Agree there will be different levels of punishment in hell, yet that was not the point. The one in charge, who mistreated others, would be cut in two and assigned his portion with unbelievers, and his infraction was the worst in the passage. Those with stripes were
not assigned a portion with the unbelievers in the actual scriptural text. The point was, given the depth of agony of suffering in hell, whether there could be a relatively mild punishment (stripes) for relatively mild infractions
then followed by utter agony for all eternity. That does not make sense. God is the God of mercy and justice.
Since the punishment is eternal it makes sense there are different levels of eternal punishment in hell, but not "few stripes." That leads to hell being but a punishment of "few stripes" for those who did not know the LORD's will and broke His laws, and "many stripes" for those that knew, but did not prepare and obey. Thus hell would not be torment and agony for those disciples who fell short, but something far less than that dependent on one's works while supposed to be
on duty watching as it were.
For example, we read the various levels of punishment amongst the brethren (from minor punishment to danger of hell), a brother can go to some place of prison and yet be released after payment (and this is not about shekels):
- Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
- For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
- But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
- Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
- Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
- Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Matthew, Catholic chapter five, Protestant verses seventeen to twenty six ,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James