Temptation and Sin

[anthonylicalsi]

Hi Everyone,

What is the difference between Temptation and Sin?

Is it a sin to be tempted?
Is it a sin to think about commiting a sin?

I do not remember where in the bible it says this (please help me also to find this quote), but Jesus said that if one lusts in his heart then he has already commited a sin (of adultary).

So then isn’t it true that if we think about commiting the sin without actually physically doing it then is it still a sin?.

If it applies to lust and adultary then would it apply to all kinds of sins?

Would a moral sin of the heart be considered only a venial sin since the act has never physically taken place?

I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on this.

Thanks.

Anthony

 

[catholicmessage]

Hi Everyone,

What is the difference between Temptation and Sin?

Is it a sin to be tempted?
Is it a sin to think about commiting a sin?

I do not remember where in the bible it says this (please help me also to find this quote), but Jesus said that if one lusts in his heart then he has already commited a sin (of adultary).

So then isn’t it true that if we think about commiting the sin without actually physically doing it then is it still a sin?.

If it applies to lust and adultary then would it apply to all kinds of sins?

Would a moral sin of the heart be considered only a venial sin since the act has never physically taken place?

I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on this.

Thanks.

Anthony

Temptation is distinct from dwelling on sin. If an impure thought pops into your head and you do your best to stop thinking about it, then you are not sinning. Temptation is not sinful, because as we know, Jesus Himself was tempted in the desert.

To purposely allow an impure thought to linger in our mind is a sin. The gravity of the sin (whether it is mortal or venial) depends on the thought itself, and other factors, such as our level of consciousness. If we are asleep, we do not have control over our thoughts (usually). Our mind can become disposed to impure thoughts if we continually think them. We should always work to keep our minds clean so that we are pure.

There are types of sins that can be strictly committed in our minds, such as envy, greed, covetousness etc. Sinful thoughts are not limited to lust.

Sins we commit though our thoughts can definitely be considered mortal. The three conditions for mortal sin can be applied to this situation as follows:

1. Grave matter - Is this thought sufficiently impure/evil?
2. Free Will - Do we intentionally cause this impure thought or do we intentionally allow it to linger in our mind?
3. Full knowledge - Do we know that the thought is impure/evil?

When these three conditions are met, the thought constitutes a mortal sin.