Different Kinds of Sin?Different Kinds of Sin?

• A friend of my tells me A friend of my tells me there is only one kind of there is only one kind of sin and all sins are the sin and all sins are the same to God.same to God.

• Why do Catholics have Why do Catholics have two different kinds of sin?two different kinds of sin?

• Are venial and mortal sin Are venial and mortal sin Biblical?Biblical?

• To answer that question To answer that question let’s turn to Leviticus let’s turn to Leviticus 5:20-24 (NAB) it says that 5:20-24 (NAB) it says that if you defraud your if you defraud your neighbor you have to neighbor you have to return the item or the return the item or the money and as a penalty money and as a penalty you need to also give him you need to also give him an additional one-fifth of an additional one-fifth of its value.its value.

• If you defraud him of a If you defraud him of a hundred dollars, you hundred dollars, you would have to return one would have to return one hundred and twenty hundred and twenty dollars.dollars.

• In Leviticus 20 we see In Leviticus 20 we see that the punishment for that the punishment for incest, adultery, idolatry incest, adultery, idolatry is death.is death.

• As St. Paul points out in As St. Paul points out in Romans chapter 7 as Romans chapter 7 as Christians we are not Christians we are not subject to the old law.subject to the old law.

• In any case the Old In any case the Old Testament law Testament law demonstrates God’s view demonstrates God’s view that some sin is more that some sin is more serious than others.serious than others.

• The present day legal The present day legal system agrees that some sin system agrees that some sin is more serious than others.is more serious than others.

• Some are sentenced to Some are sentenced to death while others pay a death while others pay a traffic find.traffic find.

• Speeding is more serious Speeding is more serious than illegal parking, thus than illegal parking, thus the fine for a speeding the fine for a speeding ticket is greater than that of ticket is greater than that of a parking ticket.a parking ticket.

• In Mt. 16:27 we see Jesus In Mt. 16:27 we see Jesus say that the Son of Man will say that the Son of Man will repay everyone according repay everyone according to their conduct.to their conduct.

• This implies that there is This implies that there is good conduct and better good conduct and better conduct.conduct.

• It also implies that there are It also implies that there are those who are more sinful those who are more sinful than others.than others.

• In Revelation 22:12 we In Revelation 22:12 we read: “read: “1212 Behold, I am Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will me the recompense I will give to each according to give to each according to his deeds.”his deeds.”

• Jesus tells us about the Jesus tells us about the severity of punishment in severity of punishment in the Gospel of Luke 12:47-48the Gospel of Luke 12:47-48

• 4747 The servant who knew his The servant who knew his master’s will but did not master’s will but did not make preparations nor act make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall in accord with his will shall be beaten severely;be beaten severely;

• 4848 and the servant who was and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way but acted in a way deserving of a severe deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be lightly. Much will be required of the person required of the person entrusted with much, and entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded still more will be demanded of the person entrusted of the person entrusted with more.with more.

• The first servant:The first servant:1.1. Knew the master’s will was Knew the master’s will was

a serious matter.a serious matter.2.2. He knew what he was doing He knew what he was doing

was wrong.was wrong.3.3. He freely chose to ignore He freely chose to ignore

the master’s will.the master’s will.

• By definition the first servant By definition the first servant committed a mortal sin.committed a mortal sin.

• The second servant:The second servant:1.1. Didn’t know the master’s will.Didn’t know the master’s will.2.2. He acted in a way that he He acted in a way that he

should have known by natural should have known by natural reasoning was wrong.reasoning was wrong.

3.3. But because he acted out of But because he acted out of ignorance his crime is not as ignorance his crime is not as severe as the first servant.severe as the first servant.

• Clearly, God has shown us in Clearly, God has shown us in the Bible that some sin is the Bible that some sin is more severe than others.more severe than others.

• Clearly, the concept of Clearly, the concept of mortal and venial sin is mortal and venial sin is Biblical.Biblical.

• There isn’t any good in sin.There isn’t any good in sin.• Nothing good can come of a Nothing good can come of a

bad intention.bad intention.• If all sin were considered to If all sin were considered to

be equal than a momentary be equal than a momentary feeling of jealousy toward a feeling of jealousy toward a neighbor’s good fortune of neighbor’s good fortune of owning a new BMW would owning a new BMW would be punished in the same be punished in the same way as if you had murdered way as if you had murdered your neighbor.your neighbor.

• As Scripture teaches, not all As Scripture teaches, not all sin leads to spiritual death.sin leads to spiritual death.

• If the sin leads to spiritual If the sin leads to spiritual death it is mortal and the death it is mortal and the person:person:1.1. Knew the law Knew the law 2.2. Knew what he was doing Knew what he was doing

was wrong.was wrong.3.3. Chose to go against God’s Chose to go against God’s

will.will.• If the sin does not possess If the sin does not possess

all three of these tests at all three of these tests at the same time then the sin the same time then the sin is venial, a lesser, sin.is venial, a lesser, sin.

• Stealing a grape, is not a Stealing a grape, is not a grave, or serious grave, or serious matter, and matter, and it is not it is not punishable punishable by death but is by death but is punishable.punishable.

Summing upSumming up• In the first letter of John chapter 5:16-17 he tells us.In the first letter of John chapter 5:16-17 he tells us.• 1616 If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he 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 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 whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.which I do not say that you should pray.

• 1717 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.• Is venial and mortal sin Biblical?Is venial and mortal sin Biblical?• YesYes• Is all sin the same?Is all sin the same?• No!No!• Is the Church correct in making a distinction between the two types Is the Church correct in making a distinction between the two types

of sin?of sin?• Yes, God showed us how to make the distinction.Yes, God showed us how to make the distinction.