Luke 12:48

but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

World English Bible
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WEBBE

but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

BSB

But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

KJV

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.

ASV

but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.

BBE

But he who, without knowledge, did things for which punishment is given, will get only a small number of blows. The man to whom much is given, will have to give much; if much is given into his care, of him more will be requested.

Original Greek

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ὁ ho the [one] G3588 δὲ de however G1161 μὴ mē not G3361 γνοὺς gnous having known G1097 ποιήσας poiēsas having done G4160 δὲ de however G1161 ἄξια axia [things] worthy G514 πληγῶν plēgōn of stripes G4127 δαρήσεται darēsetai will be beaten with G1194 ὀλίγας oligas few G3641 παντὶ panti Everyone G3956 δὲ de now G1161 ᾧ hō to whom G3739 ἐδόθη edothē has been given G1325 πολύ polu much G4183 πολὺ polu much G4183 ζητηθήσεται zētēthēsetai will be required G2212 παρ par᾽ from G3844 αὐτοῦ autou him G846 καὶ kai and G2532 ᾧ hō to whom G3739 παρέθεντο parethento has been committed G3908 πολύ polu much G4183 περισσότερον perissoteron more excessive G4055 αἰτήσουσιν aitēsousin will they ask of G154 αὐτόν.¶ auton him G846

The early church

All 6
But the rude or unlearned man will more reasonably ask for pardon of the avenger. Hence it is added, But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.
Cyril of Alexandria · d. 444Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Or else, much is often given also to certain individuals, upon whom is bestowed the knowledge of God's will, and the means of performing what they know; much also is given to him to whom, together with his own salvation, is committed the care also of feeding our Lord's flock. Upon those then who are gifted with more abundant grace a heavier penalty falls; but the mildest punishment of all will be theirs, who, beyond the guilt they originally contracted, have added none besides; and in all who have added, theirs will be the more tolerable who have committed fewest iniquities.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(in reg. brev. 267.) But you will say, If the one indeed received many stripes, and the other few, how do some say He assigns no end to punishments? But we must know, that what is here said assigns neither measure nor end of punishments, but their differences. For a man may deserve unquenchable fire, to either a slight or more intense degree of heat, and the worm that dieth not with greater or more violent gnawings.
Basil of Caesarea · d. 379Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(Hom. 26. in Matt.) For all things are not judged alike in all, but greater knowledge is an occasion of greater punishment. Therefore shall the Priest, committing the same sin with the people, suffer a far heavier penalty.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Or else, much is often given also to certain individuals, upon whom is bestowed the knowledge of God's will, and the means of performing what they know; much also is given to him to whom, together with his own salvation, is committed the care also of feeding our Lord's flock. Upon those then who are gifted with more abundant grace a heavier penalty falls; but the mildest punishment of all will be theirs, who, beyond the guilt they originally contracted, have added none besides; and in all who have added, theirs will be the more tolerable who have committed fewest iniquities.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 41–53

All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ's religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of its being contrary to men's pride and lusts. There was to be a wide publication of the gospel. But before that took place, Christ had a baptism to be baptized with, far different from that of water and the Holy Spirit. He must endure sufferings and death. It agreed not with his plan to preach the gospel more widely, till this baptism was completed. We should be zealous in making known the truth, for though divisions will be stirred up, and a man's own household may be his foes, yet sinners will be converted, and God will be glorified.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 12 →

Cross-references

17

Topics

SinBlindnessPunishmentJudgmentIgnorance

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.