Then the king said to the servants: ‘Tie his hands and feet, take him, and throw him out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and the grinding of teeth there.’
This command of the king shows God’s final judgment toward those who have accepted the invitation but have not entered in a worthy manner, without faith and spiritual transformation. Binding the hands and feet symbolizes the helpless state of condemnation, when a person can no longer act or walk toward the light. The outer darkness represents eternal separation from God, the condition in which His presence is absent. The weeping and gnashing of teeth symbolize the spiritual pain and remorse that come from a belated realization, when it is no longer possible to change. This word warns that participation in God’s “feast” requires not mere formality, but purity of heart.