Q: Dear Sir, I have a question regarding Luke 12 verses 47 and 48 `Who is being spoken of here? Do these verses indicate punishment for lazy believers or degrees of punishment for unbelievers ?` Thank you.
A: Great question. Luke 12:47-48 reads as follows: "The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." This would appear to be degrees of punishment for unbelievers. Jesus was in the midst of preaching on being watchful for his return when He gives a parable about a steward who abused his servants because his master seemingly was delayed in his return. It is easy to see your confusion about this because of the use of servant and master. We automatically hear servant and think of Christians and Master and think of Jesus. However, if you look carefully at verse 47 we read where it talks about a servant who "knows the masters will and does not get ready" or "does not do what the master wants." What, ultimately, is God's will? His will is that all men repent of their unbelief in Jesus Christ and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, if a person knows this about God, yet refuses to respond to it, is this person saved? I would say that he is not.
Therefore, it would be safe to conclude that the individual being talked about is an unbeliever. In verse 48 there is a slight contrast regarding a servant who is said to not be aware of his master's will and faces a lesser punishment described here as a "few blows." Again, this fits the description of an unbeliever as well, just one who is not acquainted with God's will or as some might say, someone who hasn't heard the Gospel. Even if that is the case, this person is still accountable because they most likely did not want to know about God. Romans 1:18 describes men who "suppress the truth by their wickedness." In order to suppress something you have to be aware of its existence, but you make a conscience decision not to acknowledge it. Furthermore, you have 2 Corinthians 4:4 which states that the "god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." The god of this age is a reference to Satan. He blinds unbelievers from the truth through his various deceptive means. Keep in mind that hell was made for Satan and his angels not for mankind (Matthew 25:41). However, if a person rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ, choosing to remain spiritually dead in sin, God has no other place to put them for eternity, but hell.
Other passages that would indicate degrees of punishment are Matthew 10:15; 16:27 and Revelation 20:12-13; 22:12. For example, during the Great White Throne Judgment, which is the judgment of all unbelievers, we read the following from Revelation 20:12-13: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done." Pay particular attention to the repeated phrase "according to." This indicates that punishments are given in proportion to an individuals deeds. Many scholars like to use the illustration that Adolf Hitler will be judged more harshly then would your average pagan. However, it doesn't seem to be of much comfort to be in one portion of hell that is not as hot as another, especially when it is for eternity. The key to understanding hell and its punishment is to avoid it altogether by coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, will you be secure in the knowledge that you will spend eternity with the Lord in heaven.
One final point to mention that the passage from Luke is not talking about believers, "lazy" or otherwise, is what we know to be true about the finished work of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." If there is not any condemnation for a believer that would indicate there is no punishment of any kind. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 reads, "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christians are saved through our faith in Jesus Christ and are not appointed to suffer wrath. If there is no wrath then there is no punishment. And finally, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18)."You can't love a God who threatens you with punishment. You will live a life in total fear of Him as you wonder whether or not you have done something worthy of being punished. God loves believers unconditionally and eternally. If He held our actions against us we would never have a relationship with Him. The promise of punishment for unbelievers should inspire a Christian to take every opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with every unbeliever they can. Eternity could come upon a person at any moment. Let us make sure that they are prepared for it. Be blessed.
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