No Sin Is Greater Than Another

There is a verse in the Bible that directly addresses the concept of no sin is greater than another. You may have in mind 1 John 5:17a which says, “all wrongdoing is sin…” but there’s another verse you want to see.

Read on and you’ll find out.

Are All Sins Greater Than Another?

The most prevalent answer to this question is “Yes” but let’s strike a balance to this together.

In the book of James 2:10, it says, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

It says that if we break even just one of God’s rules, it is as if we’ve broken them all. This means that in God’s eyes, sin is sin, whether it’s big or small; no sin is greater than another in His eyes.

From a human perspective, and the debate around “no sin is greater than another”, the consequences of some sinful actions affect more than one person. And it’s quite easy to make a judgment on which sin is worse.

You and I know that sin is a body of immoralities. In this case, have you ever wondered why sins have different penalties?

For example, rape and theft both fall under the category of crime, but their penalties differ. However, this doesn’t necessarily make one sin greater than the other.

Imagine a world where stealing a candy bar carries the same weight as taking a life. Sounds off, right? In our legal systems, crimes vary in severity. Theft and murder aren’t treated the same, and for good reason, the consequences differ, reflecting the harm caused.

The exact illustration applies to the body of Christ.

Let’s be honest, all sins are equal in the sense that no matter how small or big the sin is, it breaks the law of God and makes us fall short of His Glory (Romans 6:1).

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So far it is against what He wants us to abide by, either stealing or fornication, we have violated His law, and this makes it sound more that no sin is greater than others already.

Don’t conclude yet. Let’s analyze these two scenarios in the Bible – the stories of Rahab and King David.

In the Book of Joshua, Rahab, a Canaanite woman, shelters Israelite spies in Jericho and deceives the city’s authorities to protect them (Joshua 2:1-7).

Meanwhile, in the story of King David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his soldiers, and later arranges for Uriah’s death to cover up his transgression.

These two stories present contrasting examples of sin. Rahab’s lie appears to serve a noble purpose – protecting the Israelite spies and aiding their mission to conquer Jericho.

David’s actions involve lust, betrayal, and murder, leading to tragic consequences for multiple individuals.

In God’s mind, the sin of David was worse and therefore required greater punishment. That means the punishment of sins is weighed and measured accordingly.

No wonder the Book of Revelation 20:12-13 says this:

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged by every man according to their works.”

That means every man has sinned differently and will be judged as that, thereby, measuring appropriate punishment for each man.

God is perfect and just. He is a perfect judge who will repay all people exactly according to what they have done. Read what Ezekiel 18:30 recorded about God’s judgment:

“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”

Should I Continue Sins With Little Punishments?

Continuing with sinful behavior despite what may seem like minimal punishment goes against the teachings of the faith.

The belief that no sin is greater than another means that all wrong actions are considered equally bad. Whether it is lying, stealing, or hurting someone, they are all considered as moving away from something that is considered right.

It disregards your call to repentance and reconciliation with God and allows you to ignore the understanding that sin not only diminishes your relationship with God but also with others and yourself.

So, if you continue to keep on with the belief that no sin is greater than another and act in sinful ways and do not repent and turn from that sin, God will discipline you as the loving and concerned father that He is and correct you in love. In some cases, you can even conclude that He keeps “punishing” you.

The decision to continue in sinful behavior despite minimal punishment should be viewed not only in terms of its earthly consequences but also in light of its implications for one’s relationship with God and others.

Can God Forgive Me?

It is not about comparing sins or thinking some are okay while others aren’t. It is not about engaging yourself in the concept of no sin is greater than another.

It is about recognizing your need for forgiveness and being humble before God, knowing that you did wrong and need His grace.

Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” emphasizing that every person is affected by sin and falls short of God’s perfect standard.

However, once you believe in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, you can be forgiven of your sins and reconcile with God (John 3:16, Romans 6:23).

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Furthermore, 1 John 1:9 assures every believer that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Acknowledging your sins and seeking forgiveness from God means confessing it.

Seeking forgiveness from God also involves a commitment to turn away from sinful behaviors and strive for righteousness. It involves humility and a sincere desire for reconciliation with God.

Before going ahead to confess your sins to God, Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:23-24 that one should first be reconciled with their brother or sister, emphasizing the interconnectedness of forgiveness.

This makes the “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those” come into reality.