Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse V · §26 · John Wesley

There is no little sin

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One of these least, or one of the least of these commandments. Here is another excuse cut off, by which many who cannot deceive God miserably deceive their own souls. This sin, says the sinner, is it not a little one? Will the Lord not spare me in this thing? Surely he will not be extreme to mark this, since I do not offend in the greater matters of the law. Vain hope. Speaking after the manner of men, we may call these great and those little commandments. But in reality they are not so. If we use words properly, there is no such thing as a little sin, every sin being a transgression of the holy and perfect law and an affront to the great Majesty of heaven.

1771 text

One of these least, or one of the least of these commandments.―― Here is another excuse cut off, whereby many, who cannot deceive God, miserably deceive their own souls. “This sin, saith the sinner, is it not a little one? Will not the Lord spare me in this thing? Surely he will not be extreme to mark this, since I do not offend in the greater matters of the law.” Vain hope! Speaking after the manner of men, we may term these great and those little commandments. But in reality, they are not so. If we use propriety of speech, there is no such thing as a little sin: every sin being a transgression of the holy and perfect law, and an affront of the great Majesty of heaven.

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About this text

The fifth sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 5:17-20: Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it, and the righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees'.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 25 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:17-20.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

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