Blasphemey of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

Perhaps one of the most intriguing teachings in the life of Jesus is what He said about “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.” To what exactly does this refer? Why can no one receive forgiveness for this sin? Is it possible for a person to blaspheme the Holy Spirit today? In the last bulletin article, we began examining the incident recorded in Matthew 12:22-37 (also recorded in Mk. 3:22-30; Lk. 12:10). We studied the setting (Mt. 12:22-24), the sin (Mt. 12:24), and Jesus’ first reply to the Pharisees’ accusation (Mt. 12:25-28). This article is a continuation of this beneficial study.

Jesus' Second Reply: A Strong House Can Only Be Entered By One Stronger

After showing the ridiculousness of Satan casting out Satan, which is what casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub amounted to, Jesus said, “Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house” (Mt. 12:29, NKJ). Although Jesus’ metaphor may not be intended to be specific, one cannot help but to think of the “strong man” as Satan, who was prominent in previous verses (Mt. 12:26-27). Whatever the case, the point is the same: in order for one to take the precious possessions of strong man, the aggressor must be stronger. The strong man’s “house” would be a possession that he would guard with every fiber of his being. However, when one stronger “binds” the strong man, the once strong man’s possessions are plundered—a picture reminiscent of a tyrant overtaken! The lesson is clear: rather than Jesus being inferior to Satan, He proved Himself to be much stronger by casting out a demon who was truly empowered by Satan. The situation is reminiscent of Isaiah’s statement, “But thus says the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children” (Isa. 49:25).

Jesus' Third Reply: Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit Is A Most Serious Sin

Jesus began this response by noting that everyone is in one of two possible positions relative to Him. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Mt. 12:30). Every person is either for or against Jesus (cf. Mt. 6:24). The multitudes that saw the miracle were for Jesus (Mt. 12:23), but the Pharisees showed that they were against Jesus (Mt. 12:24).

The seriousness of the sin was revealed by Jesus, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men” (Mt. 12:31). The word “blasphemy” means to speak against, slander; language irreverent or hostile to God. The same Greek word is translated “evil speaking” (Eph. 4:31); “reviling [railing, KJV]” (1 Tim. 6:4), and “reviling accusation” (Jude 9). “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (i.e., against the manifest power of God cf. Mt. 12:28) was more serious than other forms of slander and abuse. “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” was a deliberate refusal to acknowledge God’s power, a “totally perverted orientation” (cf. Isa. 5:20).1 It indicated hardening against God and what is good, which was deliberate and irreversible. It resulted from a continual habit of rejecting the power of God so that whenever that power was manifest, it was “second nature” for one so disposed to blaspheme that power (cf. Mt. 9:3-4). This sin is not unforgiveable because God refuses to forgive, but because the person in such a state is unable to repent and come to God (cf. Rom. 8:5-8).

Jesus further stated, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mt. 12:32). Although other “blasphemes” could be forgiven, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit could not. For example, those who spoke against Christ could be forgiven (Mt. 12:32a cf. Acts 3:17; 26:11; Mt. 26:69-75; Mk. 15:31-32; Lk. 23:32-43; 1 Tim. 1:12-14). The difference between speaking against Christ and speaking against the Holy Spirit is the difference between “failure to recognize the light and deliberate rejection of it once recognized” (cf. Num. 15:27-31).2 To deny that God was at work in the miracle that just occurred and amazed the crowds was inexcusable! “This age” and “the age to come” do not refer to this life and the afterlife, for there can be no forgiveness after death anyway (cf. Mt. 25:41, 46; Jn. 8:21; 2 Cor. 5:10). Rather, from Jesus’ perspective, it refers to the Jewish age and the Christian age that was “at hand” (Mk. 1:14-15).

Can Blasphemy of The Holy Spirit Be Done Today?

All do not agree on the answer to this question; it is a matter of judgment. The view of this writer is that if blasphemy of the Holy Spirit involved the constant rejection of genuine miracles in the presence of living witnesses, which attributed the miracles to the power of Satan (and it did, Mt. 9:34; 12:22-24), and if days of miracles have ceased (and they have, 1 Cor. 13:8-13), then one cannot commit blasphemy of the Holy Spirit today. However, the very same hardness of heart that allowed the Pharisees to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is still possible for people to have today! As long as a person has this heart, his or her sins can never be forgiven (cf. Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-27; 1 Jn. 5:16). While it is true that all blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable sin, it is not true that all unforgiveable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. May our hearts never harden to the power of God and His word. Rather, may our hearts be pliable and willing to be shaped by the Master’s will.

End Notes

1R. T. France, The Gospel According to Matthew, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, vol. 1, Leon Morris, ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985). 210.

2France 210

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