Inability to Recognize Varying Degrees of Sin Reveals a Man to Be Devoid of Scriptural Understanding, the Holy Spirit’s Guidance, Moral Reasoning, and Logic
Scripture teaches two complementary truths: first, that every sin separates humanity from God and renders the sinner guilty before Him (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Jas. 2:10); second, that not every sin is equal in its degree of guilt, responsibility, or judgment. Jesus Himself spoke of a "greater sin," and throughout Scripture God distinguishes between greater and lesser offenses according to knowledge, intent, and the light received.
Some Sins Are Greater Than Others
Jesus to Pilate
When Pilate claimed authority to crucify or release Jesus, Jesus replied:
Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin. (New Living Translation, 2015, John 19:11).
Jesus explicitly distinguishes degrees of sin. The one who handed Him over (most commonly understood as Caiaphas/the Jewish leaders, or in some views Judas) bore greater guilt than Pilate—due to greater knowledge of the Scriptures, deliberate plotting, and rejection of clearer light—while Pilate still sinned by condemning an innocent man under political pressure.
God to Ezekiel in the Temple Vision
Three times God tells Ezekiel that Israel's sins are becoming progressively more abominable. Scripture itself distinguishes certain sins as greater than others.
And he said: “Son of dust, do you see what they are doing? Do you see what great sins the people of Israel are doing here, to push me from my Temple? But come, and I will show you greater sins than these!” (The Living Bible, 1971, Ezekiel 8:6 TLB).
Then he added, “Come, and I will show you greater sins than these!” (The Living Bible, 1971, Ezekiel 8:13 TLB).
Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these (ESV Study Bible, 2008, Ezekiel 8:15 ESV).
God likewise spoke of Israel committing "greater abominations" than those already shown to Ezekiel, demonstrating that Scripture itself ranks some sins as more grievous than others (The Living Bible, 1971, Ezek. 8:6,13,15 TLB).
Greater Revelation Brings Greater Accountability
Jesus to His Disciples (Luke 12)
Greater knowledge and opportunity increase responsibility and the severity of judgment.
And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (New Living Translation, 2015, Lk. 12:47–48).
Jesus to the Galilean Cities (Matthew 11)
Jesus declares it will be “more tolerable” on the day of judgment for Tyre, Sidon, and even Sodom than for the Galilean cities (Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum) that witnessed His miracles yet did not repent. Greater revelation refused brings heavier accountability.
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse [cf. Job 42:6]. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you” (New Living Translation, 2015, Matthew 11:20–24).
The Author of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews likewise teaches that some offenses deserve greater punishment than others. In particular, he warns that those who knowingly reject Christ after receiving the knowledge of the truth will face a more severe judgment than those who violated the Mosaic covenant.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (ESV Study Bible, 2008, Heb. 10:26-31).
This passage demonstrates that God distinguishes degrees of guilt and judgment. To knowingly despise Christ and His sacrifice after receiving greater revelation incurs a correspondingly greater punishment. This warning therefore stands against every teaching that turns the grace of God into a license for sin (Jude 4). Rather than diminishing accountability, greater knowledge of Christ increases it.
The Equality of Sin’s Consequences
A true born again Christian cannot make a practice of sinning; while all people contend with sin (1 Jn. 1:8-10), those genuinely born of God do not persistently practice sin (1 Jn. 3:4-10). The reason for this inability to continue in sin is God's seed—the Holy Spirit—abiding within and transforming the believer toward the practice of righteousness. Therefore, anyone who makes a practice of sinning reveals themselves to be a child of the devil in need of immediate repentance, as evident by their failure to practice righteousness and love their brother. The only place sin is equal is in the consequence of its practice—the lake of fire.
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother (ESV Study Bible, 2008, 1 John 3:4-10 ESV).
On False Teachers
Listen carefully, because this is what false teachers sound like when you encounter them: they promise us freedom, but they themselves are slaves to depravity (i.e., sin, corruption):
“You aren’t saved by being good,” they say, “so you might as well be bad. Do what you like; be free.” But these very teachers who offer this “freedom” from law are themselves slaves to sin and destruction. For a man is a slave to whatever controls him (The Living Bible, 1971, 2Pe.2:19 TLB).
By abusing and twisting God's precious grace into a license to sin these false teachers reveal that they are condemned from the very beginning (Jd 4 NET).
On Moral Reasoning and Logic
Inability to recognize varying degrees of sin reveals a man to be devoid of scriptural understanding, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, moral reasoning, and logic. Clearly, sexual assault and bad words (Jas. 1:26) differ greatly in severity. To treat them as morally equivalent is to confuse offense with violence and to erase a basic moral distinction. Such reasoning is not careful or proportionate; it is confused and driven more by sentiment than by sound judgment.
- ESV Study Bible (ESV Text Edition: 2016). (2008). Crossway.
- New Living Translation. (2015). Tyndale House Publishers.
- The Living Bible. (1971). Tyndale House Publishers.
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