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Results		Verse	Author	ID#
1	danger of small sins lead to larger sins	Matt 15:18	Jalek	240615
	Greetings, One problem with this question is the assumption that there are different categories of sins. The Bible makes no such claims about degrees of severity when it comes to sin. Sin is sin, and all sin is an act of disobedience against God's will. It is man's need to justify his sin that classifies sin into greater sins like the so called "Seven Deadly Sins" and lesser sins like the "Little White Lie". The so called "Seven Deadly Sins" are not found in the Bible, but is actually a misinterpretation of Proverbs 6:16-19. However, when you look at the context, Lying and Murder are both viewed as equal in the eyes of God. With that said, there are passages that hint to a progression of sins leading to more sinning. Psalms 14, Habakkuk chapter 2, Matthew 15:15-20, and Romans 1:18-32 all hint to this. Jesus in Matthew 15 clearly teaches that it is what comes out of the mouth of man that defiles him. In the following verse, he lists several sins in no real certain order, nor does he indicate any particular hierarchy. Paul and Habakkuk both claim that one sin leads to another as a result of Man's lack of faith and willful disobedience against God. Like Jesus, David in Psalms comes right out and describes man as corrupt to the core, and do not even consider doing good. Hope this helps, Jalek
2	danger of small sins lead to larger sins	Matt 15:18	DocTrinsograce	240616
	Hi, Jalek... You wrote, "The Bible makes no such claims about degrees of severity when it comes to sin." Jonathan Edwards wrote something along the lines that the heinousness of sin is directly proportional to the honor that the king deserves. Since God is of infinite honor, any sin against Him is of infinite heinousness. However, we have the words of our Lord Himself, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin" (John 19:11 NASB). Given this assertion, we may assume that there is, in some sense, greater and lesser sins. Have a blessed Lord's Day. In Him, Doc
3	danger of small sins lead to larger sins	Matt 15:18	Jalek	240617
	Greetings Doc, It's ironic you bring up John 19, because I taught a lesson from that passage just this morning in church. Let me ask you this. Is Jesus referring to the severity of the sin or the quantity of sin? Think on this a moment before you answer and look at the context. Jesus spoke those words to Pilate after Pilate informed him of his authority to release Jesus. When you look at the triad of debates between Pilate, Jesus, and the Jews, you see that Pilate was really only guilty of one thing: cowardice. One could also make a strong case of murder in addition to cowardice since he pronounced Jesus innocent three times, but still sentenced him to death due to peer pressure from the Jews. Now, look at the Jews. Not only did they try to murder Jesus on more than one occasion, but they fabricated evidence, lied about his true message on several occasions, they allowed their pride and religious fanaticism cloud their judgment, and they did this in the hypocritical belief that they were following God's law which they were really breaking. Do you see where I'm coming from, Doc? I hope so. Pilate was one man in one place at one time. His sin was inconsequential in comparison to the multitude of sins of the Jews who handed Jesus over to him. So, I see this passage as referring to "greater" in terms of quantity rather than quality or severity. Jalek
4	danger of small sins lead to larger sins	Matt 15:18	DocTrinsograce	240618
	Hi, Jalek... That does sound like a good explanation of Christ's use of the qualifier "greater." John Calvin in his Commentary on John (1551) says something not dissimilar to it, "Some think that this declares the Jews to be more guilty than Pilate, because, with wicked hatred and malicious treachery, they are enraged against an innocent man, that is, those of them who were private individuals, and not clothed with lawful authority. But I think that this circumstance renders their guilt more heinous and less excusable on another ground, that they constrain a divinely appointed government to comply with their lawless desires; for it is a monstrous sacrilege to pervert a holy ordinance of God for promoting any wickedness. The robber, who, with his own hand, cuts the throat of a wretched passenger, is justly held in abhorrence; but he who, under the forms of a judicial trial, puts to death an innocent man, is much more wicked. Yet Christ does not aggravate their guilt, for the purpose of extenuating that of Pilate; for he does not institute a comparison between him and them, but rather includes them all in the same condemnation, because they equally pollute a holy power. There is only this difference, that he makes direct attack on the Jews, but indirectly censures Pilate, who complies with their wicked desire." Nevertheless, John Gill and Robert Jamieson appear to agree more explicitly with the way that you presented it. Thank you for your studied and thoughtful reply. No doubt your listeners benefited this morning, and now so have I done! I wish that I might have been in attendance. In Him, Doc
5	danger of small sins lead to larger sins	Matt 15:18	Jalek	240620
	thanks Doc. I appreciate that. I would have enjoyed having you in class.
6	danger of small sins lead to larger sins	Matt 15:18	vman	240622
	Thanks guys - Appreciate the insight and comments. vman

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