DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT IN HELL

[Lk 12:41-48]:

(v. 41) "Peter asked, 'Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?'

(v. 42) The Lord answered, 'Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

[Mt 24:45 uses the word "servant" here. Luke later refers to him as a "servant" also, (v. 4)]

(v. 43) It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.

(v. 44) I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

(v. 45) "But suppose the servant says to himself...................

[Matthew says here "But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself........"]

(Lk 12:45 cont) "But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the men servants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk.

(v. 46) The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the "apiston" [= "unfaithful"].

[Matthew says here: "and assign him with the hypocrites [= equivalent to 'unfaithful'], where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."]

(v. 47) That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.

(v. 48) 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."

Notice that in both instances when our Lord proclaimed this message of the faithful and unfaithful servants it was set in the context of being in anticipation of our Lord's Second Coming, (refs: Mt 24:36; Lk 12:40, 46), and thereby being faithful is in view not salvation unto eternal life, (ref. Lk 12:35).

[Mt 11:22-24]:

22 "But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."