Topic(s):  Eternity & Judgment, God's Mercy

Bob Prichard

Our sense of justice tells us that since there are degrees of faithfulness, and of wickedness, then God should recognize these differences. Just as the more spiritually minded among us can enjoy spiritual matters more than the less spiritual, so some people derive more enjoyment from their wickedness. Our codes of criminal punishment recognize that punishment should be according to the person's responsibility and guilt.

Jesus recognized this as He spoke to the unrepentant cities that had witnessed His mighty works. He said that it would be “more tolerable” for the wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than it would be for Chorazin and Bethsaida, and it would be “more tolerable” for Sodom than for Capernaum in the day of judgment because Capernaum rejected Him (Matthew 11:20-24). Those with greater opportunities will receive the harsher judgment when they reject those opportunities. The principle is expressed in the parable of the wicked servant: “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47-48). The “stripes,” representing punishment, are given to both servants, but there are more for the one who was “given much,” and failed.

Again we see this principle in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master gave three men different sums of money (one talent, three talents, and five talents). The men given three and five talents used them wisely, but the man who was given one talent did nothing with that talent. The master condemned him. The master did not condemn him because he did not do as much as the “five talent” man, but because he did nothing with the talent he did have.

Hebrews 10:29 warns Christians, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” If there is a “sorer punishment” for those who have “trodden under foot the Son of God,” and “counted the blood of the covenant . . . an unholy thing,” there must be a “sore punishment” for those who reject the gospel.

Since we understand that there will be punishment for the disobedient, each of us should be living for Christ today so that we will escape that “sore” punishment. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). We will be “rewarded according to our works,” so we should use the time the Lord allots to us to prepare to receive the blessings of a faithful servant. We should all seek the Master’s comendation, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).