So, all sins are equal because any sin, large or small, cuts us off completely from a relationship with God. Is that it?
Not so fast. It is a true statement one sin causes us to have zero relationship with God, no matter how big or how small is the sin, and so sin is sin. But the Bible seems to also say another thing. Actually, it seems to also say the opposite thing. I know it sounds like the Bible is speaking out of both sides of its mouth, but if you and I are to be good readers of the Bible, we must accept that all sins are equal, but also accept that not all sins are equal.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says,
Matthew 7.3, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
For sure, the main point Jesus wanted to make was a warning against hypocrisy, and not about whether or not one sin was equal to another sin. But from the passage, one can deduce that inside Jesus’ mind there was sin the size of a speck, and there was sin the size of a log. We all understand that a speck is much smaller than a log. Therefore, we must say, in the same way a speck is smaller in size than a log, there is sin that is, in some way, “smaller” than another sin. Sins can be not equal to each other.
When Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate during a trial, John seemed to say there was such thing as a greater sin and, therefore, supposedly a lesser sin. Did Jesus want to say perhaps one sin could be more or less “evil” than another?
John 19.10–11
So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Here is a passage that gives us a little more clarity on the difference between sins.
Luke 12.47–48a
And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few.
It is one thing for a servant to know what is expected of him, and he did not do what is expected of him. But it is another thing for a servant to not know what is expected of him, and he did something he shouldn’t. Here are two sins, for sure. But because Jesus says the penalty for one is not the same as that for the other, we know that the two sins are not equal.
The following two passages seem to say not all sins were equal. There were sins not leading to death. And there was a sin leading to death. One has to conclude the two sins were not equal to each other. One sinner should ask God to forgive him his sin. The other should not. There were sins that could be forgiven. Then there was sin that could not be forgiven. Jesus called it “eternal sin”.
1John 5.16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
Mark 3.28–29
Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin —
We all have our sins that we think are bigger than other sins. It is not wrong to think this way. To answer the question I asked in the beginning, we can rank sins. All sins in this world are offensive. Yet, there are sins that are more offensive, and sins that are less offensive, to God. What you and I think is a sin more offensive or less offensive is irrelevant. What matters is whether it is more or less offensive to God.
In conclusion, are all sins equal? Or are they not equal? Yes and Yes. The Bible says all sins are equal, and it also says all sins are not equal. All sins are equal in the sense that one sin, no matter big or small, is enough to cut us off from having a relationship with God. All sins are not equal in the sense that the offensiveness done to God varies from sin to sin. This was what I believed to be true as a young man, although before I had met the Lord.
All sin, whether big or small, is an open rebellion against God. God hates all sin, never mind if the sin that is only a little offensive to him or if the sin that is very offensive to him. If God takes all sins seriously, then we must take all sins seriously. The good news is that God himself provided a way for us to take all sin seriously. We place our trust in the person and works of Christ. We come to the Father through him because he paid the penalty for our sins, he restored our zero relationship with the Father, and he is bringing us home to him for all eternity. If you have been going to church for a long time, and have never placed your trust in Christ, I pray you will ponder over this decision, and place your trust in Christ, who is the Lord of All.
1 John 2:1
If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins.