John Calvin Commentary Luke 12:47

"And that servant, who knew his lord`s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes];" — Luke 12:47 (ASV)

But that servant. There is great weight in this circumstance, which is mentioned by Luke alone, that in proportion as anyone knowingly and willingly takes pleasure in despising the Lord, they deserve more severe punishment. A comparison is made between the greater and the less to this effect: If punishment does not fail to be inflicted on a servant who errs through mistake, what will become of the wicked and rebellious servant, who purposely, as it were, tramples underfoot the authority of his master? It ought to be remembered, however, that those who are appointed to govern the Church do not err through ignorance, but basely and wickedly defraud their Master of his right.

Yet we ought to gather from this passage a general doctrine: it is in vain for people to resort to the plea of ignorance to be freed from condemnation. For if a mortal man claims the right to demand from his servants that they inquire into his will, so that nothing may be done in his house carelessly or confusedly, how much greater authority belongs to the Son of God, that those who serve him should be earnestly desirous to be informed about his injunctions, and not rush forward at their own pleasure to act in a state of uncertainty, but depend wholly on the intimations of his will—particularly when he has prescribed what we ought to do and always gives us a gracious answer when we ask his direction?

It is certain that our ignorance is always accompanied by gross and shameful negligence. Indeed, we see that it is in vain to resort to the subterfuge that one who has gone wrong through ignorance is not at fault. For, on the contrary, the Heavenly Judge declares that though such offenders receive lighter chastisement, they will not be altogether unpunished.

And if even ignorance does not excuse people, how dreadful is the vengeance that awaits deliberate transgressors, who with outrageous violence provoke God in opposition to the dictates of their conscience? Therefore, the more abundant the instruction anyone has received, the greater the ground for punishment if they are not obedient and submissive.

Hence it appears how trifling and worthless is the excuse of those who, now rejecting the plain doctrine of the Gospel, endeavor to screen such obstinacy with the ignorance of their fathers, as if ignorance were an adequate shield to ward off the judgment of God. But even if faults committed through mistake were pardoned, it would be highly unreasonable for the same favor to be extended to those who sin willfully, since with deliberate malice they rage against God.