As the saying goes, we all have our faults. But which actions or deeds are truly unforgivable? AdmiGram.com shares an ancient parable that gets at the heart of this question.
A Parable About the Most Unforgivable Sin
Once, two highly respected men watched a longtime friend go to great lengths to plan, then commit, an unforgivable offense. Talking it over afterward, they gradually arrived at a bigger question: what, exactly, is the most unacceptable thing a person can do?
As the debate went on, other respected people joined in, each with their own opinion on the most dreadful and unforgivable transgression in human life. Eventually, the most passionate truth-seekers among them decided to bring their dispute to the wisest elder they knew, hoping to settle it once and for all.
On their long and arduous journey, they were joined by others equally determined to find an answer to this pressing question. Along the way, they crossed paths with plenty of sinners — drunkards, thieves, shameless liars — so there was no shortage of material for debate.
Around the fire each evening, the travelers argued over which of the deeds they’d witnessed was the most dreadful and unforgivable. Some were certain it was hypocrisy or false testimony. Others insisted it was slander and envy. Still others argued for deceit, or raising a hand against one’s neighbor…
At last, the whole crowd of truth-seekers stood before the wise man. They wanted one answer to the question of what was truly unforgivable. For several days, they took turns describing to him the most despicable acts they had witnessed.
When the last of them fell silent, the travelers turned to the sage for his judgment.
“Oh wisest one,” they said, “tell us — who among all these unworthy souls committed the gravest sin?”
The sage paused, sighed heavily, and answered:
“All of you who came to me.”
“What? How? Why?” The bewildered travelers stared at him in confusion. “But we didn’t do anything! How does this involve us?”
“Precisely because you did nothing. There were so many of you. You all understood exactly what was happening — and yet none of you found the wisdom, the courage, or even the will to put a stop to it.”
Leaning on his staff, the sage walked away, leaving the stunned “righteous” behind him.
