Luke 12:48

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the surrounding crowd, mid-discourse on stewardship, immediately after the parable of the two servants (12:42–46) and just before his declaration that he has come to set the earth on fire (12:49).

The words — γνοὺς (gnous), aorist participle of γινώσκω, "having known," is the hinge that separates the two servants in 12:47–48; the entire contrast rests on whether knowledge was present or absent at the moment of action.

The thread — The principle that greater knowledge brings stricter judgment recurs in James 3:1 (teachers judged more strictly) and echoes the Levitical distinction between deliberate and unaware transgression (Leviticus 5:17); Luke 16:10 extends the logic to faithfulness as a measure of what one has been given.

Why it lands — The verse removes the comfort of ignorance: the reader is asked to account for what they actually know and to expect that the weight of their accountability is proportional to it.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Leviticus 5:17 If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.
Luke 16:10 Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Matthew 25:14 For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
Matthew 13:12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Romans 2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
1 Timothy 1:11 that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.