God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation as well as in that of finite man. But however trifling this or that wrong in their course may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. The sins which man is disposed to look upon as small may be the very ones which God accounts as great crimes. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven, while pride, selfishness, and covetousness go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God. He “resisteth the proud,” and Paul tells us that covetousness is idolatry. Those who are familiar with the denunciations against idolatry in the word of God will at once see how grave an offense this sin is. {5T 337.2}

[Gud betragter ikke alle synder som værende lige store; han regner med forskellige grader af skyld, ligesom dødelige mennesker gør. Men hvor ubetydelig denne eller hin fejl kan synes at være i menneskers øjne, er ingen synd ringe i Guds øjne. De synder, menneskene er tilbøjelige til at anse som små, er måske netop dem, Gud regner som store forbrydelser. Drankeren bliver foragtet og får at vide, at hans synd vil udelukke ham fra himmelen, medens stolthed, egoisme og havesyge bliver ustraffet. Men disse synder er særlig anstødelige for Gud. Han »står de hovmodige imod« og Paulus siger til os, at havesyge er afgudsdyrkelse. De der har kendskab til Guds ords fordømmelse af afguderi, vil straks forstå, hvilken alvorlig overtrædelse denne synd er. Vejl f menigh bd. 2 side 214]