Short answer: The Bible never names one sin as "the greatest," but it does point to the sin that finally cannot be forgiven: refusing Jesus Christ and the Spirit's witness to him, and staying in that refusal to the end. Every sin separates us from God, and Scripture also says some sins carry heavier weight than others. The good news is that no sin is too large for the cross, as long as a person turns to Christ.
In This Article
People usually ask this question for one of two reasons. Some are curious and want a ranking: what is the number one worst sin? Others are afraid. They carry something heavy and want to know whether they have gone too far. I want to answer both kinds of reader from Scripture, not from guesswork.
This article looks at what the Bible says about sin being equal and unequal, the seven things the Lord hates, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, idolatry, the "greater sin" Jesus mentioned to Pilate, and why rejecting Christ stands at the centre of it all.
Is There One Greatest Sin In The Bible?
No verse says, "This is the worst sin of all." What the Bible does say is that everyone has sinned, and that sin of any size cuts us off from a holy God.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
Ecclesiastes 7:20 says the same thing from the Old Testament side: there is no one on earth who does what is right and never sins. In that sense, the smallest lie and the worst crime put us in the same place before God. We need a Saviour either way. I have written more on that question in Are All Sins Equal?
Yet Scripture also teaches that sins are not all equal in their weight or their consequences. Jesus said it would be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for the towns that saw his miracles and still would not repent (Matthew 11:24). Teachers are held to a stricter standard (James 3:1). So "all sin is serious" and "some sin is heavier" are both true, and the Bible holds them together.
What Sins Does God Call Detestable?
The closest the Bible comes to a list of "worst" sins is Proverbs 6:16-19, where Solomon names six things the Lord hates and a seventh that is detestable to him.
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)
The full list goes on to include a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Notice the spread. Pride, deceit, violence, scheming, eagerness for evil, perjury and division. This is a portrait of how sin shows up through the eyes, tongue, hands, heart and feet, not a ranking with a winner. I read it as a set of illustrations of what grieves God.
The word "abomination" turns up often in Proverbs and the law for other things too. Proverbs 12:22 says the Lord detests lying lips. If you want to look at one sin from that list in depth, I have written on pride, lying and iniquity. And if your question is about the traditional medieval list, see the seven deadly sins, which is a church teaching tradition rather than a list found in a single Bible passage.
What Is The Sin That God Will Not Forgive?
Jesus himself speaks of one sin that will not be forgiven. He says it after the religious leaders watched him drive out a demon and claimed the power came from Satan.
every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven
Matthew 12:31 (NIV)
Mark's account (Mark 3:22-30) records the same warning and explains the reason: they were saying he had an impure spirit Christians have understood this in different ways, but the reading I hold is the common one. It is not a slip of the tongue and it is not a bad moment of doubt. It is the settled, hardened refusal to recognise Jesus and his work as coming from God, in spite of the Spirit's clear witness. Someone who is worried they have committed it is usually showing the opposite sign, because a heart that has hardened past recovery does not tremble over it. I go through this passage in detail in the unforgivable sin, and I answer the wider question in Does God Forgive All Sins?
What About Idolatry?
The first of the Ten Commandments is about this. God told Israel they were to have no other gods before him (Exodus 20:3-5), and Paul told the Corinthian church to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14).
You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
Idolatry is more than statues. It is giving to anything else the trust, love and worship that belong to God alone: money, success, a relationship, even a religious system. It is serious because it attacks the very centre of who God is. That is why it comes first in the commandments. You can read more on that in the Ten Commandments.
What Did Jesus Mean By "A Greater Sin"?
Standing before Pilate, Jesus told him Pilate would have no power over him unless it had been given from above. Then he added a sentence that surprises many readers.
the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin
John 19:11 (NIV)
Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say Pilate was innocent. He says another person carried a greater share of guilt. Interpreters differ on who that person is. I read it as pointing to Judas, who betrayed Jesus knowing who he was, though some take it to mean the high priest Caiaphas. Either way, the principle is clear: more light brings more responsibility. Jesus makes the same point in John 9:41, where he tells the Pharisees that because they claim to see, their guilt remains.
That is a sobering truth for anyone who has grown up around the church. Knowing the truth and turning from it is worse than never having heard it.
Why Is Rejecting Christ The Heart Of The Matter?
The thing that finally condemns a person is not a particular act but where they stand toward Jesus. Forgiveness is on offer for every sin that is confessed.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
That promise has no exceptions listed. The only way to be left outside it is to refuse the one who gives it. John 3:16 promises life to whoever believes in him, and the other side of that is plain: whoever will not believe has turned away from the only rescue there is. So if you want a single answer to "what is the worst sin?", the answer I would give is persistent unbelief. It is the sin that makes every other sin permanent.
This is also why I never tell anyone that their past is too dark. A person who is alive and still able to turn to Christ is still within reach of mercy. If you have trusted Christ and you are afraid of falling again, see sin after salvation.
Key Bible Verses About The Worst Sin
- Romans 3:23: all have sinned and fall short, so everyone needs the same Saviour.
- Proverbs 6:16-19: seven things the Lord hates, with pride and lying at the head of the list.
- Matthew 12:31: blasphemy against the Spirit is the sin Jesus says will not be forgiven.
- John 19:11: Jesus tells Pilate that another man's sin was greater, because he knew more.
- Exodus 20:3: the first commandment: no other gods before the Lord.
- 1 John 1:9: confessed sin is forgiven and cleansed, with no exceptions listed.
- John 3:16: everlasting life is promised to whoever believes in the Son.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sins are an abomination to God?
Proverbs 6:16-19 lists six things the Lord hates and a seventh that is detestable: pride, lying, murder, wicked scheming, rushing toward evil, false witness and stirring up conflict. The word also appears for dishonesty in business and for idol worship. Each shows a heart turned away from him.
What sins will God not forgive?
Jesus names one: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is a settled refusal to accept his work as from God. Everything else can be forgiven when a person repents and trusts Christ. Anyone who fears they have done it should read the unforgivable sin.
What sins will keep you out of heaven?
Scripture says unrepentant wrongdoing shuts people out, and that the root is rejecting Christ. Paul lists many sins in 1 Corinthians 6 and then reminds the church that some of them used to live that way, because they had been washed and justified. The question is whether you have turned to the Saviour.
What does Romans 12:17 say?
It says not to repay anyone evil for evil and to be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. It is not a ranking of sins but a call to answer wrong with good, which reflects how God treated us.
Is saying "Oh my god" blasphemy?
It is not the unforgivable sin. Using God's name carelessly breaks the spirit of the third commandment, though, and I would encourage honouring his name. I look at it fully in Is Saying Oh My God A Sin?
