According to Jewish sages, this is a period of spiritual punishment and/or purification for a period of up to 12 months after death called Gehinnom (in Yiddish it's Gehenna). However, Jesus clearly states there is not a "set" limit for all, but we set our own limits. Yet, if Calvary cleansed us of our sins, what is there left to pay (Protestant argument)? We believe the full text of Matthew helps clarify this as we read when Jesus is condemning when we judge our brother:
"You have heard that it was said to men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'you fool!' shall be liable to Gehenna. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put into prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny." Matt.5.21-26
First, please note that once we are under His grace and mercy, we will not go unto Hell (Eternal damnation), but rather Gehenna/purgatory. Thus, we do not see this as a parable at all, but a stiff warning to any with ears to hear. Furthermore, this is about judging your brother or neighbor for in same teaching we are warned:
"Judge not, that we be judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get." Matt.7.1-2
And at the beginning of Jesus' comments, He equates calling someone "you fool" to killing them. We believe this confirms an article a friend name Suzanne gave us on venial sins that leave pain and suffering behind us even after we have forgotten them ourselves because when we judge wrongly a person, we potentially kill their soul. To read this article that combines scripture with the word of our Church fathers you can find this at:
Purgatory, by Fr. Bertrand L. Conway
Yet we believe there's another argument we have used in the past that also shows Purgatory is a true doctrine of the Church. Many Christians we have spoken to believe that they cannot go unto the wrath if they remain true to HaShem, and yet we are also told that some do go unto this wrath and are made clean during this wrath (they call them "saints of the wrath"). So the question we ask them is why would G-d only save wishy-washy Christians (neither hot nor cold) who happen to be lucky enough (if going through the wrath could be construed as "luck") to be born in time of His return while all those "saps" who fall short of His glory before those days are out of luck?
