“…where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
(Mark 9:48)
Jesus represents the dreadful and endless torment of hell as a worm. Why a worm? In the torments of God’s hell there is a removal of all good that might make those there happy, and also something added to their state, an addition of things which make them miserable because they have willfully sinned against His glorious nature; from Christ’s perspective, every sin deserves such a worm. The first part expressed by Christ, “depart from me ye cursed,” (Matt. 25:41), refers to departing from all the blessings, love and bliss of Christ’s merit and work for redeemed sinners. Then, the torments of hell are set, “where their worm does not die,” (Mark 9:48). The terribleness of fire as a tormenting agent in hell is joined with the worm. Consequently, both the fire and the worm are part of the third torment in these words which is that the fire is never quenched, and the worm never dies. Such justice on sin is eternal.
Torment in hell is like a worm, and everyone in hell shall have his own worm. The words of Christ are quoted out of Isaiah 66:24. The Lord had promised the glorious deliverance of the church in their contemplation they are to consider their present outward condition and misery, and their eternal condition. “Their worm never dies, and their fire is not quenched to all eternity, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh,” (Isa. 66:24). But this worm that is spoken of is not to be understood literally, but metaphorically of something that holds some resemblance and analogy to it. A worm in Scripture is given to resemble two things, that which is despicable and to be condemned and that which is tormenting and continually vexing. The Lord is pleased to help our understandings to express spiritual things by earthly similarities. What is most terrible in this way but tormenting fire, brimstone, darkness and a worm?
Worms are seen as disgusting creatures, with the idea of having them multiplied out of a man and to feed on him when he is dead. As Job speaks, “The worms shall feed sweetly on him, he shall be no more remembered, etc.,” (Job 24:20). Regardless of status all unrepentant sinners will be clothed with worms, to become their food, which is dismal picture. But, if these worms should reproduce in a man and feed on him while he is alive, it would be much more terrible. Consider then, what will it be for a worm to be gnawing on the soul forever in hell?
William Strong comments on this when he says, “This worm being a metaphor, it is generally to be understood of the furious reflection of the soul on itself, in consideration of it by past life, neglected opportunities, and its present hopeless and unrecoverable condition.” And so, the tormenting acts of conscience on men are resembled by the worm, and the resemblance lies in the worm reproducing out of the decomposition of the subject in which it sits. In the conscience of men there is a great deal of corruption; the conscience is, as it were, the basket where all the evil in a man resides, (Titus 1:15). Their conscience is defiled; like white-washed tombs, outwardly fair, but inwardly full of rottenness and all uncleanness, and so they may easily breed worms, (Matt. 23:17). Also, we find there in lost souls all the guilt of sin settled on the conscience. It needs purging, for all the works done by carnal men are dead works because they proceed from a dead nature, working towards death (Heb. 9:14). And though these things are the work of the whole soul, and every faculty, yet all their guilt is laid on the conscience. And if there is so much filthiness both of guilt and defilement in the conscience, it is no wonder that the conscience breeds the worst and the most devouring worm.
In hell, there shall be nothing to tempt from the outside, and so the soul will turn on itself forever. It will be a most painful remembrance of all its own past filthiness and willful rebellion. The sinner will remember every opportunity he had to heed the gospel. He will think about how all the pleasures of sin and the promises of Satan deceived him, and all this will gnaw on his soul in inconceivable torment forever. This is the worm that never dies.
What of your conscience and your soul? Are there worms there even now? Truly, if you live and die in sin, you will be tormented forever with fire that will never go out, and this never-dying worm shall gnaw on your guilt-ridden conscience to torment you forever. Take time to consider this now, or you will be forced to contemplate all these things under the judgment of God in hell forever. And there, your worm of tormenting consciousness will never die.
- Such a passage, Lord, should spark me to live before You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. It should alarm and awaken me, even as a faithful believer; especially so.
- Lord, I am a complete failure in my obedience which I owe to Your law. And if I cannot fulfill the law perfectly, another debt takes place, which is the debt of sufferings. But who can bear the penalty of a broken law and live? Thanks be to Jesus Christ who has rescued me and saved me from eternal misery and this body of death!
- Who can pay a debt that is unpayable? Who can bear the worm of everlasting misery? Those in hell know very well they can never be discharged from their arrest, because they can never come to the end of its payment (Matt. 5:26). Their worm never dies. What a horrible and sobering thought that is for believers to consider.
Further References for Mark 9:48
Isa. 66:24; Matt. 25:41; Matt. 3:12; Mark 9:44, 46
