Why do people say sin is sin when the Bible says some sins are least important in Matthew 5:19?

Question

Doesn't this mean some things we're told in the Bible or more important than others?

All sins should be avoided as much as possible. I think "Important" was not the right word to use. I should have said certain sins are less "severe" than others for lack of a better word. For instance, eating one piece of hard candy you haven't paid for while shopping in the grocery store, is obviously not as severe as murder or rape, but both are sins.

Answer 1

Quite a few people have posted questions about this scripture, and each time it is misinterpreted. Below was my response to another questioner concerning this.

This verse is not stating which commandments are less important than others. It is a reminder to obey all commandments from the Least to the Greatest.

Those who pick and choose commandments, according to scripture: are considered least in the Kingdom of Heaven, will receive lesser rewards, and are held in "low esteem" as explained by God.

Although we are told certain commandments are greater than others, such as Loving God and our neighbors, unless the Lord has specifically put an end to certain commandments or teachings, such as his approval that we can now eat meat, we must obey them all without ammendment or change.

If we obey the two greatest commandments to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, while loving our neighbors as ourselves, we will acknowledge all of God's commandments, from the greatest to the least, because the Holy Spirit will dwell within us, instructing us concerning obedience to the Lord, and our responsibility to share the Good News correctly with others.

Satan works very hard to convince humans that certain commandments ended with the New Testament, or that certain teachings no longer apply. Those who "accept" this deception, are led by the Anti-Christ "spirit", and risk losing their full reward as explained in the scripture below:
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2 John 1:6-11 states:

And this is LOVE: that we walk in OBEDIENCE to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in LOVE. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the "deceiver and the antichrist". Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be REWARDED fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does "not" have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

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Matthew 5:19 states:

Anyone who breaks ONE of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Blessings, Miji

Answer 2

Many people do not understand the significant changes that resulted due to the new covenant.

In the old days, any sin was just as bad as the next, because, in a world totally devoid of God's grace and mercy, if you broke one law, you broke 'em all.

Under the new and better covenant, sin is still a serious offense, but our penalty for sin is now tempered by God's superabundant grace and mercy.

That's why some sins are less serious than others, today.

Answer 3

It is important to not take one verse and make an entire theological doctrine around it. Of course some things in the bible are more weighty than others. That does not imply that God sees sin as some hierarchical arrangement. There is nothing here about how some sin is less of a sin to God.

The literal translation of the verse reads:

Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (ESV Translation)

Commentary:

In returning to the Sermon, we notice that Jesus anticipated a natural tendency to relax God's commandments. Because they are of such a supernatural nature, people tend to explain them away, to rationalize their meaning. But whoever breaks one part of the law, and teaches other people to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. The wonder is that such people are permitted in the kingdom at all—but then, entrance into the kingdom is by faith in Christ.

A person's position in the kingdom is determined by his obedience and faithfulness while on earth. The person who obeys the law of the kingdom—that person shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Answer 4

There are plenty of sins that are not specified, but one could assume that those mentioned in the 10 Commandments are the most important. Example: in the Bible homosexuality is considered a sin, but is not mentioned in the commandments, therefore lesser sins than say murder or stealing.

Answer 5

Yes, this is the basis for the concepts of mortal and venial sin.

1 John 5:16-17 - If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

Luke 12:46-48 - Then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

Catholics believe:

Mortal sin is a grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will.

Venial sin is a sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it. Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent.

But continual venial sin can slowly but surely totally separate you from God, placing you into the state of mortal sin.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Its still a sin but a lesser sin deserves a lesser penance.

Answer 7

The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was essentially external adherence to rules. God demands more than this.

God expects more from teachers.

Answer 8

The bible contradicts itself, my friend.

Answer 9

"Maybe you don't go to hell for the things you do. Maybe you go to hell for the things you don't do.” ~Chuck Palahniuk