Will there be degrees of punishment?

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What’s Your Question? for June 23,2010

Jesus said some cities, because of their advantages over others, would have worse punishment (Mt. 10:14,15; 11:21-24). He said the “servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few…” (Lk. 12:47,48). People ask, what about the barbarian who never saw a Bible? They should be concerned about being unprepared where Bibles are abundant! Peter said it would be better never to have known God’s will than to know it and turn away (2 Pet. 2:20-22). That implies it will be worse for some than for others! Punishment will be bad for anyone, but one who knew, or had opportunity to know, and did not, will suffer more.