Are all sins created equal? This has been a topic of debate for years. Many people have uttered the words, “A sin is a sin, one is just as bad as another.” I have never subscribed to that philosophy simply because there is evidence to the contrary.
The Bible gives us the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) as the gold standard of sin to stay away from.
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make idols.
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet.
God doesn’t stop there, in Proverbs 6:16-19, He describes sin that He hates. As hate is a pretty strong word, it warrants great consideration when evaluating one sin over another.
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
And then, of course, there is the unforgivable sin found in Mark 3:28-29.
28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
Note 2 self: God has different standards than man, but I believe there are some similarities in one regard. Consider this, the person who robs a convenience store may receive five years or more in prison, but the person who kills another person in cold blood can expect a life prison term if not execution. To the question, are all sins created equal? I believe the answer is a resounding NO! Clearly, some sins are worst than others, and I believe the punishment is commensurate with the sin.
Blessings to you all, my friends.
Daniel
The Note 2 Self Guy