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The Worst Sin in the World
Is there a sin that is so terrible, so extreme, that you could not expect God to forgive it? Is it divorce, or maybe adultery that can’t be forgiven… What about abortion? That seems extreme to some, or maybe just plain murder or how about this: Suicide! That seems extreme because you can’t ask for forgiveness from God after you commit it, right? Actually the Bible does speak of only one sin that can be called the “Unpardonable Sin”. Here is the scene from Matthew 12 where Jesus speaks of this sin:
Matthew 12:22-37 (New International Version)
Jesus and Beelzebub
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 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.
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
What a remarkable situation! What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Why is it an unpardonable sin? Can just anyone commit it? Is it wholly on purpose or maybe by accident also?
Examining the Context
Examining the context of this passage is essential to understanding Jesus' pronouncement. Jesus had just demonstrated for all to see, his divinity by healing the demon-possessed man. The multitudes marveled at his power, but the Pharisees who had it in for Jesus were unable to deny that a miracle had just been performed, so they decided to attributed it to the power of Beelzebub, "the ruler of the demons". Essentially that Jesus was empowered by Satan himself.
Jesus artfully responded that their accusation had Satan being divided against himself which was absurd. Why would Satan rob himself of his greatest achievement, his triumph over the souls of men? This argument has gotten the Pharisees entangled in a serious inconsistency, since they claimed that some of their own could cast out demons as Jesus pointed out in verse 27.
Their argument was actually a deliberate attempt to deny the truth. Jesus was able to cast out demons, not by the powers of evil, but by the "Spirit of God”. By God's power Jesus had entered a "strong man's" (Satan's) house and plundered him of his goods; far from being in league with Satan, Jesus had overpowered him. The mighty works of Christ were being used by the Holy Spirit to prove the coming of the kingdom of God. Yet the scribes willfully and deliberately assigned this work of the Holy Spirit to Satan in spite of the evidence to the contrary. In criticizing the power through which Jesus worked, the scribes were blaspheming the very Spirit who was promised to be their Comforter in difficult times.
What is Blasphemy toward the Holy Spirit?
The word blasphemy (blasphemia), is called an "impious and reproachful speech injurious to the divine majesty". Think of it as an attitude of total defiant irreverence. The scribes who accused Jesus were guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit because they defied the truth. They treated his miracles with something worse than indifference; they blasphemously attributed them to Satan. By accusing Jesus of being in league with Satan when he was really acting through the power of the Holy Spirit, they had blasphemed the Spirit, hardening their hearts against the Spirit's influence.
Why is it an Unpardonable Sin?
Jesus said that every other sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven, even speaking a word against himself, the Son of Man. However; “but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him . . ."
So any one speaking against Christ and does so because of ignorance, misconception, or ill-informed prejudice, then that blasphemy is as pardonable as any sin. There are many examples in the New Testament of people who first opposed Jesus but later turned to accept him. Paul marveled at the mercy extended to himself recalling the days when he hunted down Christ followers.
1 Timothy 1:12-16 (New International Version)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
The person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, however, places himself beyond the reach of forgiveness. This is true because the Holy Spirit is the agent in both convicting sinners to turn to Christ and provides the revelation of divine truth.
John 16:7-9 (New International Version)
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
John 15:26 (New International Version)
"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
2 Peter 1:21 (New International Version)
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
It is only through the work of the Spirit that we come to know of God, our sins, the atonement provided through Christ, and our need for repentance and obedience. Blasphemy against the Spirit is unforgivable because its source is a heart
of malice, selfish preference of wrong over right and evil over good, and a willful refusal to believe. The Pharisees had revealed that their hearts were evil with perverse spirits that consciously and deliberately rejected the truth and thus the salvation it brings.
So the continuous refusal to respond to the guidance of the Spirit of God as revealed in his word may eventually lead to a state of moral insensitivity. There are other warnings in the Bible about possibly grieving or resisting and even quenching the Holy Spirit which could lead someone to become so calloused that they will not even hear the truth.
Ephesians 4:30 (New International Version)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Acts 7:51 (New International Version)
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 (New International Version)
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.
In Closing
We need to realize that those who commit the unpardonable sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit, have hardened their hearts in a very extreme way. They have gotten to the point that they do not realize the condition they are in, nor do they care. They just live their lives without a thought for God or a care in the world for spiritual matters. The Holy Spirit has ceased to work on their hearts and they are completely given over to the darkness of their hearts and the spiritual blindness of their eyes. They would never cry out for Salvation.
We can be assured that when we have believed in Jesus for eternal life, we have already responded positively to the Holy Spirit's work in our life. There is no longer any opportunity to commit the unforgivable sin. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a serious sin that only unbelievers can commit it and only if they are in the very deepest depths of darkness of the heart. This is a sin a Christian could not possibly commit. Rest assured beloved and believe that you are forgiven everything that you confess and repent of.
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