2/7/21 Raphael (see HERE)
What did Jesus mean when he told this short parable – “The
servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what
the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know
and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.” ?
It’s actually good news in a way, I guess. People are punished less if they sin in
ignorance than if they sin with full knowledge of what they are doing
wrong. The principle would be that God
recognizes that we are all dealt a different hand when it comes to our ability
to make moral choices. Those who should know
better but still choose to sin are punished more severely than those who had no
chance to know better.
But why should we be punished at all? Jesus’ parable was told to an audience that understood
that no one is completely innocent, even if they haven’t had proper home
training or moral instruction. He went on to say “From everyone who has been
given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with
much, much more will be asked.” We all
have some moral knowledge to work with, as described in Romans 2:5: “…the
requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also
bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times
even defending them.”
This is bad news for those who believe they can’t be held
accountable because of ignorance. They
are nowhere near as ignorant as they claim to be. In fact, part of the job of our general moral
conscience is to prod us to learn the specifics of the law, which for many is
readily available in a nearby Bible, in a local church, and in the counsel of
godly Christians.
I was reminded of this in a recent conversation with a man
named Raphael, who told me he had fallen away from his faith, but was helped
back in all three of these ways. He
listened to his God-given conscience, and took advantage of the knowledge and
moral instruction made available to him.
None of us can claim ignorance, and we all have access to a
Bible, a local church, and the fellowship of other believers to help us grow in
godliness. We have been given much, and much
will be demanded
Thanks, Raphael, for allowing me to record our
conversation. It can be seen on my
YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/3yql2BsXQ9Q
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