Sin / Missing the mark

What did Jesus mean

We all make mistakes. We must aim better.

Where did Jesus say this

John 8:34 — “Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin.”

Words Behind the Words

1. Sin in Greek is hamartia, which translates to “missing the mark, fall short, fail to hit.” Sin in Hebrew is chata’, which also translates to “miss the mark, fall short, or to go wrong.” In other words (and in both languages), sin is not a permanent state of existing that demands harsh judgment by Jesus or God. It’s a mistake.

2. “Committeth sin” in Greek is ho poiōn tēn hamartian.

• Ho translates to “the” in English (masculine form).
• Poiōn translates to “doing, practicing,” and it is in the present tense form, which implies that it’s an ongoing action (you keep doing it).
• Tēn in Greek also translates to “the” in English (feminine form).

Translation: Whoever continues missing the mark, is a slave of missing the mark.

But that’s a bit choppy, right? So this might sound better:

“When you repeatedly miss a mark, you become a slave to that pattern.”

Consider it a form of self-sabotage.

3. We can’t talk about sin without talking about forgiveness, and the Greek word behind forgiveness is aphiēmi, which means to “let go, release.” Applied to sinning (making mistakes), it just means that you are released from that mistake. It is not held against you.

Matthew 6:14 — “For and if ye shall forgive other men their trespasses, your father in heaven shall also forgive you.”

Trespasses in Greek is paraptōma, which means to “stumble off the path.”

Translation: “If you release others when they stumble off the path, God will also release you.”

The system itself is about releasing: When you release others, you, too, are released (by yourself and by God). You can’t have one without the other. You are either the jailer or the jailed.

What Jesus did not mean

Jesus did not mean the following:

1. God is keeping a ledger of all your sins.

God only wants to know if you pick that arrow back up and aim it at something else. If you choose not to, that’s between you and yourself.

2. It is forbidden to sin.

Remember, Jesus even says, “Let him that is among you without sin, cast the first stone at her.” He knows no one is perfect and doesn’t expect a sinless person.

3. It is a crime to sin.

Jesus regularly releases people of sin. He even releases the criminal dying next to him on the cross.

4. Sin is only about sex.

Sin can expand to include sex. But it depends on where your heart is aiming. For example, if you are aiming at something like lust, that is poor aim and you will miss. You need to repent (turn the other way) and release yourself from that pattern. If you don’t, you will continue to miss and remain tethered to the kosmos.

5. Sinning is inherently bad and God will abandon you because of it.

Everyone sins (makes mistakes). Again, God just wants to know where you aim when you pick that arrow back up.

Where to start

Pick the arrow back up. Ask Jesus where to aim it. Start shooting.

Benefits

Jesus said, “Many sins are forgiven her, because she loved much.”

He’s not saying that she is released of her mistakes BECAUSE she loved Jesus. He’s saying she loves so much BECAUSE she has been released of her mistakes.

Her sin was weighing her heart down. Jesus helped her remove that weight.

Her love comes from gratitude and peace.

You, too, can feel that same love.