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Introduction: There is much interest in this topic, which is shown by the number of times this question is asked. Guy Woods, in his book entitled, "Questions &Answers—Open Forum—FHC," pages 228-231, has some good information on this question that will be used in our study.

A. I agree with brother Woods and many others, that there are degrees of enjoyment and punishment in eternity.

A. There are vast differences of attainment in this life. When we compare the accomplishments of Paul, Peter and the other apostles to those of many other Christians today and in years gone by, there is a great variety or degrees of attainment in them.

B. There are great differences in the degree of enjoyment that the saints derive in the service and worship of God now.

A. It would have to be by the opportunities we have had and what we did with these.

B. There are some crimes that are worse than others, and are therefore deserving of greater punishment. The Law Enforcement Agencies of our country reflect that principle in that the punishment is proportionate to the crime. Also, their guilt is determined by the responsibility of the person accused.

1. Jesus recognized this principle, and applied it to the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida (Matt. 11:20-24). It would be "more tolerable" with Tyre & Sidon in the judgment than with them, because they had turned down their greater opportunities.

2. Since Jesus had lived there for three years, Capernaum’s opportunities exceeded all the other cities. Therefore, they will be judged by a stricter standard than Sodom, although Sodom did not escape judgment.

3. Jesus taught this principle with emphasis in the parable of the wicked servant (Luke 12:42-48).

4. Jesus unmistakably taught that (a) there are different levels of knowledge possessed by people; (b) there are different degrees of preparation; (c) there are variations in the amount of service rendered; and (d) these differences will be the determining factor in the administration of punishment.

C. The parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) shows plainly that not as much as expected from the one and two talents men as the five talents man. The one talent man was not condemned because he did not equal the achievements of the five talents man, but because he did not reach his own capabilities.

D. Some will suffer a "much sorer punishment" than others (Heb. 10:29). The comparative adjective indicates a greater punishment for some than others.

A. It is equally clear that the righteous will enjoy heaven in proportion to the preparation and spiritual attainment that they reach here.

1. II Cor. 5:10 and Rev. 20:11-15 indicate that each one will be rewarded according to our works. Most of the time, we look at these passages to mean good works and evil works.

2. Yet, it can apply also to the degree of the good or evil works. In the stores, factories, etc., do all the employees receive the same salary? No, it varies with experience, ability, and responsibility.

3. Our Lord promised, "he that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward" (Matt. 10:41). There is a prophet’s reward and a righteous man’s reward. They differ, not only from each other, but also from all other rewards. If this distinction is not made, the passage is meaningless.

B. But, what about the parable of the laborers in the vineyard? (Matt. 20:1-16). Some say that since all the laborers who came at different hours received the same reward, there are no degrees of enjoyment to be experienced by the saints.

1. We know that degrees of enjoyment exist now and we can be assured they will exist hereafter, unless God causes us to all be exactly alike in desire.

2. Most scholars feel that this parable deals with this life, not the hereafter. They feel that it was told to show that the Gentiles, who came in at the "eleventh hour" would enjoy a right to enter the kingdom, which was soon to be established when Jesus spoke these words. They would have the same privileges as the Jews who had been the favored and chosen people of God for many Centuries. I readily agree with this.

a. Although the gospel was not offered to the Gentiles for some ten years after Pentecost, they would accept it more readily. Today, the Gentiles far outnumber the Jews in the Lord’s church (Gal. 3:26-29).

3. Dr. Isaac Watts, an outstanding writer of years past stated: "It is not the design of this parable to represent the final rewards of the saints at the day of judgment, but to show that the nation of Jews, who had been called to be the people of God above a thousand years before, and had borne the heat of the day, i.e., the toil and bondage of many ceremonies, should have no preference in the esteem of God above the Gentiles, who were called at the last hour, or at the end of the Jewish dispensation."

a. This was the view of Adam Clarke, H. Leo Boles, B.W. Johnson, Guy Woods and many other great researchers of the Bible.

4. All who go to heaven will enjoy it to the fullest of their ability. The extent seems to be determined by our preparation here. On the other hand, hell will be intensified by those who knew what to do, had the opportunities to become a Christian and refused, thereby wasting the chance of eternal life.

Robert L. Brown
Great Oaks Church of Christ

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