Most people have their own way of ranking sin.

Murder, adultery, and sexual immorality are placed near the top. Gossip, pride, jealousy, bitterness, greed, and an unforgiving spirit are placed somewhere near the bottom. We look at certain sins with disgust while treating others as though they are merely human weaknesses.

The sins we commit are usually the ones we consider small. The sins committed by others are often the ones we consider large.

We should be clear about something. The Bible does show that some sins bring greater earthly harm than others. Stealing a pencil does not cause the same damage as taking a life. Sexual sin can destroy a marriage, damage a family, and leave wounds that last for years. Paul wrote, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Jesus also spoke of “greater sin” in John 19:11. Therefore, it would not be correct to say that every sin is identical in seriousness, damage, or consequence.

But that does not mean there are harmless sins.

James wrote, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10). James was not saying that every sin causes the same amount of damage. He was saying that breaking any part of God’s law makes us lawbreakers. One sin is enough to make us guilty before a holy God.

We create trouble when we use the sins of others to make ourselves appear righteous.

The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable stood in the temple and prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). He could clearly see the sins of other people, but he could not see the pride in his own heart.

The tax collector did not compare himself with anyone. He simply said, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:13).

Jesus said the tax collector went home justified, but the Pharisee did not.

That should make us stop and think.

A person may condemn sexual sin while spreading gossip that damages another person’s name. Someone may speak harshly about an adulterer while refusing to forgive a family member. Another may condemn a thief while cheating on taxes, lying in business, or being greedy.

Paul listed many sins together, including greed, envy, strife, deceit, gossip, arrogance, disobedience to parents, and being unloving and unmerciful (Romans 1:29–31). We may place some of those sins near the bottom of our scale, but God does not overlook them.

Pride is still sin. Gossip is still sin. Bitterness is still sin. Greed is still sin. Refusing to forgive is still sin. They may be accepted by society and tolerated in churches, but they are not acceptable to God.

This does not mean we should stop calling sexual immorality, adultery, murder, or any other serious wrongdoing sin. God has already called them sin, and we have no right to soften what He has said.

It means we must be just as honest about our own sin.

Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). The problem was not that the speck did not matter. The problem was that the person trying to remove it had ignored the larger problem in his own life.

The answer is not to pretend that sin does not matter. The answer is repentance.

We must stop measuring ourselves against other sinners and begin measuring ourselves by the holiness of God. When we do that, none of us has reason to boast. We all need the mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing found in Jesus Christ.

Some sins cause greater damage. Some carry greater consequences. But there are no respectable sins, acceptable sins, or harmless sins.

Before we condemn someone else’s “big” sin, we had better ask God to show us the “little” sins we have learned to excuse.