, she analyzes literary devices such as “anticipation and retrospection”, which in relation to the Matthean formula point to an eschatological prediction of those who will be “weeping and gnashing” (8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30).43
Barbara Reid, who analyzes the violent endings of eight Matthean parables,offers another important contribution.44 In five of these eight parables the phrase “weeping and gnashing” appears, and although she does not analyze the phrase explicitly, it is interesting to consider her final explanation about the purpose of these violent endings. According to Reid, there is a practical difference between these aggressive endings and other Matthean nonviolent teaching.45 To resolve this dilemma she offers four possible solutions, arguing that the last one is the most satisfactory.46 In this last solution, she declares that these parables describe, “what happens when the time for conversion is past and the moment of final reckoning has arrived.”47
Donald Hagner, who used narrative criticism among other methodologies in his Matthean commentary, suggests the phrase describes the experience of eschatological judgment (8:12; cf. 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30), arguing along with Benedikt Schwank, that “weeping and gnashing of teeth” denotes anguish and self-reproach rather than anger as Davies and Allison proposed.48 On the other hand, John Nolland’s opinion is different. He says that although the expression is often a hostile assertion of anger, a better meaning is vexation (8:12), because of its relation to Psalm
112:10 that says that the wicked will “be vexed” (Ps 112:10; TNVI).49

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 
Historical criticism .
Summary
Narrative Criticism
Summary
Statement of the problem
Purpose of the Research
Methodology
Narrative Devices
Definitions of Terms
Setting
Characters
Events and Plot
Rhetoric
The metaphoric world of the parables
Boundaries of “Weeping and Gnashing of teeth”
Summary
CHAPTER 2 NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHRASE “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (PART 1: GALILEE)
Narrative Analysis of Matthew 8:5-13: The Centurion’s Pai√ß
Overview
Introduction: the setting of the pericope (8:5)
Four speeches: Jesus and the centurion (8:5b-13a)
The first three speeches: the centurion’s petition (8:5b-9)
The last speech: The eschatological reward and punishment (8:10-13a)
The conclusion of the pericope: the servant is healed (8:13b)
Summary
Narrative Analysis of Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43: The Parables of the Weeds and its Explanation
The parable of the weed
Narrative context .
Overview
Actions: the master and the enemy (13:24-26)
The dialogues: the householder and his slaves (13:27-30)
Summary
Overview
The fishing story: the “good” and “bad” (13:47-48)62
Summary .
CHAPTER 3 NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHRASE “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (PART 2: JUDEA)
Narrative context
Overview
The first invitation: people say “no” (22:2-7)
Summary
servant
Narrative context
Rhetoric question: the master and his household (24:45)
The blessed servant: the good behavior (24:46-47)
The wicked servant: the “bad” behavior (24:48-51) .
Summary .
CHAPTER 4 NARRATIVE CONNECTIONS OF THE PHRASE “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH”
The temporal setting of the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth”
Separation: two groups of referents
Acceptation and recompense: the joy obtained .
CONCLUSION .
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHRASE “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW