Does God give out the same punishment to everyone who ends up in Hell? Some critics of Christianity contend that Hell is unjust because they believe that it just doesn’t seem fair that an ordinary sinner would receive the same punishment as say a mass murderer like Adolph Hitler. What does the Bible have to say about this? Even if the Scriptures were silent on this point it wouldn’t make God unjust since we know that God is always fair in everything He does. However, as we will see, the Bible clearly states that there are degrees of punishment in Hell.
While sin is sin the Bible clearly indicates that some sins are greater than others. We see this is the case in (John 19:11): “Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’” Here we see that Jesus, who was on trial before Pilate, tells Pilate that those who delivered Him up have a greater sin than Pilate.
In another example we read the following: “Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.’” (Matthew 11:20-24). Notice that Jesus says that the wicked city of Sodom would have a more tolerable judgment in Hell than the people of Capernaum because the people of Capernaum were guilty of a greater sin.
And we also know from Scripture that there will be a “great white throne judgment” in which all unsaved people will be judged for every one of their deeds. For we read: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Revelation 20:11-12). Notice the verse says that the dead will be judged “according to their works.” Jesus also said: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36). Again, we see that for each idle word men will have to give an account.
We also see that Jesus shares how certain deeds will receive greater condemnation: “Then He said to them in His teaching, ‘Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.’” (Mark 12:38-40). Thus, it seems fairly clear that there are greater sins and those unsaved who commit them will receive greater judgment and condemnation.
From our human viewpoint of fairness this lines up precisely with what happens to the unsaved in Hell. Thus, it will be more tolerable in Hell for those who have committed lesser sins. Clearly all who go to Hell will suffer tremendously but there will be degrees of suffering. Just what that means is unclear from the Bible. We know that Hell is a place of eternal separation from God, a place of torment, and a place of regret. Perhaps these things will be more intensified for those who have committed greater sins. We just don’t know. But one thing is certain you don’t want to spend eternity there.