Degrees of Eternal Punishment

Jesus said in Matthew 10:15 “… It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” This verse teaches there will be degrees of punishment in the day of judgment. The context (the Jews rejecting the teaching of Jesus’ disciples, verses 6,14) shows the degree of punishment will be related in some way to the amount of opportunity the sinner had to accept God’s ways.

Another passage that teaches there will be degrees of punishment at the day of judgment is Matthew 11:20-24. Jesus said in v.22 “… It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.” Jesus also indicates in the context here the degree of punishment will be tied to the amount of opportunity the sinner had to repent. Verse 21 reads, “Woe unto thee, Chorazon! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

A third passage teaching this same concept of degrees of punishment for the lost is II Peter 2:20-22 – “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

The same point can be made from Luke 12:47-48. It reads “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.” Here ignorance of the Lord’s will results in a person getting “few stripes,” or less punishment than the “more stripes” the person receives who knows God’s will and won’t follow it. Notice this verse clearly teaches those who are guilty of sins of ignorance and don’t repent, are “worthy of stripes,” that is, they will be lost. They will receive a smaller amount of punishment for sure, but punishment nonetheless.

The Bible does teach the wicked will receive “many stripes” or “few stripes.” But I don’t think few stripes will be any consolation. Let’s “fear” God (Matthew 10:28) and avoid “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46) at all “cost” (Luke 14:26-35).