Degrees of Culpability
The Seducers
Luke 17:1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin."
John 19:11 Jesus answered (Pilate), "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
While Pilate abused his authority, he didn't do so out of personal malice against Christ, rather because of his God-appointed position he was unwillingly forced to deal with the situation by those who handed Jesus over to him. As such, those who handed him over may be likened to seducers who successfully tempted Pilate to sin. Such seducers commit a greater sin and thus incur a greater punishment.
The Knowledgable
Luke 10:13,14 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you
John 15:22,24 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.... If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
The more you know, the more you will be held responsible for. And thus, for example, those who presume to be teachers will be more highly scrutinized in judgment. Jas 3:1 "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."
The Sin Series
The Seducers
Luke 17:1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin."
John 19:11 Jesus answered (Pilate), "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
While Pilate abused his authority, he didn't do so out of personal malice against Christ, rather because of his God-appointed position he was unwillingly forced to deal with the situation by those who handed Jesus over to him. As such, those who handed him over may be likened to seducers who successfully tempted Pilate to sin. Such seducers commit a greater sin and thus incur a greater punishment.
The Knowledgable
Luke 10:13,14 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you
John 15:22,24 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.... If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
The more you know, the more you will be held responsible for. And thus, for example, those who presume to be teachers will be more highly scrutinized in judgment. Jas 3:1 "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."
The Sin Series
