The Nature Of Sin: Abominations And Beyond

In Ezekiel 8, God reveals certain abominations to the prophet Ezekiel, showing that some sins are considered greater than others. For example, in Ezekiel 8:7-12, God shows Ezekiel the secret sins of the elders of Israel, who are worshipping their idols in secret. These abominations are considered greater than the graven image at the North gate of the temple. In Matthew 11:20–24, Jesus said that the Jewish cities that heard the kingdom message would fare worse on judgment day than the Gentile cities that did not. Greater knowledge brings greater responsibility.

Some abominations are considered greater than others

Scripture does speak of the reality that some sins are considered greater than others. In Ezekiel 8:13, Ezekiel is told that some abominations are "greater" than others. Jesus also explains that those who delivered him to Pilate committed "the greater sin" (John 19:11). In Matthew 11:20–24, Jesus said that the Jewish cities that heard the kingdom message would fare worse on judgment day than the Gentile cities that did not.

In Ezekiel 8:7-12, God shows Ezekiel some of the secret sins of the elders of Israel. They are worshipping their idols in secret, hiding their idolatry and trying to get away with it. These abominations are greater than the first.

In the vernacular bible, there is a nuance that speaks of sin when it is something permissible in other circumstances but not in that one, and of abomination when it is never permissible. For example, eating pork was an abomination, but eating a permitted food on a fast day was a sin. Homosexual activity is also considered an abomination, while straight sex in a legal marriage is permissible but not outside of it.

Alma informed him: "These things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord, yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost" (Alma 39:5).

The Bible says that some sins are worse than others

In Ezekiel 8:7-12, God shows Ezekiel the secret sins of the elders of Israel, who are worshipping idols in secret. These abominations are considered greater than the first, as they are hiding their idolatry and trying to get away with it. This suggests that the intent or knowledge behind a sin can make it worse. Similarly, in Luke 12:47-48, Jesus taught that a servant who knew the Master's will but did not do it would be treated more harshly than one who did not know the Master's will.

The Bible also suggests that the context or circumstances of a sin can make it worse. For example, in Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus said that the Jewish cities that heard the kingdom message would fare worse on judgement day than the Gentile cities that did not. This implies that having greater knowledge or understanding of God's will can make the consequences of sin more severe.

Additionally, some sins are considered abominations, which are seen as particularly heinous or detestable in the eyes of God. For example, in Alma 39:5, Alma states that certain things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord, above all sins, except for the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost. Eating pork was also considered an abomination, while eating permitted food on a fast day was a sin. Homosexual activity was considered an abomination, while fornication was a sin. This suggests that abominations are seen as more serious or unacceptable than other sins.

Overall, the Bible presents a nuanced view of sin, recognising that some sins are worse than others due to factors such as intent, knowledge, and context. Abominations are seen as the most serious sins, but even within this category, there are degrees of severity.

Eating pork is an abomination, but eating a permitted food on a fast day is a sin

In the Bible, some sins are considered greater than others. For example, in Ezekiel 8:5-6, God reveals certain abominations to the prophet Ezekiel, and shows him that some abominations are greater than others. In Ezekiel 8:7-12, God shows Ezekiel some of the secret sins of the elders of Israel, and these abominations are greater than the first.

Homosexual activity is an abomination, while fornication is a sin

According to the Bible, some sins are considered greater than others. For example, in Ezekiel 8:13, Ezekiel is told that some abominations are "greater" than others. In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus says that Jewish cities that heard the kingdom message would fare worse on judgement day than Gentile cities that did not.

In the Bible, the word for fornication does not necessarily refer to sex before marriage. The Greek word "pornia" (from which we get our word "pornography") refers to any unlawful sexual activity. However, Catholicism equates premarital sex with fornication and ties it with breaking the sixth commandment: "Thou shalt not commit adultery".

Homosexual activity is considered an abomination in the Bible. Paul spoke about it specifically because men slept with young men as a practice in those cultures. However, Jesus never spoke of homosexuality because he spoke to the Jews, who already knew it was wrong.

Therefore, homosexual activity is considered an abomination, while fornication is a sin.

The greater abominations are those committed in secret

Scripture does speak of the reality that some sins are considered greater than others. In Ezekiel 8:5-6, God reveals certain abominations to the prophet Ezekiel, showing that some sinful abominations are greater than others. The greater abominations are those committed in secret. For example, in Ezekiel 8:7-12, God shows Ezekiel the secret sins of the elders of Israel. They are worshipping their idols in secret, hiding their idolatry and trying to get away with it. These abominations are greater than the first. This is because greater knowledge brings greater responsibility. In Luke 12:47–48, Jesus taught that a servant who knew the Master’s will but did not do it would be treated more harshly than one who did not know the Master’s will.

In addition, some sins are considered abominations because they are never permissible. For example, eating pork was an abomination, but eating a permitted food on a fast day was a sin. Homosexual activity is considered an abomination, while fornication is considered a sin. This distinction suggests that certain acts are seen as more offensive to God than others.

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