Are There Levels Of Sin?

Do you believe all sin is the same? Or do some choices seem darker, more damaging, more rebellious than others?

What about the small stuff? Do little sins even matter to God?

Today, I read: “He (Hoshea) did what the Lord said was wrong, but he was not as bad as the kings of Israel who had ruled before him” (2 Kings 17:2 NCV).

This shows me that God sees degrees. Not everything is equal. Some sin cuts deeper. Some choices have greater weight.

That doesn’t mean there is a big difference between slowly drifting from God and deliberately defying Him. Both are still sin. One sin makes us a sinner.

But Scripture suggests that motive, knowledge, and influence all affect the weight of it.

When Jesus stood before Pilate, He said, “The man who turned me in to you is more guilty” (John 19:11 NCV).

More, not equally guilty. Judas had betrayal in his heart. He made a personal and deliberate decision. Pilate still played a part, but Judas carried the heavier weight.

There is also the reality that some people lead others into sin.

I think that multiplies the damage. In 2 Kings 10:31, it says Jehu “did not stop doing the same sins Jeroboam had done, by which he had led Israel to sin.”

It’s one thing to fall yourself. It is another thing entirely to cause others to fall. You’ve made it spread.

There is a saying: “Our children abuse what we endorse.” I believe there is some truth in that. What we allow often becomes what our children can exaggerate.

Jesus also made it clear that with greater knowledge comes greater responsibility.

In Luke 12:47–48, He said “the servant who knows what his master wants but does not do it will be punished more severely than the one who did not know.” Knowing matters.

Also, God has placed a sense of right and wrong in every human heart. Romans 2:15 says people show they know what is right and wrong, just as the law commands.

Their own conscience confirms it.

But once we know the truth and still choose sin, the consequences grow. This is why leaders and elders in the church are judged more strictly. God takes knowledge and influence seriously.

Here is the hope.

Every sin, no matter the depth or weight, has already been paid for. Jesus lived the perfect life that we could and will not. He became our substitute. We have “no debt” with our sin - in Jesus.

His love for us was greater than our sin against Him. And our love for God and love for people should now be what keeps us from sin.

The truth is, if we are sinning, we have a love problem. We are loving our sin more than we love God and more than we love others.

So yes, all sin is sin. But not all sin is the same. Some choices run deeper. Some ripple louder. Some wounds carry into the next generation and cause others to sin.

God sees it all. He judges with fairness. He offers mercy to those who turn back to Him. But we must turn. We must rely on Jesus and confess Him as our Savior and Lord.

Live like God sees it all, because He does. And still, He welcomes you and me to be close through the grace of Jesus Christ.

GOD, how do You keep loving us when our love for You fades so often? I am humbled. I am grateful. I love You. I love Jesus Christ. I love the Holy Spirit. I love people. Help me to love well. IJNIP amen ♥️