1. Will There be Degrees of Punishment and Reward?
2017 Preacher’s Study
Nate Bibens

2. Preliminary Observations
God is completely good & just
We must guard against improper motives

3. Parable of the Unfaithful Servant Luke 12:41-48
Context
Question about inheritance (12:13-14)
Parable of the Rich Fool (12:15-21)
Do not worry/spiritual priorities (12:22-34)

4. Parable of the Unfaithful Servant Luke 12:41-48
Luke 12:32-33 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

5. Parable of the Unfaithful Servant Luke 12:41-48
Context
Question about inheritance (12:13-14)
Parable of the Rich Fool (12:15-21)
Do not worry/spiritual priorities (12:22-34)
Parable of prepared servants (12:35-38)
Parable of the thief (12:39-40)
Peter’s Question (12:41)

6. Parable of the Unfaithful Servant Luke 12:41-48
Context
Question about inheritance (12:13-14)
Parable of the Rich Fool (12:15-21)
Do not worry/spiritual priorities (12:22-34)
Parable of prepared servants (12:35-38)
Parable of the thief (12:39-40)
Peter’s Question (12:41)
“Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or to all people?”

7. Luke 12:42-48 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47And 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. 48But 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.

8. What is the Primary Purpose of the Parable?
Always Be Prepared!
Believer’s Can Lose Their Reward
Greater Opportunity equals Greater Responsibility

9. What is the Primary Purpose of the Parable?
“Jesus’ purpose in speaking those words was not to announce a new teaching concerning degrees of punishment in hell. If the words are pressed beyond what he intended, we may reach the conclusion that there is value in ignorance, which is untrue (Jn. 8:32). Rather, Christ was stressing that privilege brings responsibility…The greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility.”
- David Roper, Life of Christ Vol. 2, Pg. 102

10. “It will be more tolerable for…”
Matthew 11:20-24 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, 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. 22But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

11. “In the day of Judgment…”
Standard of Judgment? Result of Judgment?

12. Important Truths
Regardless of degrees of punishment, the lost will suffer severely
Jude 7
…as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

13. Important Truths
Regardless of degrees of punishment, the lost will suffer severely.
The Reason for Worse Punishment

14. How Would Degrees of Punishment Work?
More Pain? Regret?

15. Passages for Further Study
John 19:11 Hebrews 10:26-31 James 3:1 2 Peter 2:20-22

16. Are There Degrees of Reward?

17. “Each one according to his deeds…”
Job 34:11
Rom. 2:5-6
Ps. 62:12
1 Cor. 3:8
Pro. 24:12
2 Cor. 5:10
Jer. 17:10
1 Pet. 1:17
Jer. 32:19
Rev. 2:23
Mt. 16:27
Rev. 22:12

18. “Each one according to his deeds…”
Jer. 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
Mt. 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

19. “Each one according to his deeds…”
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
John 5:28-29
…for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

20. Parable of the Workers Matthew 20:1-16
Context
Disciples Rebuked (19:13-15)
The Rich Young Ruler (19:16-22)
Difficulty for the Rich (19:23-26)
Peter’s Question (19:27)
“See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

21. Parable of the Workers Matthew 20:1-16
Context
Disciples Rebuked (19:13-15)
The Rich Young Ruler (19:16-22)
Difficulty for the Rich (19:23-26)
Peter’s Question (19:27)
First and the Last (19:28-30)

22. What is the Purpose of the Parable?
Proper Attitude
Faith
Thankfulness for Reward

23. The Parables of the Talents and Minas Mt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-27

24. The Parables of the Talents and Minas Mt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-27
Parable of Talents
Parables of Minas
Various talents given
Servants equally profitable
Servants receive the same reward
Matthew 25:21, 23
Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.

25. The Parables of the Talents and Minas Mt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-27
Parable of Talents
Parables of Minas
Various talents given
Servants equally profitable
Servants receive the same reward
1 Mina each
Various productivity
Servants rewarded proportionately
Luke 19:11
Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

26. Other Passages to Consider
2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: (ESV)

27. How Would Degrees of Reward Work?
Bigger Mansion? Greater Joy? More Responsibility? Inherent Appreciation?

28. Passages for Further Study
Matthew 5:12 1 Corinthians 3: Corinthians 9:1 Galatians 4:11 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

29. Are There Degrees of Punishment and Reward?
???

30. 2 Timothy 4:8
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

31. Will There be Degrees of Punishment and Reward?
2017 Preacher’s Study
Nate Bibens