If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1 John was written by the apostle John to encourage early Christians and address false teaching spreading through the early church. In this verse, John urges believers to pray for a fellow Christian — called a 'brother' — caught in sin, promising that God will restore that person's life. However, John draws a sharp and mysterious distinction: there are sins that do not lead to death, and there is 'a sin that leads to death' — for which he does not direct the same intercessory prayer. Most scholars believe John is referring to a deliberate, final rejection of Jesus Christ — a willful turning away from faith entirely — rather than ordinary moral failure. The instruction is both practical and uncomfortable: pray for one another, but recognize that not all spiritual situations are identical.
Lord, when someone I love is caught in sin, remind me that my first move should be toward you, not toward others. Give me the humility to intercede rather than judge, and the trust to leave in your hands what I cannot fix. Amen.
There is something unsettling about this verse. It does not resolve cleanly. Pray for your brother — yes, but also, there is a sin you might not even pray about in the same way? John does not elaborate, and that tension is intentional honesty. Most of us have watched someone we love spiral — into addiction, into bitterness, into a cold hardening against everything they once believed. We have prayed and wondered if anything was happening. John's instruction here is deceptively simple: when you see someone stumble, pray. Not gossip. Not fix. Pray. Think about your actual instinct when someone close to you sins in a visible way. Is your first move toward God on their behalf, or toward other people to process what happened? There is something quietly radical about interceding for someone else's sin — it means you have to carry their mess before God rather than just discuss it. The next time someone you know falls, let prayer be your first response, not your last resort. Not advice. Not distance. Not a group text. Prayer.
What do you think John means by 'a sin that leads to death'? What does that suggest about the seriousness of some spiritual choices?
When someone you care about is caught in repeated sin, what is your instinct — to pray, to speak up, to pull back? Where does that instinct come from?
John mentions a sin he does not direct intercessory prayer toward, without explaining it further. Does sitting with that unresolved tension trouble you, and what does your reaction reveal about how you approach mystery in faith?
How does knowing that someone may be interceding for you in your own failures change how you feel about being in community with other believers?
Is there someone in your life right now whose sin you have been talking about more than praying about? What would it look like to change that this week?
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:31
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:19
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Hebrews 6:4
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
John 16:23
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:6
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:15
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:26
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he will pray and ask [on the believer's behalf] and God will for him give life to those whose sin is not leading to death. There is a sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for this [kind of sin].
AMP
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life — to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
ESV
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not [leading] to death, he shall ask and [God] will for him give life to those who commit sin not [leading] to death. There is a sin [leading] to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
NASB
If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.
NIV
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.
NKJV
If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
NLT
For instance, if we see a Christian believer sinning (clearly I'm not talking about those who make a practice of sin in a way that is "fatal," leading to eternal death), we ask for God's help and he gladly gives it, gives life to the sinner whose sin is not fatal. There is such a thing as a fatal sin, and I'm not urging you to pray about that.
MSG