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Understanding the Concept of the Greater Sin in Scripture

The concept of "greater sin" in Scripture refers to the varying degrees of culpability and severity associated with different transgressions against God's law. While all sin is fundamentally "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" [2], the Bible and theological traditions recognize distinctions in the gravity of sinful acts.

Scripture illustrates this concept in several instances. Joseph, when tempted by Potiphar's wife, resisted by asking, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" [3]. This suggests an understanding of certain actions as particularly egregious. Similarly, Cain, after murdering Abel, lamented, "My sin is greater than I can bear" [12]. This can be interpreted as a confession of the immense weight of his transgression, acknowledging its severity [12]. In the New Testament, Jesus tells Pilate that "He who delivered me to you has the greater sin" [13], indicating that Judas and the Jewish leaders bore a heavier responsibility for their actions than Pilate did, partly due to their malice and Pilate's relative ignorance [13].

The Old Testament sacrificial system, particularly the sin offering (Hebrew: hattath), also implicitly acknowledges different levels of sin and their atonement [1, 4]. These offerings were prescribed for various transgressions, including sins of ignorance [6]. The specific animal and ritual varied depending on whether the sin was committed by a priest, the entire congregation, a ruler, or a private person, suggesting a graded approach to sin and its expiation [6]. The sin offering was distinct from the trespass offering, though sometimes offered together, indicating different aspects of sin being addressed [1].

Theological traditions further elaborate on the nature and degrees of sin. Sin is described as a transgression of the law [5], rebellion against God [5], and originating from the heart [5]. It is not merely a violation of a system but an offense against a personal lawgiver [2]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on 1 John distinguishes between "having no sin" (referring to the corrupt nature) and "having not sinned" (referring to actual transgressions), implying that even after conversion, individuals commit sins [11]. Augustine, as cited in Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, notes that while one is "born of God," one becomes a "child of the devil by imitating him," rather than by birth, when committing sin [8].

The concept of "great sin" can also refer to deliberate, insolent, or arrogant acts of rebellion against God [10]. The Tyndale House Commentary on Psalms 19:13 states that "The great sin is rebellion" [10]. This contrasts with sins committed out of ignorance or weakness. While all humanity is born with a sinful nature [7], the wicked indulge it, whereas the godly strive against it [7]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary describes the sin of Adam and Eve as "heinous and aggravated," not merely eating fruit, but a profound act of disobedience, ingratitude, and dishonor to God [9].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Sin Offering — The sin offering among the Jews was the sacrifice in which the ideas of propitiation and of atonement for sin were most distinctly marked. The ceremonial of the sin offering is described in Levi 4 and 6. The trespass offering is closely connected with the sin offering in Leviticus, but at the same time clearly distinguished from it, being in some cases offered with it as a distinct part of the same sacrifice; as, for example, in the cleansing of the leper. Levi 14. The distinction of ceremonial clearly indicates a difference in the idea of the two sacri”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sin — Is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is "not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment,”
  3. Genesis “He isn’t greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” -- Genesis 39:9”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sin-offering — (Heb. hattath), the law of, is given in detail in Lev. 4-6:13; 9:7-11, 22-24; 12:6-8; 15:2, 14, 25-30; 14:19, 31; Num. 6:10-14. On the day of Atonement it was made with special solemnity (Lev. 16:5, 11, 15). The blood was then carried into the holy of holies and sprinkled on the mercy-seat. Sin-offerings were also presented at the five annual festivals (Num. 28, 29), and on the occasion of the consecration of the priests (Ex. 29:10-14, 36). As each individual, even the most private member of the congregation, as well as the congregation at large, and t”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sin — Is the transgression of the law -- 1Jo 3:4. Is of the devil -- 1Jo 3:8; Joh 8:44. All unrighteousness is -- 1Jo 5:17. Omission of what we know to be good is -- Jas 4:17. Whatever is not of faith is -- Ro 14:23. The thought of foolishness is -- Pr 24:9. All the imaginations of the unrenewed heart are -- Ge 6:5; 8:21. Described as Coming from the heart. -- Mt 15:19. The fruit of lust. -- Jas 1:15. The sting of death. -- 1Co 15:56. Rebellion against God. -- De 9:7; Jos 1:18. Works of darkness. -- Eph 5:11. Dead works. -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. The abominable thing that Go”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sin Offering — Probable origin of -- Ge 4:4,7. Was offered For sins of ignorance. -- Le 4:2,13,22,27. At the consecration of priests. -- Ex 29:10,14; Le 8:14. At the consecration of Levites. -- Nu 8:8. At the expiration of a Nazarite's vow. -- Nu 6:14. On the day of atonement. -- Le 16:3,9. Was a most holy sacrifice -- Le 6:25,29. Consisted of A young bullock for priests. -- Le 4:3; 9:2,8; 16:3,6. A young bullock or he-goat for the congregation. -- Le 4:14; 16:9; 2Ch 29:23. A male kid for a ruler. -- Le 4:23. A female kid or female lamb for a private person. -- Le 4:”
  7. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  8. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  9. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  11. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 4:13: MY SIN IS GREATER THAN I CAN BEAR. This is in the form of a question: “You bear the worlds above and below, and is it impossible for You to bear my sin?” Thus the words of Rashi quoting Bereshith Rabbah. 439 22:25. The correct plain interpretation is that it is a confession. Cain said: “It is true that my sin is too great to be forgiven, and Thou art righteous, O Eternal, and upright are Thy judgments 440 Psalms 119:137. even though You have punished me exceedingly. And now behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the land 441 Verse 14. fo”
  13. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 19:11: Hath the greater sin - It is a sin in thee to condemn me, while thou art convinced in thy conscience that I am innocent: but the Jews who delivered me to thee, and Judas who delivered me to the Jews, have the greater crime to answer for. Thy ignorance in some measure excuses thee; but the rage and malice of the Jews put them at present out of the reach of mercy.”
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