Luke 12:48

“But he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes.”

On the other hand the servant who did not know in depth what his lord required, presumably because he was a lower level servant, (although still required to be faithful), but who was still not as well behaved as he should have been, will also be given a beating. But this time a relatively mild one. Note that he had done things worthy of stripes. This suggests that he knew why he was being punished and recognised that he deserved it (not that in the modern day we can say that anyone ever deserves such severe treatment to be afflicted by men. But in those days it was the way of the world, and quite commonplace).

“And to whoever much is given, of him will much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.”

And the final lesson drawn out is that the more that is given to someone, of position and authority and trust, the more will be required of them. Those who are given the most trust will be expected to deliver more than those of whom that is not so true.

Note. It would be unwise to draw our theology from a parable. Parables illustrate theology not make it, for interpretations are always open to doubt and depend very much on viewpoint. Thus while learning the lessons we should not draw firm conclusions about what will happen in the afterlife from this parable. Some see some of the servants as erring believers. Others see all the erring servants as unbelievers. Each can draw his lesson as he will. But the theology of the afterlife must be drawn from elsewhere. End of note.