Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Proofs
- Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. (Ezekiel 8:6, 13, 15; 1 John 5:16; Psalm 78:17, 32, 56)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Are all our sins known to God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They are before his face, (Hosea 7:2)
And are all sins heinous in the sight of God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They provoke him to anger, (Deuteronomy 9:18)
But are they all equally so?
Answer: No.
Proof: Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations, (Ezekiel 8:15)
And will the punishment of sin be proportioned to the aggravations of it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: These shall receive greater damnation, (Mark 12:40)
Section 2
Do sins receive their aggravations from the persons offending?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: My people is risen up as an enemy, (Micah 2:8)
Are the sins of old persons more heinous than those of others?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: See what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, (Ezekiel 8:12)
And of ministers?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Both the prophet and the priest are profane, (Jeremiah 23:11)
And of magistrates?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He shall give Israel up because of Jeroboam who did sin, (1 Kings 14:16)
And of eminent professors?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Of whom is Hymenius and Alexander, (1 Timothy 1:20)
Section 3
Do sins also receive their aggravations from the persons offended?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Against whom do ye sport yourselves, (Isaiah 57:4)
Are those sins peculiarly aggravated which are immediately committed against God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: If a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? (1 Samuel 2:25)
And against Christ?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: When the husbandmen saw the Son, they said among themselves this is the heir, come let us kill him, (Matthew 21:38)
And against the person of the Holy Ghost?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men, (Matthew 12:31)
And against superiors?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:8)
And against whole bodies and communities?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: And Joshua said, why hast thou troubled us, the Lord shall trouble thee this day, (Joshua 7:25)
And against the souls of men?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: To slay the soul that should not die, and to save the soul alive that should not live, (Ezekiel 13:19)
Section 4
Doth presumption aggravate sin?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The soul that do thought presumptuously reproacheth the Lord, (Numbers 15:30)
And knowledge?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin, (James 4:17)
And reproof?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall be suddenly destroyed, (Proverbs 29:1)
And perseverance in sin?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He went on frowardly in the way of his heart, (Isaiah 57:17)
Section 5
Are sins against the light of nature aggravated sins?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: There is such fornications among you as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, (1 Corinthians 5:1)
And deliberate sins?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He deviseth mischief upon his bed, (Psalm 36:4)
And public sins?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel, (2 Samuel 16:22)
Are sins against mercies greatly aggravated?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thus Solomon turned from the Lord who had appeared unto him twice, (1 Kings 11:9)
And sins against judgments?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For all this they sinned still, (Psalm 78:32)
And sins against express commands?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: We have forsaken thy commandments which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, (Ezra 9:10–11)
And sins against our own covenants and engagements?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou saidst, I will not transgress, (Jeremiah 2:20)
Section 6
Is it an aggravation of sin to commit it without shame?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Were they ashamed? nay, they were not at all ashamed, (Jeremiah 6:15)
And with delight?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Their soul delighteth in their abominations, (Isaiah 66:3)
And to boast of it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Whose glory is in their shame, (Philippians 3:19)
May the place also be an aggravation of sin?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, (Isaiah 26:10)
And the time?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Is it a time to receive money and garments and olive-yards and vineyards? (2 Kings 5:26)
Practical response
Should we take notice of the aggravations of sin in our confessions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Aaron shall confess the iniquity of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, (Leviticus 16:21)
But though aggravated may we hope that it will be pardoned?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities: I, even I, am he that blotted out thy transgressions for mine own sake, (Isaiah 43:24–25)