Blasphemy Against the Spirit
Scripture: Matthew 12:30-32; Mark 3:30
In the previous section the scribes claimed the power of Jesus was from Beelzebul or from Satan himself. Jesus presented a logical argument against that and claimed that his power was from the Holy Spirit and as a result he is able to plunder the strong man’s house and deliver those who believe in Jesus Christ from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God. In this section the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit will be studied.
Mt 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
As we study the life of Jesus, we find uniqueness in so many ways. The statement by Jesus of him saying, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters,” is also a statement of uniqueness and one that will take some thinking to get your mind around. Consider the struggle that exist between light and darkness, good and evil, and God and Satan; there is no neutral ground between these opposites.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 6:12). As you move away from the light of Jesus you draw closer to the darkness of Satan and begin to show resistance toward Jesus in your life. Scripture is clear about the goodness of God and the evil of Satan. As you move away from the goodness of God you begin to take on some of the evil characteristics of Satan. The scriptures are also clear concerning the struggle between God (Jesus) and Satan, and as we move away from Jesus our support from him lessens and in its place, we take on more influence from Satan. In any of these three cases, not being with Jesus implies we are closer to the side of darkness, evil and Satan. There is no neutral ground away from these struggles and as a result of not being for Jesus we end up having a negative influence for Jesus and are as a result not gathering in people for him but are actually causing people move away from him or to scatter.
If we are not with Jesus, then we are in a position where sin is more prevalent in our lives. Jesus next speaks of this sin:
Mt 12:31 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Jesus divides sin into two groups: that which can be forgiven and that which cannot. Every sin, except one, that people can commit, even taking the Lord’s name in vain (blasphemy) can be forgiven. The one that cannot be forgiven is the sin of attributing to Satan what is accomplished by the power of God and doing this in a willful flagrant way with a persistent rejection of God and his commandments.
The scribes (in the previous lesson) were dangerously close to committing this sin when they claimed the power of Jesus to cast out demons was from Beelzebul or from Satan himself. However, a true believer (follower) of Jesus cannot commit this sin because according to 1 John 1:9 ESV: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Therefore, the one who can commit this unforgivable sin would be an unbeliever who deliberately and unchangeably rejects the ministry of the Holy Spirit in calling them to salvation. If the scribes continue to hold their position, they would die without obtaining salvation. If they had committed this unforgivable sin, they would never come to the place of seeking forgiveness.
These scribes prompted Jesus to speak about the unforgivable sin (blasphemy against the Spirit) for by saying that he casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul Mk 3:30 “they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”’
Conclusion
People can openly, like these scribes, attribute the power of God to Satan or they can deny the power of the Spirit. In either case they do not seek forgiveness for their sins and will eternally suffer under the curse of God.
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