Defining sin is crucial in understanding religious and moral frameworks. In essence, sin is fundamentally understood as the transgression of divine law. As highlighted in 1 John 3:4, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” This scripture emphasizes that sin is not merely an abstract concept but a concrete violation of established laws. Without a law to contravene, the concept of sin would not exist, as Romans 4:15 points out: “For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.” This implies that accountability for sin arises from the existence of divine commandments.
A common area of inquiry revolves around whether thoughts and opinions, such as disliking someone’s appearance or holding a negative view of an individual, constitute sin. To address this, it’s essential to identify which specific law, if any, is being violated by such thoughts. Subjective feelings or personal beliefs alone are not sufficient grounds to categorize a thought as sinful without a corresponding legal breach.
It’s possible that the concern about negative thoughts being sinful stems from the biblical concept of the “evil eye,” mentioned in Mark 7:20-23 among lists of sins. The “evil eye” does not literally refer to malevolent staring but symbolizes envy. It describes the disposition of someone who covets what others possess, believing they are entitled to those possessions instead. Proverbs 28:22 illustrates this point: “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” This verse depicts an individual obsessed with acquiring wealth, driven by envy and a desire to outdo others, rather than by genuine need. This behavior can lead to financial and even societal instability, as exemplified by historical events like the economic pressures faced by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, partly due to its attempts to compete technologically with the United States out of envy.
The Bible explicitly forbids harboring ill-will or grudges towards others. Leviticus 19:18 in the Old Testament commands, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” This principle is reiterated in the New Testament in Romans 13:10: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” These scriptures emphasize that love for one’s neighbor is paramount and incompatible with holding vengeful or resentful thoughts.
However, this does not preclude the possibility of hating evil actions. David expresses such sentiments in Psalm 139:20-22 regarding the wicked: “For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.” This demonstrates a hatred for wickedness and actions contrary to God’s will, distinct from hating individuals. Instead of reciprocating evil, the scriptures advocate for responding with kindness, as Romans 12:17-21 advises: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Jokes introduce another dimension to the discussion of sin, as they involve verbal action. While humor itself is not inherently sinful, jokes can become problematic when they cause harm. Proverbs 26:18-19 equates deceitful and harmful joking to the actions of a madman: “Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, ‘I was only joking!’” Such “jokes” can inflict emotional pain, even if masked by laughter or dismissed as harmless jest. Causing hurt to another, even in jest, contradicts the principle of loving one’s neighbor. Romans 15:2 encourages, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification,” and Ephesians 4:29 advises, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” These verses underscore the importance of using words constructively and kindly, ensuring they uplift rather than harm.
In conclusion, sin is biblically defined as lawlessness, a breach of God’s commandments. While thoughts themselves are not automatically sinful, they can become so if they violate specific laws, such as those against envy or hatred. Actions, including words spoken in jest, can also be sinful if they cause harm or fail to edify. The overarching principle is love for one’s neighbor, which guides believers away from sin and towards fulfilling the divine law.
