A pastor once told me about a man who came into his office, sat in the worn leather chair, and asked, in a voice just above a whisper, “What’s the worst sin, Pastor? Just tell me the one God hates most.”
Behind questions like that, there’s always a story. I don’t know what the man had done—or what had been done to him—but I know what it’s like to fear that one mistake has put you beyond reach. Maybe you’ve felt that too.
Centuries ago, a list circulated through the early church—what came to be known as the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Pride, envy, lust, gluttony, wrath, sloth, and greed. It was a way to teach people to name what’s broken in our hearts, and to return to the One who can restore us. But the deeper question isn’t which sins are deadliest—it’s where sin begins and why it matters.
God tells us in Proverbs exactly what He detests. Not to shame us, but to protect us:
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16–19, NIV).
This isn’t a ranking system—it’s a mirror. Each word reveals something God cares about deeply: truth, life, unity, humility. These aren’t random behaviors—they’re relationship breakers. They corrode peace. Wound people. Push us away from love.
Paul, writing to the Galatians, gave his own list—not from tradition, but from the Spirit: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity… idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy… envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you… that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21, abridged).
Strong words. And maybe, at first glance, terrifying ones. But don’t miss what Paul is saying: These acts are obvious—they don’t need a theological degree to notice. They break things. They destroy trust, poison our conscience, pull us further from who we’re meant to be.
But—and here’s the pivot we often miss—it’s not just what sin does to us. It’s what it costs us. Not because God is keeping score, but because God is offering life. Every time we walk toward sin, we walk away from Him. Not by His choice—but ours.
There’s something else to notice. Neither Solomon in Proverbs nor Paul in Galatians speaks these warnings in isolation. They write to people they love. Proverbs is a father’s voice to his child. Galatians is a shepherd’s cry to his church. This isn’t condemnation—it’s invitation.
God’s heart, again and again, is to call us back.
I remember that moment in the pastor’s office. After the quiet question came a deeper stillness. Then the pastor said gently: “The worst sin is the one you don’t bring to Jesus.”
What a truth. And what grace.
Because for all the lists we make—seven sins, ten commandments, twenty warnings—all of them are arrows pointing to a single cross and a single Savior. Jesus doesn’t categorize sins by deadliest. He categorizes people by their need—and offers the same remedy to all: mercy.
Maybe your failure isn’t on a list. Maybe it is. Maybe it’s hidden so deeply beneath your Sunday smile that only you and God know where it lives. But it still weighs heavy.
Listen, friend. God doesn’t love you less because of your sin. But He loves you too much to let it linger.
So He names sin plainly. Not to shame you, but to set you free.
And if you’re wondering what that freedom looks like—it’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That’s the list the Spirit writes in your heart (Galatians 5:22–23).
So maybe the better question is not “Which is the deadliest sin?” but “Am I letting anything keep me from life with Christ?”
That answer matters. Because you matter. Not because your sins are small, but because your Savior is strong.
He still knocks. He still redeems. And the list of grace is longer than anything we’ve done.
A pastor once told me about a man who came into his office, sat in the worn leather chair, and asked, in a voice just above a whisper, “What’s the worst sin, Pastor? Just tell me the one God hates most.”
Behind questions like that, there’s always a story. I don’t know what the man had done—or what had been done to him—but I know what it’s like to fear that one mistake has put you beyond reach. Maybe you’ve felt that too.
Centuries ago, a list circulated through the early church—what came to be known as the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Pride, envy, lust, gluttony, wrath, sloth, and greed. It was a way to teach people to name what’s broken in our hearts, and to return to the One who can restore us. But the deeper question isn’t which sins are deadliest—it’s where sin begins and why it matters.
God tells us in Proverbs exactly what He detests. Not to shame us, but to protect us:
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16–19, NIV).
This isn’t a ranking system—it’s a mirror. Each word reveals something God cares about deeply: truth, life, unity, humility. These aren’t random behaviors—they’re relationship breakers. They corrode peace. Wound people. Push us away from love.
Paul, writing to the Galatians, gave his own list—not from tradition, but from the Spirit: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity… idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy… envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you… that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21, abridged).
Strong words. And maybe, at first glance, terrifying ones. But don’t miss what Paul is saying: These acts are obvious—they don’t need a theological degree to notice. They break things. They destroy trust, poison our conscience, pull us further from who we’re meant to be.
But—and here’s the pivot we often miss—it’s not just what sin does to us. It’s what it costs us. Not because God is keeping score, but because God is offering life. Every time we walk toward sin, we walk away from Him. Not by His choice—but ours.
There’s something else to notice. Neither Solomon in Proverbs nor Paul in Galatians speaks these warnings in isolation. They write to people they love. Proverbs is a father’s voice to his child. Galatians is a shepherd’s cry to his church. This isn’t condemnation—it’s invitation.
God’s heart, again and again, is to call us back.
I remember that moment in the pastor’s office. After the quiet question came a deeper stillness. Then the pastor said gently: “The worst sin is the one you don’t bring to Jesus.”
What a truth. And what grace.
Because for all the lists we make—seven sins, ten commandments, twenty warnings—all of them are arrows pointing to a single cross and a single Savior. Jesus doesn’t categorize sins by deadliest. He categorizes people by their need—and offers the same remedy to all: mercy.
Maybe your failure isn’t on a list. Maybe it is. Maybe it’s hidden so deeply beneath your Sunday smile that only you and God know where it lives. But it still weighs heavy.
Listen, friend. God doesn’t love you less because of your sin. But He loves you too much to let it linger.
So He names sin plainly. Not to shame you, but to set you free.
And if you’re wondering what that freedom looks like—it’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That’s the list the Spirit writes in your heart (Galatians 5:22–23).
So maybe the better question is not “Which is the deadliest sin?” but “Am I letting anything keep me from life with Christ?”
That answer matters. Because you matter. Not because your sins are small, but because your Savior is strong.
He still knocks. He still redeems. And the list of grace is longer than anything we’ve done.
