If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1 John 5:16
Many have been asked about this verse. Usually, the question is asked from a very personal perspective: “Have I committed this kind of sin?”
This reference does not seem to apply to the famous “unforgivable sin” since that sin is the final rejection of God’s truth.
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
In the context of today’s text, John is clearly writing and warning believers that it is possible to commit a sin that is worthy of physical death–a sin so obvious to others that the brethren are not told to not pray for its penalty not to be carried out.
There are a few such examples in the Scripture.
- The sons of Eli dishonoring the priesthood (1 Samuel 2)
- Korah’s rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16)
- Ananias and Sapphira lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5)
- An incestuous church member delivered over to Satan for his destruction (1 Corinthians 5)
All sin produces “death”, and all of us will die because of sin (Genesis 3:19; Hebrews 9:27).
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
But this deadly sin brings about the premature “death” of a believer when he or she consciously refuses to follow righteousness and instead chooses open ungodliness. May it never be so among us.
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