Ranking Sins. Rank each sin, from 0=not a sin -to- 5=the worst sin possible.

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1 Ranking Sins Rank each sin, from 0=not a sin -to- 5=the worst sin possible. There is usually no right or wrong answer, and some things are a little ambiguous, and are hard to classify as a sin or not a sin without more information. Interpret the questions as you want to, but lean towards the action being described as being sinful. When you rank the sins, this is all hypothetical. You are not confessing that you have done this sin, only what rank this sin would be if any person did it. Just as in most aspects of our life, we must be able to prioritize. We must do everything we can to avoid the worst sins. Most people confess little sins, or even just problems in their life first, and some never get to the real substantial sins in their life, either because they do not know them, are ashamed of them, or have never thought much about their sins. Don t make these mistakes! The sorted list of sins starts with the worst sins for the reasons outlines, above. These possible sins are meant to make you think, and are a springboard for discussion. The table of sins could also be used to prepare for confession. You can sort it however you want, adding or subtracting things that may be issues in your life. See the Word or rtf Document links to download this file to work on it on a computer, or print whichever version of the file you prefer. This document is at: Hint 1: There is only one sin, in my opinion, that is a 5! Hint 2: Evaluate everything you do, say, want to do, and think, based on the two Great Commandments. Hint 3: All sins violate the First Commandment. Some sins cannot be easily categorized as violating the 2nd commandment, or one of the Ten Commandments, but the Scripture, especially the New Testament, has much direction for how to live a God-pleasing life, and many commandments based on this life. After ranking each potential sin, try to categorize the sin as applying to: Greatest Commandment (GC), the Second Commandment which is like it (SC), or one of the Ten Commandments (1,2,3,4,etc), or not a sin (OK) GC: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength SC: Love your neighbor as yourself Ten Commandments: 1. Have no other Gods before Me. 2. Make no graven image (idol). 3. Do not take the Lord s name in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 5. Honor Thy Father and Mother. 6. Do not kill. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not commit false witness (lie). 10. Do not covet. Do not cheat yourself! Do your homework, and fill out the chart, then you can see a filled out chart, by adding -filled-out to the end of the filename for each type of file above. Priest Seraphim Holland seraphim@orthodox.net, St Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney TX. Page 1 of 10

2 Miscellaneous Scripture about virtues and sins. All scripture must be read SPIRITUALLY. There are a lot of lists of sins below. Try to look at these sins in a spiritual way. Consider the cause of each sin, or the spiritual condition of a person who commits them. Look also at the positive affirmations below they are the most important. Without living life in the heart, we are doomed to a life of sin. Sin is not do s and don ts as much as it is be s or not be s that is, sin is always about who you are, more than what you do. Since the Christian life is lived in the heart, all sin begins in the heart, and when it is external, expresses our inward condition. For instance, if we get angry and insult people easily, we do not have enough love, humility, or self-control in our heart. If we do not pray for others, especially our enemies and those we have conflicts with, we have very little love for God or our neighbor. If we allow things to get in the way of church, prayer, confession, and communion, we have bad priorities, and not enough love for God in our heart. Basically everything boils down to how much love for God is in our heart. Our inner condition dictates our outer condition. Some of the more important spiritual things, teaching us about our inner condition, are highlighted, below. All Spiritual Christians (there should actually be no need for the modifier, as all true Christians must live spiritually) reads the Scripture and finds commandments from God, both positive (what to do, how to think, how to be), and negative (what not to do, what not to think, what not to be) in almost all instructions. Let s start with the most well-known explicit commandments in the Bible, and then add in the New Testament amplification and clarification of these commandments. Some would say that the most important commandments are the ten, the two and the 9 the Ten commandments, the Two Greatest Commandments, and the Beatitudes. The latter are so important that we sing them in almost every liturgy. They are spiritual bar that you should be reaching for. They are definitely commandments. Sometimes the scripture quotations are long, and there is a reason for this. We are do not read scripture merely to know some verse, but the context and spirit of what is said. The scriptures below are a very incomplete survey. The commandments and salvific instructions about how to live a spiritual, overcoming, transcendent life are in both Testaments, Old and New, and on almost every page! Page 2 of 10

3 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Exo 20:2) 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exo 20:3) 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (Exo 20:4) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exo 20:5) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exo 20:6) 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exo 20:7) 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exo 20:8) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (Exo 20:9) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (Exo 20:10) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exo 20:11) 5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exo 20:12) 6. Thou shalt not kill. (Exo 20:13) 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exo 20:14) 8. Thou shalt not steal. (Exo 20:15) 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exo 20:16) 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (Exo 20:17) Page 3 of 10

