We come now to the words from which we derive the name of our little study — hamartiology, the study of sin, in which all of us have majored. Those words are hamartano and hamartia respectively. They are used so often in the New Testament that we will have to take our time in order to hit all the uses. Let’s start with Matthew.
In this book, hamartano is rendered twice as sin (18:21; 27:4), and once as trespass (18:15). Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone who sinned against him (Matt. 18:21). Up to seven times? Just a few verses earlier, the same word is translated as trespass — “if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault” (18:15). The other time Matthew uses hamartano for sin is when Judas confessed the guilt of what he has done. “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (27:4).
Matthew uses the word hamartia seven times,and the word is rendered as sin all seven times. Jesus was named Jesus because He was going to save His people from their sins (1:21). When the Israelites went out to be baptized by John the Baptist, they did so as they confessed their sins (3:6). When the paralyzed man was brought to Jesus, the Lord forgave his sins first (9:2). Then in discussing what He had done, He used the word twice again (9:5-6). Men will be forgiven all kinds of sins, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (12:31). And last, when we drink the blood of the new testament, we do so because it was shed for many for the remission of our sins (26:28).
This last reference makes it clear that the new covenant is all about dealing with our sin. Those who reject the idea of sin (as all relativists do) are showing their antipathy for the good news that God has given to us.