Are We Responsible or Accountable?

A couple of  days ago I was put on the thought of one of the most poignant sayings I think I have ever read in western fiction.

With Great Power Comes Great  Responsibility. - Spider-man, Amazing Fantasy #15

For a time I thought that this was equivalent to what Jesus said in the following scriptures. 

Luke 12:47-48

⁴⁷"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (NIV)

⁴⁷And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
⁴⁸But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (KJV)

However I see that the two statements are quite different. I see now that equating "responsibility" with "accountability" as a problem. The comment about power and responsibility is true but it speaks to duty by virtue of having the power not what happens if you fail to shoulder that responsibility. This is what Jesus is referring to. I missed it for many years because I would just quote part of the passage as "To much is given, much is required." This means that we are not just supposed use our gifts to help other and fulfill the purpose God has for us, it means that God will hold us accountable for what we do with those gifts. And Jesus was not just referring to final reward and final damnation. Jesus also mentions that those responsibilities grow as we get more power and authority - and so does the accountability to God and those around us whom we have charge over. Throughout Jesus' ministry He touched on these points. Here are a few more scriptures that highlight the point.


Mattew 12:35-37 says:

³⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (NIV)

Luke 12:35-37 (NIV) says:

³⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Luke  17:9-10 (NIV) says

⁹Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "