Are There Degrees of Punishment and Reward
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The Bible says that there will be different levels of punishment. Several passages stand out in this regard. In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus speaks about the inhabitants of the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida who did not repent at His preaching. He compares them to the wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon. In verse 22, Jesus says, “But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.” He then compares Capernaum with Sodom and says (verse 24), “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” In both cases, Jesus is saying that a greater punishment would be given to those in His day than the older wicked cities. Jesus says this is because the mighty works that He did were not done in those other cities. Jesus presented powerful evidence for them to believe, but they did not believe.
In Luke 12:47, 48 at the conclusion of the parable of the faithful steward, Jesus said, “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.” The principle being taught here is that the person who understands more regarding God’s will and yet does not take warning will be held more accountable than the person who does not know. Both are held accountable; both will be separated from God; both will be punished. However, one will be punished more than the other.
Second Peter 2:20-21 is another passage that shows this. “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 Christian who knows what is right and wrong and yet, turns back to the things of the world is going to end up in a worse state than the person who never knew the way of righteousness. Both are still lost. Both are still separated from God, but one will be punished more than the other will.
God is infinitely just, and no one is going to be punished beyond what they deserve. We should not think that Hell might be a place that is tolerable if we just don’t sin very much. Hell is not going to be a place that you want to be. It is a place where punishment is reserved for the Devil and his angels (Matt.25:41). It is a place of darkness (Matt.22:13). It is a place where the unrighteous will dwell (25:30). It is a place of everlasting agony (Matt.22:13). Some will not suffer as much as others due to their sin, but even the least bit of suffering in hell will be bad enough. Merely eternal separation from God himself would be unthinkable. You don’t want to miss being with God in eternity.
To the second part of the question, “Are there degrees of reward?” The answer is “no.” Why not? It is because everyone who is saved is saved by grace (Ephesians 5:8-9). Unlike hell, where punishment is merited, no person merits a better place in heaven. God’s grace guarantees the faithful Christians place in eternity. Because of grace, there are no degrees of reward in heaven.