What is the Greatest Sin  ? 

There is this false teaching that the greatest sin is pride, but that is not what the scriptures teach. 

Catholic doctrine teaches that there are seven capital , or chief sins. Let me quote from " THIS IS THE CATHOLIC FAITH " by Director: R.N. Mugford , Session11 page 3:

" Capital (Chief Sins)

" Seven in number. Not so much acts of sin, but leading tendencies toward sin. (a good self-examination list before confession). Each of these has its opposite virtue.

• Pride
• Lust
• Avarice (Greed)
• Anger
• Gluttony
• Envy
• Sloth "

So there you have it. Pride tops the list of the seven chief sins according to Catholic doctrine.

A lawyer once asked Christ a question, " Master what is the great commandment in the law ? "

Matthew 22:35 - 40 " Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, 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, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. "

Luke 10:25-28 " 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 thou? And he answering said, 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; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. "

Luke 14:25-27 (from the Living Bible) " Great crowds were following him. He turned around and addressed them as follows: Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife , children, brothers, or sisters - yes more than his own life - otherwise he cannot be my disciple. And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me. "

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 " Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. "

So what is the greatest sin ? It should be obvious. The greatest command is to love God with all our hearts, soul, strength and mind. Therefore the greatest sin is to break the greatest commandment.

The greatest sin is to love something, or someone more than you love God. The greatest sin is to put something or someone ahead of God and Christ in your life.