Last updated: 2026-05-01
Is Wishing Someone Dead a Sin?
Quick Answer
Yes, wishing someone dead is considered sin in Christianity.
Author: IsItASin Editorial Team · Last updated:
Yes, wishing someone dead is considered sin in Christianity. Matthew 5:21-22 — "Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment." This is a sin matter in Christianity with clear guidance for believers.
What Christianity Teaches About Wishing Someone Dead
Christianity considers Wishing Someone Dead to be a sin — a subject of guidance in the biblical tradition.
Wondering what other faiths teach?
Christian Denominations: How They Differ on Wishing Someone Dead
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church teaches that deliberate hatred is a grave sin. The Catechism states that hatred of neighbor is a sin when one deliberately wishes them evil. Intrusive thoughts are not sinful if not entertained.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2302-2303
Protestant Churches
Protestant Christianity universally condemns hatred and wishing harm. The Sermon on the Mount raises the bar from external murder to internal hatred. Many Protestants distinguish between fleeting intrusive thoughts (not sin) and nurtured hatred (sin).
Holy Bible (Protestant canon)
Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodoxy classifies hatred and anger as passions to be overcome. Wishing someone dead reveals a heart enslaved to the passion of anger. The Orthodox path is to pray for the person, which transforms the heart over time.
Orthodox ascetic tradition
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Biblical References
- Matthew 5:21-22 — "Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment."
- 1 John 3:15 — "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
- Matthew 5:44 — "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
- Ephesians 4:31 — "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you."
Key Teachings
| Teaching | Scripture Reference | Practical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. | Matthew 5:21-22 | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
| Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. | 1 John 3:15 | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
| Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. | Matthew 5:44 | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
| Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you. | Ephesians 4:31 | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
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All 3 major faith traditions examined here — Christianity, Islam, Judaism — consider Wishing Someone Dead sinful, each arriving at this position through independent scriptural and theological analysis. This kind of cross-traditional consensus on a moral question is notable and suggests that Wishing Someone Dead touches on a principle shared across the Abrahamic tradition.
From the Christianity perspective, this question is primarily addressed through 3 key biblical passages: Matthew 5:21-22, 1 John 3:15, and Matthew 5:44. These texts have been studied and debated by scholars across centuries, with interpretations shaped by denominational traditions, historical context, and the evolution of moral philosophy within each faith community.
In the broader historical context, debates around Wishing Someone Dead have evolved as societies have modernized. What was once addressed primarily through local religious authority has become a question examined in light of globalized communication, shifting cultural norms, and the individual's relationship to institutional religion. In Christianity, Wishing Someone Dead is classified as sin, which carries specific implications for how believers are counselled and how the topic is treated in religious education and community life. Contemporary scholars in Christianity continue to engage with this question, balancing fidelity to biblical sources with the lived realities of modern believers.
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IsItASin.org provides informational summaries of religious teachings from multiple faith traditions. This is not religious counsel, spiritual direction, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified religious leader in your community. Scriptural interpretations vary by denomination and individual congregation. If you are experiencing moral distress or spiritual crisis, we encourage you to speak with a trusted faith leader, counselor, or chaplain.