Luke 12:44-48 teaches proportional eschatological judgment, not purgatory; the parable presents two servants (faithful/unfaithful) plus a closing lesson on degrees of punishment based on knowledge.

Mike reads the full parable (Luke 12:35-48). He disagrees that there are four servants; he sees two (faithful vs. unfaithful) plus a separate closing teaching on proportional judgment. The servant who knew his master's will but did not act receives a severe beating; the servant who did not know receives a light beating. The "beating" is analogical for whatever judgment God renders proportional to knowledge and sin. Mike argues purgatory cannot be read into this text because: (a) the text does not specify the saved/unsaved status of the servants being punished; (b) the Bible does not establish purgatory elsewhere, so it cannot be assumed here; (c) the most natural reading with only two destinations (heaven/hell) suggests these are condemned people with differing degrees of punishment. He affirms degrees of punishment in hell as the text's actual teaching.