What did Jesus mean when He said that the person who knew to do right and did wrong will be beaten with many stripes?


Let's examine the complete text to which you refer:

And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the men servants and maid servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."
(Luke 12:42-48 NIV)

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
(James 4:17 NKJV)

These verses seem to be saying that we Christians will be judged according to our level of knowledge and understanding. Some people say we are literally going to be beaten with some type of whip and others say the stripes only represent punishment.

My opinion is this: regardless of what the punishment is, let's decide to serve God with all our hearts.

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