Is the Sin of Omission Really That Serious?
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Quick, think of a sin. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are high that your mind naturally goes to one of the sins listed in the Ten Commandments, such as stealing, killing, lying, or worship of a false idol.
Those kinds of sins — the sins we actively do that violate God’s commands — are called sins of commission. “Commission” is closely related to the word “commit,” meaning to perpetuate or carry into action, often intentionally. A person might commit murder or adultery, for example.
But perhaps you’ve heard of the sin of omission and been confused. Is that the same thing? What is the sin of omission?
Simply put, the sin of omission is failure to do the right or godly thing, behaving in a way that is against what the Lord has commanded. For example, we’re commanded to care for others in need, so a sin of omission might look like ignoring someone in need of mercy or care.
What Does Omission Really Mean?
Omission means to exclude, leave out, or fail to do, such as something left undone or neglected. Think of the word omit; you might omit someone’s name from a list, or you might omit telling your boss you made a critical and costly mistake.
When you commit a sin of omission, you are neglecting or failing to do the right thing.
Everyday Examples of the Sin of Omission
The easiest way to think about sins of omission is to think about what God wants us to do, then simply not doing it. For example, consider the commands Jesus gave his disciples, and then consider the opposite.
So in Matthew 4:17, Jesus said “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” A sin of omission is not repenting.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” A sin of omission is avoiding the burden of their cross, whether out of fear or simply because they do not wish to.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said to “go and make disciples of all nations.” A sin of omission would be not sharing the Gospel with a neighbor or coworker.
Other examples include not standing up for what is good, right, or godly; not speaking up when someone is being bullied or ridiculed; not praying; and not forgiving someone.
Is a Sin of Omission as Bad as a Sin of Commission?
All sins are evil. Anything that goes against God’s will is a sin. Romans 6:23 tells us “the wages of sin is death,” while James 2:10 says that, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” So yes, all sin is bad.
It’s not a great idea to weigh sins against each other, believing one is “worse” or somehow “better” than another. All sin is evil in the eyes of the Lord, and all sin separates us from God if not for the saving grace in Jesus.
Suffice it to understand that bullying someone isn’t the exact same thing as standing by silently and turning your head while someone is bullied nearby, but both are wrong.
What Does the Bible Say about the Sin of Omission?
James 4:7 is perhaps the clearest statement about the sin of omission in Scripture: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
The apostle Paul writes about the struggle in Romans 7:18-19, lamenting, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
And in 1 John 3:17-18, the apostle John reflects, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Indeed, if Jesus told us to love others, but we see someone in need and don’t care for them in Christian love, then that’s wrong.
What Are Some Examples in Scripture of the Sin of Omission?
The Bible has a number of examples of the sin of omission. In the Old Testament, for instance, we know King David spotted the beautiful Bathsheba while she was bathing, then invited this married woman to his home and committed adultery with her (2 Samuel 11). Now, obviously his lustful acts were a sin of commission — something he did directly, later on leading to further sins of commission, including murdering Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.
But first, the Bible tells us something we might miss on first read: David’s sin of omission. See, we’re told in the beginning of the chapter that David stayed home in Jerusalem during the spring, which was “the time when kings go off to war” (v. 1). Yet he sent his men to fight without him. David knew he was supposed to go off to war, but he avoided his leadership responsibilities, which was a sin of omission. Here, we can see how sin can be a slippery slope, with one leading to another. In this case, the sin of omission led to a great number of sins of commission.
Another excellent example is found in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, from Luke 10:25-37. This story, told by Jesus after he’s asked who is our neighbor, details how a man was savagely attacked and left for dead while traveling. A number of people – good people – saw the wounded, half-dead man on the roadside. These were the sort of people who should have stopped to care for him, such as a priest and a Levite. Yet they didn’t stop. They kept walking. Indeed, they crossed to the other side of the road and kept a sizeable distance between them and the injured man. Yet the one we didn’t expect, the Samaritan (traditionally considered to be an enemy of the Jews), is the one who stopped and helped the man.
In this case, the priest and the Levite clearly did the wrong thing. They clearly committed a sin of omission.
Another example is when Jesus talked in Matthew 5:14-16 about how people don’t light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they set it on a lampstand so it provides light to all in the house. As Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Not letting that light shine — hiding the light — is clearly a sin of omission.
How Can We Avoid Committing a Sin of Omission?
The best way to not commit a sin of omission is to focus on staying active in the Lord. Read the Bible and pay attention to God’s commands. Pray. Then intentionally focus on whatever it is you can do to obey God.
Typically, we know in our hearts when we’re doing the right thing or the wrong thing. We’re told we’re supposed to honor our parents. Therefore, when we don’t behave in a way that honors and cares for them, showing them proper respect, we’re not following God’s will.
So set your heart on doing God’s will every moment of every day. We all fall short, and no one is perfect. But those who actively strive to obey God are walking in the right direction.
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