4 THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT AND THE SECOND, WHICH IS LIKE IT Quoted by Jesus: Only in the 3 Synoptic Gospels. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, 1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, 2. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Mat 22:36-40) And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 1. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, 2. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. (Mar 12:28-34) And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thouand he answering said, 1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; 2. and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Luke 10:25-28) In the Old Testament: The original Greatest Commandment. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And 1. thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) The Original Second Great Commandment Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but 2. thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:11-18) Page 4 of 10

5 Commandments directly from our Lord Jesus Christ The NINE COMMANDMENTS OF THE BEATITUDES 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for zirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:3) 2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Mat 5:4) 3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Mat 5:5) 4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Mat 5:6) 5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Mat 5:7) 6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Mat 5:8) 7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Mat 5:9) 8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:10) 9. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (Mat 5:11) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Mat 5:16 An Amplification of the 6 th Commandment Thou shalt not kill: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Mat 5:21-22 An Amplification of the 7 th Commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: (28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Mat 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mat 5:43-48 The Golden Rule and about judging and forgiving: But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. (30) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. (31) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (32) For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. (33) And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. (34) And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. (35) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. (36) Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (37) Judge not, and ye Page 5 of 10

6 shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:27-38 Judging, The Golden rule, prayer: Judge not, that ye be not judged. (2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. (6) Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (9) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (12) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Mat 7:1-12 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? (17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. Mat 15:16-20 Page 6 of 10

7 Commandments from the Epistles Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (Jas 4:17) Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 1Thessalonians 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:16-32 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galations 5:19-26 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6 Page 7 of 10

8 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:2-15 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Jas 1:2-8 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:1-7) Page 8 of 10

9 Rank these sins from 0 not a sin to 5 the worst sin possible. Specify the Commandments broken: The FC, SC, one of the ten commandments. There are commandments that are not explicitly in these 12 commandments. Rank# Commandment(s) Possible Sin Talk to a trusted person about someone s problem or fault to find a way to help them Doing something bad that you have no control over. Smoking tobacco Your heart tells you something you are doing or thinking is not good, & you stop doing it. Hurt someone s feelings unintentionally Zone out during prayer at church or at home. Be impatient about things that happen in daily life. Come to confession, and have no idea what your sins are. Having doubts about the Orthodox Christian faith Weak faith Get drunk Pray without attention, or with your mind wandering Forgetting to pray for someone you know you should pray for. Get in an argument with somebody over something stupid Talking too much, esp. being very opinionated. Kill someone in battle, as a soldier Struggling to forgive someone Be attracted sexually to someone, and fight off thoughts about them, or look away Cuss, using the F word, or other dirty words. Get drunk Get high on pot or another drug Ambition about your career, or sport, etc, gets in the way of prayer, attending church, etc. Be afraid to make the sign of the cross in front of your friends Come to confession, and have no idea what your sins are. Complain about stuff. Never or rarely read the Bible Be lazy and not go to church on Sunday There are some sexual sins that are commonly done alone. Brag about something about yourself that is true Feel superior to someone b/c you are smarter, prettier, more popular or accomplished, etc Be jealous of a rich person, or a person that has something you want Be rude to your father or mother Disobey your father or mother Lie about doing something your parents asked you to do, but you did not do it Desire to have heterosexual sex, but refrain. Desire to have homosexual sex, but refrain. Desire/think about hurting someone in some way (physically, verbally, etc), but not do it Say bad things about a person (in a critical way), which are true or may be true Think about someone who has harmed you, and feel angry Think angry thoughts about someone Indulge in lustful thoughts about someone Look at pornography Send a sexually suggestive , message or text to someone. Page 9 of 10

10 Rank# Commandment(s) Possible Sin Tell Dirty jokes Watch a sexually suggestive movie Steal from a store Steal from a stranger Steal from your best friend Brag about something about yourself that is not true Not know the purpose of life. Your heart tells you something you are doing or thinking is not good, but you still do it. Never, rarely, or inconsistently pray Not know the purpose of life. Rarely or never pray for people you have conflicts with, don t like, or who have hurt you Rarely or never pray for people you know Be lazy and not go to church on Sunday for weeks or months. Rarely go to communion, when you could go if you tried Cuss, using God s name Hurt someone s feelings intentionally Call someone a fool or some insulting name, to his face, or when he is not around Counsel someone, or try to get them to have an abortion Harboring ill will towards someone. Have an abortion Judge a homeless person, drug addict, etc Make fun of or ridicule someone Murder someone Not being angry at someone, by putting them out of your mind. Plot for revenge Refusing to pray for someone Rape Lie about a person, telling somebody something bad about them that is not true Talk behind a friend s back about them Commit adultery Have homosexual sex Have sex while not married to someone you are in love with Have sex while not married to someone you do not love friends with benefits Have sex while not married to someone you hook up with. Wear clothing that makes you look very sexy Support a person in private, but when with others, stop supporting them Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit Refuse to repent from a sin over the course of a lifetime Page 10 of 10