Sins Are Equal? Maybe or Maybe not.
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. James 2
If you sin, you are guilty of breaking the whole law. This is used to demonstrate that God hates all sin. It is misused, however, to state that all sin is equal.
Now, this idea cannot and should not be used to make someone feel worse about themselves or for someone to gain superiority over another. The ground is level at the cross.
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” John 19
From what Jesus said, there is lesser and greater sin.
31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12
It could be said the above is the greatest sin. So what was done to Jesus was not blasphemy against Holy Spirit.
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. Matthew 11
20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 2 Peter 2
The above scriptures seem to indicate both or either a differing level of punishment or sin.
Another valid point is that not all sins in the Old Testament were given the same punishment. Not all sins were given the death penalty either.
And so, God hates all sin, but not all sins are equal.
Also see:
“A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly,” Luke 7:41-43
“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, 48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more,” Luke 12:47-48
Levels of sin:
I will list a general “Worst to Less”.
1) Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and or failing to accept Christ as Messiah, Son of God, King, Master, and Rescuer. Arguably, it could be said these two are the same.
2) From the Old Testament, these were given the death penalty: Murder, Rape, Kidnapping/Slavery, Beastiality, Witchcraft, Divination, Rebellion against God or godly authority, Striking/beating godly parents/guardians, worshipping false gods (Idolatry), homosexuality, child sacrifice, adultery, incest, and for violating the Sabbath guidelines.
Also from the New Testament: Hate toward people or God, Racism, Sexual Lust
Note that Christ included hate as being equal to murder. However for the age of grace, the immediate death penalty given to all Hebrew was no longer going to be applied to all people as Christ has given people space and time to change. The Old Testament was not wrong. God was teaching the Hebrew people the need for King-Priest-Prophect Messiah Jesus who gave himself as a sacrifice one and for all.
3) Fornication (heterosexual) was not always given the death penalty in the Old Testament. Homosexual activity is a form of fornication that was given the death penalty. Fornication has always been considered sin by the Old and New Testament. Beastiality is a form of fornication that was given the death penalty in the Old Testament.
Sexual Lust
Lying
Slander
Gossip
Dishonoring parents/guardians
Masturbation
Stealing/Theft
Refusing to work when you are able to
Refusing to help those you should
Greed
Envy
Pridefulness (every sin really is rooted to pride but I wanted to include it somewhere on the list)
4) Gluttony, overeating, drug abuse, alcoholism. These could be connected to a form of witchcraft which includes altered states of consciosness.
This list is obviously not exhaustive but does give us an idea of the extent or effect of various sins.
If someone steals in American society, the have broken the law. If someone murders, they have broken the law. Both are guilty of breaking the law as a whole but the two sins or crimes will not be given the same punishment. Also, each sin or crime will be dealt with in varying severity according to their details.
Now, it would seem the age of grace levelled things out, sot to speak, to a degree. Case in point, the woman caught in the act of adultery. Christ did not deliver the immediate death penalty to the woman. He told the crowd, “The one without sin, throw your stone at her.” They all dropped their stones and left. He turned to the woman and said to her, “Women, where are you accusers? Your sins are fogirven. Go and sin no more.”
We must not entertain the thought of lording this over others or self. The ground is level at the cross. Aren't you glad for the age of grace? And even if one sin is greater than another somehow, no one is better than someone else. All have sinned and have come short of the glory of God.
I also consider that we are still suffering effects from the spiritual disease called “sin.” Our bodies have not stopped aging. Sicknesses come. I'm glad we have a hope in Christ. One day, we will be totally free from the sin disease in our bodies, minds, and spirits. Until then, we that are born again do not have to be enslaved in every facet to the sin disease.
Jeremy Brown 2021-2022