Why does jesus?

Question

Why does jesus say you should beat your slaves???

Luke 12:47

EDIT TO ADD: Oh, so it's ok to beat your slaves in a story???

Answer 1

It's time for Christians not to pick and choose the verses that they only like.

Answer 2

This "question" follows the common track of a good deal of atheist postings and quizes on subject matter where they question Christ and the Bible using Portions of scriptures taken completely out of context in an attempt to "disprove" or to bring "controversy" to the Holy Word !!

In the briefest of mention of the "content" in the "clip" you have referred to here----you are taking a very few words from a quite lengthy disortation where Christ is giving explanation of and overview to his disciples on the Concept of a person EARNING the punishment that they receive----the references to the slave and the master are his use of the common everyday knowledge of the day--- there WERE slaves and masters and the concept of that was VERY present in the thinking of the day---He was not speaking from a knowledge base of the era of the Constitution or even the thinking from the day of the Magna Carta----but from the knowledge base of the day in which he walked among people----

Earlier in the complete text he mentions that it was the Lord over the particular slaves that had come to give judgement of their behavior---and that their behavior (in the case of the administered punishments) had been wrong---not only wrong but WILLFULLY wrong---and so, they were punished--- He has not said one thing here that is a condonment of having slaves or having slaves and just simply beating them as you have illuded to here !!

A modern day analogy (as if you truly give a rat's rump) would be the government and the people----You don't think that WE are a SLAVE to the present system ??----The government (our Master) gives us our set of rules to live by and we either do that or-----when they come and inspect our behavior and it is found to be counter to "the law" ---they WILL "beat" you with many stripes--- those of us that have NOT done willfull breaking of the law STILL suffer under the "lighter" stripes of the load from "the law" and taxes and all the other things we are required to do !!

The bottom line here is Judgement---we all serve something or someone---we ARE all slaves to SOMETHING---and we all live under some type of law--- AND--- when we break that law----we can EXPECT punishment--- when it is WILLFULL breaking of that law---we can expect the MAXIMUM penalties for those actions !!
There is considerably more to be said here---but what I've already said will be enough for those that really care about the truth and nothing I could say to you would sway your unceasing attempts to "discredit" and "dismantle" the Holy Word -- but to those who are well founded -- your attempts are no more than an annoyance---it is for those who are not---that I offer these words !!

Answer 3

It's a parable. You know what a parable is, right. It's a story that contains symbolism that helps Jesus get a point across. Anyway, what he's essentially trying to say is that if a person does something against God, but doesn't know it's against God, then they will only be punished lightly. However if someone knows God and His laws and chooses to go against them anyway, then...well....it's not going to be pretty!

For example if a Pygmy who has lived in the forest his whole life, dies without ever hearing of Jesus or God, he'll be shown mercy. However if a person who was raised knowing about Jesus and God's laws decides to reject both (like myself), then they are going to be crispy critters for all eternity. At least that's the most common interpretation. I for one think the Christian god is kind of like the "Great" Wizard of Oz. He seems big and scary, but the truth is that he's just a little guy pushing buttons behind a curtain. For example when he says he's going to throw me into a burning pit of fire, what he really means is that he's going to flip his cigarette ashes at me and hope that they light my clothes on fire. I swear, I've been mocking the "holy dude" for years now, and the only thing that's happened is a tiny bit of tooth decay. Jeez, the guy could have at least given me athletes foot or something!

Answer 4

In context he wastelling a story. The verse refers to those that have known the Lord and depart from Him will be punished more than those who have not known him at all. Yes degrees of punishment in Hell.

Answer 5

He didn't say we should beat em He said He would get beaten for doing that. Hey, don't take His word too literally alright?:) He means in that text that we should be prepared or else we'll face the consequences. At that time, those were the consequences, He's just warning us so we wouldn't get ourselves hurt. :)

Answer 6

the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.


Jesus is not saying you should beat your slaves he was saying at that tiome a master would if you did not follow instructions there is a big differance.

Answer 7

Sounds like he's referring to gods wrath upon returning. The next verse is funnier, "if you didn't know what got wanted you'll only be beaten a little bit" paraphrased obviously.

Answer 8

Read the context. He was telling a story.

Answer 9

I won't bother looking that up, but you know that's nonsense.
I Cr 13;8a