Will there be Degrees of Punishm

Will there be Degrees of Punishment and Reward?

by Harley Pinon

In a recent e-mail from Becky, she asked about the meaning of "more tolerable" in this verse: (Mat 10:15 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

That's the verse! Let's begin by getting the context. Jesus is sending out His twelve apostles to preach the gospel. Here is part of the instructions: (Mat 10:11-15 NKJV) "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. {12} "And when you go into a household, greet it. {13} "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. {14} "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. {15} "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Now for a few questions: What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Well, they were obviously extremely wicked. Remember, Abraham was very concerned about Sodom because Lot had moved to Sodom. Abraham began to bargain with God, and here is his last plea: "Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten."' (Gen 18:32 NKJV) Of course, there were not ten to be found. It was wicked, and we won't go into more details here, other than to say it was a city given over to homosexuality.

Now let's look at the rest of the story. How could it be that the people to whom the apostles were preaching deserved worse punishment that those of Sodom and Gomorrah? I can only see one answer: Their punishment will be more severe because they had the gospel preached to them. Going back a few verses earlier than those we cited above, consider this: (Mat 10:7-8 NKJV) "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' {8} "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Look at all the proofs that this was a message from God. There is no record that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had such an opportunity to hear a message calling them to repentance. In other words, the judgment will not be based solely on what we did or didn't do, it will be based on our opportunities as well, especially the opportunity to hear and learn the will of God.

Does this passage teach degrees of punishment? I think it does. I think that is clearly what is meant by the expression: "more tolerable" As Becky indicated, this was the understanding of some of the commentators she had consulted. Again, what is being considered is how people responded to the opportunities they had.

Now let's look at another case. This time, those in the Old Testament come out with a lighter punishment, or at least are cast in a better light. (Mat 12:41 NKJV) "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. Again, what was the basis of judgment? It was the opportunity to hear the gospel. I trust all are familiar with the story of Jonah and Nineveh. If you're not, please read the book of Jonah, it won't take you very long. I don't know of an example of a worse preacher in the Bible. He didn't want to go in the first place, and he was angry when they repented, so what kind of preacher do you think he was? Nonetheless, they repented anyway. Here is part of the account:

(Jonah 3:4 NKJV) And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" Now where is the indication that there is anything they can do to escape? In spite of this, look at the reaction:

{Jonah 3:5-9} So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. {6} Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. {7} And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. {8} But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. {9} Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

Who can tell? There was apparently no promise made by Jonah! They acted only on the thought: Who can tell? and God forgave them, at least He did not destroy them as He had said He would: "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." {Jonah 3:10}

But look at Jonah's reaction: "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. {2} So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm." Yet, in spite of Jonah, the people repented.

Again, judgment was not based on how bad the people had been. The people of Nineveh were fierce, mean people, but God withheld the judgment He was going to bring upon them for 120 years.

What Else Did Jesus Say about Degrees of Punishment?

"And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. {48} "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:47-48 NKJV) I think the teaching of this passage is clear: There will be degrees of punishment.

Are there degrees of Reward?

If there are degrees of punishment, will there also be degrees of reward? Again, I think the answer is "Yes!" For example, the parable of the talents, or the minas as some translations interpret it: (Luke 19:16-19 NKJV) "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' {17} "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' {18} "And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' {19} "Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'

Both of these individuals were rewarded, but one received twice as much as the other. What is that teaching? I see no way to honestly deny that these are degrees of reward.

So back to the Question:

. . . what is the meaning of "more tolerable"? As was suggested by some of those whom Becky studied, I would agree. It means their punishment was lighter. How much lighter? The Judge of all the earth will decide that. That is not for us to decide.

Are degrees of punishment and reward taught in scripture? I think the verses we have cited show that this is true. I don't know why some have fostered the idea that we are either saved or lost, and that there is no difference in reward among the saved, or in punishment of those who are lost. I agree with part of the idea: We will be saved or lost, but that does not mean that all punishment will be the same. Many other examples could be given. We will end with just one more.

(Mat 19:27-29 NKJV) Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" {28} So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. {29} "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. Shall receive a hundredfold, that involves a degree!

Bible Study with Harley

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