Did Jesus speak of a Literal Hell?

The issue of Hell is one of great contention. Its eternal, painful and a place of punishment. But is it real? If reality was based on opinion the answer would be no; most people don't want to believe that members of their own families and perhaps even themselves will suffer for all eternity. They would rather there be no proper justice for those who sin against God so they say; this isn't difficult to understand for they neither recognize how much they have sinned against God nor how holy and just He is.

But for this blog I will try hard not to use rational argumentation that reaches out to all people (although such arguments exist and I hope you'll take time to consider them); but for this post I'm addressing those who call themselves Christians, by which I mean follows of Christ, not the Jesus of society, your church or your biases but the One Who can be found in our earliest records: The Gospels.

Here are five references Jesus makes to Hell, I hope you'll keep in mind that the truth of this matter depends not on emotions or feelings but on the transcendent reality. For if Hell is real in the literal sense no matter how much we want to deny its existence it will still exist after our death.

1.) "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of Hell."-Matthew 18:7-9

2.) "And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to Hell?"-Matthew 23:30-33

3.) "In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."-Luke 16:23-24
(Even if you take this as a parable one must conclude that it is a greater story for all people who are selfish in this life, will suffer in the afterlife.)

4.) "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."-Matthew 25:41, in the context Jesus views Himself as the very King Who is damn certain people to Hell, which we can note is called eternal fire. Matthew 25 is especially difficult for those who hold what I call the "hippie-Jesus" view; this is because Jesus's ethical statements about taking care of others are tied to His warnings about Eternal damnation.  

5.) "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' "But He will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out."-Luke 13:26-28

These are only a few examples, but they are nonetheless clear. C.S Lewis famously made the point in his popular book Mere Christianity that Jesus was either Lord, a lunatic or a liar. If you claim to be a Christian you must believe that He is Lord, and if you accept Him as Lord you are obligated to believe His words (and not to sooner follow your own feelings or who you want Jesus to be.)