Luke 12;48. What does this mean?

I’m an infant on many of His parables, but your post did cause me to read to find out more. I can’t see a Christian being punished once they are admitted to heaven. There has been mentioned differing levels/mansions/crowns, so could one loose a little once they are admitted? If there are different levels of heaven could there be different levels of hell? I haven’t read it in the Bible, nor did a quick search show it, but could there be these levels? Then, the stripes come into play. Little bit is up gotta run. I’ll come back to this.

I can tell you what it means to me. As much as the Lord has done for me, and yall have heard some of it but theres so so much more, i need to be praising him and doing my very best to try to lead others to him every day. Not as if i could ever pay him back. I dont even have the means to pay him back. But my job as a christian and a follower of Jesus Christ is to tell people who need him what he has done for me and how it changed my life. And encourage them to give him a try with their life.

He’s talking about servants getting stripes for not doing what the master commands. The one(s) that know more will be required more and get more lashings for not doing His will than those that know less or infants in His Word. That’s where I was talking about loosing crowns in heaven. We also have to remember not everyone who calls me Lord will enter. Is it harder for those that know, but do not have a relationship with Him than one that only knows a little? What about the thief on the cross beside Jesus? He was an infant, however Zacharias and the other Sanhedrin were very knowledgeable, it will be harder for them to enter, will it not? My English teacher is furious for that last sentence. What about the Joel Ostein’s of the preaching world or LGQBT preachers vs. those in remote regions of the world. Are the stripes Jesus is referencing not really physical punishment, but it is a reference to the expectations He has for those that have heard the Word but refuse to follow it and have a relationship with him?

If you do something that was wrong but didn't know it was wrong your punishment will be light. If you know something is wrong but do it anyway your punishment will be heavy. I don’t know. I'm in Mark now

Just got out of church. The sermon today was on James 1:5-8. Powerful message goes hand in hand with todays discussion

We studied the first few verses of chapter two of Hebrews in sunday school. That 4th verse is pretty interesting. Check it out.

Jesus finishes explaining an important perspective on leadership to Peter. Peter wants to know if the disciples are on the same level as the thousands in the crowd surrounding them. Jesus says no. Not only will the disciples have more responsibility, but they will also be judged by stricter criteria.

As leaders in the church, the disciples—and all leaders—are responsible for feeding believers with the truth about Jesus, salvation, and how to live a godly life. They are not to take advantage of their position by being lazy, indulgent, or abusive. They are also to be mindful that they are responsible for knowing Jesus' expectations of His followers. If they, personally, fail to meet those expectations, they will be judged severely (Luke 12:41–47). Those believers who do not know Jesus' expectations and fail will be judged less severely.

This is a hard passage to interpret. Jesus is comparing Christians to servants in a household and the disciples and future church leaders to higher-ranking servants who are given the responsibility to care for and train the others. In that context, a beating for failure to fulfill their master's expectations was normal.

Within the metaphor, however, what is the equivalent to being beaten? It may be the discipline God metes out on His children whom He loves (Hebrews 12:5–6), or merely the natural consequences of our actions. The literal beating was already taken by Jesus during His trials and while He hanged on the cross. James later writes, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1). Those who want to be church leaders and teachers need to bear this in mind. For those who are saved, Jesus carried the punishment for when they fail with this responsibility. For church leaders who are not saved, they will experience more torment in hell (Revelation 20:11–15).

Jesus' point is that Peter should not let his pride make demands that he is not willing to take responsibility for. Yes, the disciples will receive higher honor than the crowd. With that honor, however, comes significantly more responsibility and accountability.

Andalusia, you did a really good job of explaining that passage in relation to the time in which it was writed and the story being told as actual events that happened in history. How would you say that would affect or be used by a bliever in his life today? How could a christian use this very verse to benefit their own life and ultimately bring glory to God?

Good words Andalusia

Good job!

I'll bite. If you go back to verse 1, and look at the beginning of this "conversation", the first thing Jesus says is to beware the leaven of the Pharisees. Later in verse 41 Peter asks Jesus who he is speaking the parables to. Jesus then asks, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? I feel like he is referencing the Pharisees. The were the Jewish leaders of the time. They were in charge so to speak and the ones who were supposed to know the law and what to look for.
In verse 48 He says, But, he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.(Gentiles) 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. (Pharisees)
He had committed much to the Pharisees and other religious leaders. They were given the "knowledge" so to speak and were supposed to be committed to preparing the people for the arrival of the Messiah. However, they did not. Instead, they rejected him. Since they "knew better", they will be punished more severely than the gentiles who had never been taught.
I do feel the same principles apply to us though. However, I don't "worry" myself with it because I see it as I need to make sure I don't end up on the "punishment end" of things. The worst reward will be a lot better than the best punishment. If I do what I'm supposed to, it doesn't matter if there's different degrees.

One might also consider Jesus always used physical examples in his parables to explain spiritual things. The disciples never got ahold of that. Neither did the leaders of the jews. Its very obvious that Jesus was always talking about something that was way above their heads. They just didnt understand. Perhaps even, they were not able to understand. But i have a feeling after pentecost, their understanding caught a gear they had no idea existed. I imagine they thought back to conversations Jesus had with them and bells wentoff in their heads.

I imagine you are correct Joseph.

do what you should do, according to His Word. we have a bit of trouble understanding parables such as this because we don't live in an ancient slave culture. the Hebrews came from slavery in Egypt, were sent into slavery again, and owned slaves of their own in Jesus' ministry. this illustration would have been simple to the average Hebrew at the time.