Blasphemy Of The Holy Spirit
Our God is a forgiving God! (Psalms 86:5) “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.”
(Psalms 32:1) “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!”
(Psalms 103:3) “Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;”
(Daniel 9:9) “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;”
(Colossians 1:14) “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” God will forgive any sin, no matter how terrible that sin might be
(Matthew 12:31). Yet, later in the same verse Jesus said that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. This statement has been often misunderstood, especially when taken out of its context.
The Healing (Mt 12:22); There was the sick man, he was demon possessed, blind and dumb. His problems were totally beyond the help of men. Jesus healed the sick man. Jesus cast out the demon, restored his sight and opened his vocal cords. Jesus made the man perfectly well. The Jews knew that the O.T. prophets predicted that the Messiah would do such miracles (Isaiah 29:18).
There was the reaction (Mt 12:23) All the people were amazed. The word “amazed” means to throw into wonderment; to be astounded. These people saw with their own eyes, sick people whom they had known for years completely cured by the spoken words of Jesus. Demon possessed people who had terrified the community with their evil power were now calm and in their right minds. They were surprised, by the miracles Jesus did. This was a common response to Jesus’ miracles (Mark 2:12; 5:42; 6:51). They concluded that Jesus must be the Messiah. The words “son of David” is a phrase that refers to the Messiah. Jesus did those miracles to authenticate His ministry and to convince that He was truly the Messiah. It is written in (Matthew12:24) “But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, this man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
When the Pharisees heard the reaction, they resisted. They hardened their hearts against Jesus. They hated to hear the people claim that Jesus must be the Messiah. They accused Jesus of using Satan’s power in an attempt to turn the people against Jesus, they accused and claimed that Jesus was getting his power to cast out demons and to heal from Satan. They claimed Jesus was a fraud. Everyone knew that no mere human could do these miracles, so the power either came from God or from Satan.
Then the response (Mt 12:25-30); Jesus showed them their false reasoning (v.25-27). First, He not only heard their words, but knew their thoughts. He knew their motives were to poison the thinking of the people. Jesus reminded them that internal disunity will destroy any kingdom, city, or house.
Jesus said that if he were empowered by Satan to cast out demons that would be working against Satan. You cannot work against yourself and benefit at the same time. Since they accused Jesus of being empowered by Satan, He then asked who empowered their children who attempted to cast out demons. Jesus gave them sound reasoning (v.28-30). If Jesus did cast out demons by the power of God, then that is proof that He was setting up the kingdom of God. He spoke of the kingdom where He would rule as King in their hearts. He illustrated that no one could take over a strong man’s house without first binding the strong man. This was the reason Jesus was defeating the demonic power. Jesus came to earth to die on the cross and defeat Satan. Though Satan is still active, since the cross and resurrection he is limited, and his doom is sealed. Jesus made it clear that every being has only two options. He may submit to Christ’s leadership, or he can rebel against it. All who are not with Christ are against Him. There is no other option.
Then the condemnation (Mt 12:31-32); “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come”. David was forgiven for adultery and murder. Jonah was forgiven for rebellion against God. Peter was forgiven for cursing, blaspheming God and denying Christ. Paul (Saul) was forgiven for the persecution and murder of many Christians. Any repentant unbeliever may be saved by faith in Christ’s atonement. Paul said, (1Timothy 1:15) “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” Forgiveness is available to every Christian who will confess his sin. (1John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus made it clear that the blasphemy of the Spirit was something different.
Jesus condemned those who blaspheme the Spirit. The Pharisees had seen the power of the Holy Spirit working through Jesus, but they refused to except it and attributed it to Satan. They cut themselves off from the mercy and grace of God. Their blasphemy of the Spirit was the willful permanent refusal to believe the clear facts about Christ. Perhaps, only those who saw Jesus’ miracles could blaspheme the Spirit, but it seems to also apply to all willful, knowing rejection of the Spirit’s conviction that Jesus is our only hope of salvation.
The unpardonable sin is to have a clear knowledge of the way of forgiveness but to deliberately reject it. When the Holy Spirit convicts a person of sin and he clearly sees the evidence that Jesus is the Christ the Savior of the world and he willfully turns from it and permanently refuses to believe, that is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Knowingly rejecting the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of Christ dooms that soul to hell. To Knowingly reject Him is to seal your doom forever.