So what does the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit really mean, and how does it apply to us today? To repudiate the work of the Spirit, and reject the witness of the Holy Spirit was to remain in their sin . He has more than 15 years of experience counseling individuals and couples at his Christian counseling practice, New Reflections Counseling. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? There its clear that, after a contracted series of interactions with Jesus, the Pharisees have made a final, declarative decision that Jesus is not from God and must be killed (12:14 is the turning point of Matthews narrative on this score). Space doesnt permit a fuller exploration of the nuances of these views nor, more importantly, a thorough examination of each of the Gospel passages in their literary and historical contextsomething essential for the wisest reading of these texts. One more step and there will be no more hope for you." For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. While this is a possible interpretation, it does not seem to fit within the context of Matthew 12. A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. He said to them: "You can blaspheme Me and be forgiven, but when you question the work of the Spirit, you are coming perilously close to the unforgivable sin. Jonathan Pennington is associate professor of New Testament interpretation and director of research doctoral studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as the associate pastor of preaching at Sojourn Church East. WebThe only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief. This statement, which is regularly conflated with Matthews other uses of the tree analogy (3:10; 7:15-20), is actually the same argument hes just made about the illogicality of his opponents position (12:25-29). Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.. It Augustine, who dedicated at least one whole sermon to this topic, is typical and influential in arguing the blasphemy isnt a specific act but a state of enmity and impenitence lasting unto death. 12:31, 32; Luke 12:10; [1 John 5:16], NKJV, The American Patriot's Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. The main reason why its so serious to reject Christ, however, is because He is Gods appointed means of salvation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 It is the one iniquity that will never be forgiven (never is the meaning of "either in this age to come" in Matthew 12:32). Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Jesus mentions in these passages that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Let me take a moment and say the unforgivable sin isnt something that someone commits randomly. Yet by His miracles He was showing Himself to be nothing and no one less than God. I'm here to tell you that Jesus is who He claims to be. Those who have caused a little one to stumble would be better off with a millstone hung around their neck and thrown into the sea (Matt. Christ longed to gather the sinful inhabitants of Jerusalem to Himself, yet they remained in their sin; Jesus condemnation places the onus directly on them: You were not willing (Luke 13:34). The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. The Bible talks about sin and forgiveness a lot, especially with regard to salvation. Ive wrestled with this for a long time: what is the unforgivable sin that Jesus talks about? But the first reading of the blasphemy of the Spirit in the Gospel texts is much more specific: its a hardened evaluation of Jesus work as being demonic in origin. Rather, it is deliberately resisting the Holy Spirits witness and invitation to turn to Jesus until death ends all opportunity. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter" (Mark 3:28), but then He gives one exception: "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin." After a while, we can become so hard-hearted and sin-hardened that we grow calloused of soul. Concern about committing it reveals the opposite attitude of what the sin is. That is all that matters, right? To assign miracles to Satan, not the Holy Spirit, is to reject the One who draws us to Christ. Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Christian Nationalism, How J. K. Rowling Played, then Lost, the Polarization Game, The FAQs: Anglican Group Calls on Church of Englands Leader to Repent, What to Do When Your Child Is Addicted to Video Games, GAFCON IV: Lessons from a Communion in Birth Pains, Radical Christian Gentleness in an Era of Addictive Outrage. Why I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men. Jesus is warning his opponents that these careless words (that Jesus work is demonic in origin) will result in their condemnationanother way of saying they wont be forgiven for this hardened position of opposition to him. Another misinterpretation would be to understand the blasphemy too generically as meaning that anyone who at any point rejects Christ openly cant be a true Christian later. Home It is the state of unbelief. They are not persuaded by the testimony and work of Jesus. Please make sure all fields are filled out. Jesus himself declares in two gospels that if someone commits it, hell never forgive them, ever. He is our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Instead, daily exhort each other to persevere. The unforgivable sin is not about the church itself Augustine argues that, since the Holy Spirit was dispensed to the church at Pentecost, the true unforgivable sin is the rejection of the church itself, since the Spirit and the church cannot be separated. WebThe Unpardonable Sin. Matthew 12:31 Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. According to verse 22, the scribes said, He has Beelzebub. The verb form for said is in the imperfect tense. No one sins out of duty. The limited character of this unforgivable sin is revealed by the fact that even Simon Peter, who denied the Lord with curses on the night of his arrest, was brought to repentance and was restored by the mercy of the Lord. The most likely explanation for this supposed contradiction in the Bible is that the unforgivable sin in Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:29 is unbelief. So dont worry that youve committed the unpardonable sin. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.. The doctrine of the atonement explains this. Think of it: Before you go to bed tonight, you can know that God has forgiven every sin you ever committed! What Is the Unforgivable Sin? Little did I know at the time, those late 20th-century callers were only the latest in 2,000 years to worry about whether theyd indeed committed the blasphemy of the Spirit. If a person keeps doing that until death, there is no hope of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Therefore, to call the Spirits work through Jesus demonic is the greatest, unforgivable sin (12:31-32). In Matthew 12:31, the gospel writer says, blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. The discussion concerning the precise nature of this unforgivable sin is both extensive and controversial. One of the questions I'm regularly asked is, Pastor, can I commit a sin that God cannot forgive?, According to Jesus, there is one sin a person can do for which there is no forgiveness or pardon either in this age or in the age to come: blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. The one sin that is unforgivable is unbelief or rejection of Christ. We become cynical of conscience. They had copied Psalm 22, about the death of the Messiah. So I have heard many preachers say the the unforgivable sin is not speaking a bad word about the Holy Spirit but instead it is unbelief that is the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. Matthews additional material in 12:33-37 both makes this reading clear and also shows interpreters have regularly misunderstood how 12:33-37 relates to 12:22-32. His followers believed in His deity. I want to reach the world with the Good News by equipping the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association with resourcesincluding personnel, materials, support services, buildings and moreto urgently respond to every opportunity to share Jesus Christ with others. Used by permission. Privacy I still remember well, as a young Christian, listening to The Bible Answer Man radio show. Webhave i committed the unforgivable sin quiz. Dr. David Jeremiah explains how the only way to understand these words is by seeing them within the context of the whole passage. The worst thing a Christian can possibly do. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. In one memorable New Testament scene, Jesus critics accuse him of being in league with the devil himself. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. For another article on the unforgivable sin, see Dr. Roger Barriers take on the subject: 5 Things Christians Need to Know About the Unpardonable Sin., See also:5 Birthmarks of the Christian: How to be Certain of Your Salvation. In all these cases the literary context varies slightly, but theres a consistency in emphasizing the one greatest and unforgivable sinthe speaking against or blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. If you die in that condition, theres no further forgiveness available. Local: 704-401-2432 Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. All rights reserved. The guilty party, a group of Pharisees, had witness irrefutable evidence that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet they claimed that He was possessed by the prince of demons Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:30). How do you deal with unbelief? Instead, by a simple prayer of faith ask Him to come into your life todayand He will. A human being. From blasphemos; vilification. It can be defined as "defiant irreverence" and would constitute cursing God or degrading Him. Note in the passage quoted below that the convicting work of the Spirit is related to giving demonstrable proof that it is the sin of rejection that is the issue. Mark 3:28-30 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: . Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin. He is the only way to God. Only God knows who is guilty of this sin. Take a look again at Jesus finishing statement in verses 28-30: Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation, because they said, He has an unclean spirit., This paragraph has been the source of great misunderstandings in Christendom. Handed down. Solicitation Disclosure Statement He currently works at Calvin College. Its certainly a truism and a valid reading/application of these texts to argue that a state of unbelieving enmity toward Christ results in no forgiveness. On the latter score, its important to emphasize that however one interprets the blasphemy saying, it cannot be construed as the same thing as grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit (Eph. NKJV, Woman's Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word, NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People. You. All, the whole, every kind of. I want to be clear in saying that if youre bothered in your spirit that you may have committed a sin God will not forgive, the very fact that you have anxiety over that is evidence youve not committed the sin. But there will not be one unbelieving person found in Heaven. To assign miracles to Satan, not the Holy Spirit, is to reject the One who draws us to Christ. April 12, 2016 He rebukes the unfaithful, who seek after a sign. The very fact that youre reading this article is a tremendous indication youve not committed the unforgivable sin described in the Gospel of Mark. Will Graham Devotion: Think Your Sin Isnt So Bad? Many Christians have heard that there is an unpardonable sin and live in dread that something grave they have done before or after conversion might be that sin. Then turn to him without delay, lest your heart should be hardened by blasphemy and unbelief. According to Jesus, there is one sin a person can do for which there is no forgiveness or pardon either in this age or in the age to come: blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. To reject the Savior is to accept the penalty for ones own sin. We know of many stories including a most tragic one where an English Puritan name John Child actually took his own life, convinced in despair and melancholy hed committed this unforgivable, unpardonable sin. Read full chapter. There is no forgiveness for someone who dies without faith in Christ. A man, one of the human race. While we may initially read these texts this way (especially in Lukes least-explained version), the New Testaments own retelling of key events belies this interpretation. In other words, the particular case of blasphemy seen in Matthew 12 and Mark 3 is unique. Billy Graham As a result, they are required to pay the penalty for sin themselves- which is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. In this interpretation, the unforgivable sin is the sin of unbelief, which John seems to affirm in 3:18 and 16:9 and also 1 John 5:16. Jesus responded by saying "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemes of men will be forgiven them. Specifically, we see contrary evidence in both Peter and Paul. And we know different portions of the church split over whether a relapsed Christian could re-enter the church. Its the unforgivable sin. Maturity Requires Radical Breakthrough Change, How To Desire Without Guilt - Christian Concepts, You Are Wonderfully Limited - Christian Concepts, Blame And Defensiveness Exposed - Christian Concepts, Master Conflict Resolution With 5 Concepts, The Secret to Finding Rest Amidst Tragedy - Christian Concepts. You dont get a second chance after death. This alone is the unforgivable sin, because it means we are saying that the Holy Spirits witness about Jesus is a lie (see Luke 12:10 ). And the testimony of Paul is positive proof that God can and will save anyone who comes to Him in faith (1 Timothy 1:12-17). Anything other than the Gospel is a waste of time. The Bible says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). WebThe Unforgivable Sin is Probably Unbelief. Hebrews 10:414 says, "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Jesus, in a showing of his incredible wisdom, reveals the terrible inconsistency of their logic (12:25-29). true story. Jesus had been performing miracles, including driving demons out of people by the power of the Holy Spirit. Satan would love nothing more than to keep people laboring under that misconception. Blasphemy against the Spirit evidently is not just a one-time offense; rather, it is an ongoing attitude of rebellion a stubborn way of life that continually resists, rejects and insults the Holy Spirit. And the book of Hebrews speaks of those who have experienced the testimony of the Spirit to some degree and then rejected it; how can they be brought back to repentance (6:6)? Pastorally, anyone who fears having committed this sin should not worry; an apostate would not even consider worrying about having committed this sin. The greatest sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because it is a sin that cannot be forgiven. Fear that one has done so is probably a good sign that one hasnt, for full-fledged apostasy is a defiant rejection of everything Christian and lacks the tender conscience that would be worried about such an action. Lee Strobel, Tagged as apologetics, bible questions, blasphemy, holy spirit, lee strobel, matthew 12:31, sin, sin against the spirit, unforgiveable sin, unpardonable sin. There is no pardon for a person who dies in his rejection of Christ. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. He died for you, and if you reject that, theres no other sacrifice for sin. The scribes had come to the place where they were so familiar with religious things that when the Son of God showed up, they didnt know who He was and they accused Him of being from Satan. Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. We know this was an issue in the early church, and different branches of the church had different opinions. Bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work. Despite our New Testament editions paragraph break at 12:33, these following verses arent a new, unrelated section but the culmination of Jesus conflict with his opponents and the explanation of what this blasphemy is. WebNew King James Version The Unpardonable Sin 28 Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation 30 because they said, He has an unclean spirit. Read full chapter Rather than acknowledging the obvious fact that Jesus was exercising divine powers, the Pharisees were so spiritually depraved that they attributed his power to Satan (v. 24). For an answer, I turned to author and apologist Lee Strobels Investigating Faith newsletter, where earlier this year he published a thoughtful reflection on a difficult Bible passage. We all have Sign up for resources delivered to your inbox weekly, Sign up for learning delivered to your inbox weekly. Unbelief is the only unforgivable sin .because there is no hope to ever be reconciled with God. The unforgivable sin is the -rejection- of the true power behind the Lord Jesus Christs miracles. Then they had questions. Some scholars assert that the only unforgivable sin is the rejection of Jesus Christ's offer of salvationhis free gift of eternal life, which includes the forgiveness of sin. So what exactly is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? The unpardonable sin is defined as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, because when Christ was on earth, the religious leaders were attributing his miracles to demonic powers when in fact they were the product of the Holy Spirit working in the life of Christ (Matt. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace. In its essence, the unforgivable sin is hardening your heart against God and repeatedly refusing to respond to His entreaties to your soul. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. The specificity of this charge is clearest in the most detailed version of the event we have, retold by Matthew (12:22-37). In Matthew 12:31, the gospel writer says, blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. The discussion concerning the precise nature of this unforgivable sin is both extensive and controversial. kneel before me and give me all that you have, or ye shall burn forever in the depths of abbaddon Quoting: Anonymous Coward 85700982 Yeah ? Unbelief is so dangerous and damning that it needs to be identified, understood, and avoided at all costs. I dont remember much of what was said, but I distinctly recall the occasional poor troubled souls whod call in hoping for consolation, despair in their voice, fearful theyd committed the unforgivable sinblasphemy of the Holy Spirit. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. That deliberate refusal to believe, even though knowing the truth, seems to be what Jesus called the unforgivable sin. As the Quest Study Bible puts it, Jesus gave the solemn warning in these verses to people whose hard-heartedness placed them on the brink of disaster. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Read ourPrayer to the Holy Spirit to help guide and direct your thoughts in prayer and recognize his work in your life. When faith ickers, stoke the re. Those who oppose Jesus seek to scatter the Jews rather than gather them up into the kingdom of God (v. 30). Augustines view that the unforgivable sin is a state of unrepentant enmity toward God isnt wrong, but it doesnt deal with the specificity to which the Gospel texts speak.
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