The Death-Dealing Catalogue of Sin: The Sins of Those God Abandoned in Romans 1:28

Romans 1:29-31 (NLT)

²⁹ Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. ³⁰ They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. ³¹ They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

We studied Romans 1:28 (NLT) ²⁸ Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

Verses 29 to 31 list “things that should never be done,” many of which, according to the Law of Moses, deserve the death penalty (Romans 1:32a).

The Law’s Witness to the Sins in Romans 1:29–31

In Genesis 6:5–7, we read that the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and as a result, He judged the whole world through the Flood. This shows how every kind of wickedness brings death to all flesh.

In Genesis 2:17 and 3:19, when Adam and Eve disobeyed, God declared that sin leads to death — both spiritual and physical — showing that sin itself carries the penalty of death.

In Joshua 7:1, 20–25, Achan’s greed and covetousness led him to take forbidden treasure, and he and his family were stoned to death, showing that greed can bring divine judgment.

According to Numbers 35:20–21, if a person kills another out of hatred, he must be put to death, for hatred that leads to violence brings the penalty of death.

In Genesis 37:11, 26–28, Joseph’s brothers, moved by envy, sold him into slavery. Their guilty consciences later recognized divine punishment, showing that envy leads to sin deserving judgment.

In Exodus 21:12, murder clearly brings the death penalty: “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.”

In Numbers 16:1–35, the rebellion of Korah and his followers showed how quarreling and strife against God’s chosen servant can result in sudden death when the earth opened and swallowed them alive.

In Deuteronomy 19:18–19, deception and false witness were punished with the same penalty the liar intended for the innocent — often death — showing how serious deceit was in God’s law.

In Leviticus 24:17–20, the principle of “eye for eye, life for life” shows that malicious injury or intent to harm others results in equal punishment, even death.

In Numbers 12:1–10, when Miriam and Aaron gossiped against Moses, God struck Miriam with leprosy, showing divine punishment for gossip and slander.

In Numbers 16:1–35, again we see that backstabbers and betrayers of God’s authority faced death by God’s direct judgment when Korah’s company rebelled.

According to Deuteronomy 7:9–10, God “repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them,” showing that haters of God face destruction as their penalty.

In Leviticus 24:16, whoever blasphemes or speaks arrogantly against God’s name must surely be put to death, revealing the fatal consequence of insolence toward the Holy One.

Deuteronomy 8:14, 19–20 warns that when a person’s heart becomes proud and forgets the Lord, that person “shall surely perish,” showing that pride leads to death and destruction.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 8:17–19, those who boast in their own strength instead of giving glory to God will perish, for self-exaltation brings death.

In Genesis 11:4–9, the people of Babel invented new ways of sinning by building a tower to reach heaven, and though not killed, they were scattered by God’s judgment, showing that rebellion invites divine intervention.

In Deuteronomy 21:18–21, a son who disobeys his parents stubbornly and refuses correction must be stoned to death, for rebellion against parents is rebellion against God.

Deuteronomy 29:4, 18–21 describes those who refuse to understand and turn to idols as people who will face death and exclusion from God’s covenant.

Numbers 30:2 and Deuteronomy 23:21–23 teach that anyone who breaks promises or vows made to God commits sin and faces divine judgment, even if not immediate death.

In Deuteronomy 15:7–9, God warns against hardness of heart toward the poor, promising His curse on those who are heartless and refuse to help.

Finally, in Exodus 22:21–24, the Lord declares that if His people show no mercy and oppress widows or orphans, His anger will burn and He will kill them with the sword, showing that mercilessness brings death under divine wrath.

The above explanations are summarized in the table below.

Romans 1:29–31 and Penalties in the Law of Moses