(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
To Receive These (And Other) Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) Or hazardhomecoc@gmail.com (Email)
2 Peter 3:9-The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Many people that I have worked with over the years have told me that they have committed the “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” and can never be forgiven.
Is this true?
Let’s study.
Mark 3:22-30-22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan?24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.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.”
The first thing to notice is the word “blasphemy.” It is a word that means “to speak evil of.” One authority has written about this word:
“The word “blasphemy” is from the Greek word blasphemeo, meaning to slander; to accuse; to speak against; or to speak derogatory words for the purpose of injuring or harming one’s reputation. It also signifies profane, foul, unclean language.” (Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems From The Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word, 6359-6362 (Kindle Edition); Tulsa, OK; Teach All Nations)
Second, the passages regarding the blasphemy of the Spirit show that this sin was a sin committed when people incorrectly (and possibly while knowing it was not true) attributed the power of Jesus to Satan. In other words, it was involving situations where the people said that Jesus’ power came from Satan, and not from God-even when they may have fully known that His power really was from God!
Matthew 12:22-24-Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
Mark 3:22-And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
Luke 11:15-But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
We need to understand: exorcism was not something new to the Jewish people. They had performed exorcisms for centuries before the time of Jesus. The Book of Psalms contains several Psalms that were used specifically for exorcisms and spiritual warfare.
“Intriguingly, in these accounts, the Sages exorcise demons, even though each of the evil spirits actually behaved in an apparently beneficial fashion.4 The methods used in exorcisms vary over time, and according to the nature of the spiritual attack. The Bible provides one frequently used text which has been used across time as a liturgy of exorcism, Psalm 91, the “psalm of the afflicted [by spirits]” (P. Shab. 6.2; Shev. 15b)…Other biblical texts often used in exorcism formulae are Psalms 10, 16, 121 and Numbers 6: 4–7.” (Geoffrey W. Dennis, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic & Mysticism, 138-139 (Kindle Edition): Llewellyn Publications)
There was an entire Jewish history book known as Tobit which discussed ways to expel demons. Jesus even points out in these exchanges that there were many Jewish exorcists who with God’s help performed exorcisms!
Luke 11:19-And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
This miraculous gift of exorcism employed by Jesus was superior to what was in the world till then. One example is that Jesus usually (but not always-see Mark 5:8) cast demons out immediately ““with a word.”
Matthew 8:16-When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
This miraculous gift of exorcism employed by Jesus and the Apostles (Mark 16:17-20) as well as by those upon whom the Apostles laid hands (Acts 6:1-7; 8:8-19) clearly demonstrated that the Source of this power was God, and not Satan.
So blasphemy of the Spirit was attributing the power of Christ to Satan.
Third, the blasphemy of the Spirit was when a person continually attributed the power of Jesus to Satan, and refused to repent. It was not a one time sin: it was constant. This is especially made clear in what Mark records:
Mark 3:30-because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Notice how this is rendered in some other translations:
Mark 3:30 (Contemporary English Version)-Jesus said this because the people were saying that he had an evil spirit in him.
Mark 3:30 (Amplified Version)-For they persisted in saying, He has an unclean spirit.
Writing of this passage, one scholar notes:
“3: 30 Here Mark defined the sin that “will never be forgiven.” It is ascribing to Satan and his demons the works of the Holy Spirit manifested in the ministry of Jesus. It is not a single act but a habitual action and attitude. The imperfect tense could be translated, “They kept on saying.” In this instance at least the sin was committed by scholars and religious authorities, not laypersons. Apparently the sin is quite rare.” (James A. Brooks, Mark: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary Book 23), 1752-1756 (Kindle Edition); Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group)
Again, this same idea is shown to us in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 12:33-35). Speaking of the wording in Mark’s account, Wayne Jackson has written:
“The sin under consideration was not a mere impulsive exclamation that denigrated the Holy Spirit, i.e., blasphemous words uttered rashly that, once they leave the lips, condemn a person forever-no matter what his disposition in the future. Instead, the verb ‘say,’ emphasized above, is a imperfect tense form, which indicates an abiding disposition, a persistent maliciousness. There can be no forgiveness for sustained unbelief. (Wayne Jackson, A New Testament Commentary, 28; Stockton, CA; Christian Courier Publications)
So, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was not where one attributed the power of Christ to Satan and then STOPPED (i.e., REPENTED); instead, it was where a person continually attributed the power of Christ to the power of the devil WITHOUT STOPPING (i.e., without repenting).
Finally, this continual sin being carried on shows us that the people committing it were in a willing and abiding state of wickedness (ie, sin committed knowingly and willingly without any sign of remorse or repentance). Jesus (addressing those who were committing the blasphemy of the Spirit) tells them:
Matthew 12:34-Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
The phrase, “being evil,” is a present active participle. This means that these people committing this sin were actively choosing to continue in the state of being wicked. Any person willing to deny such obvious evidence that Jesus’ power came from God, and instead attribute it to Satan, simply has no excuse. (Indeed, it is mainly for this reason many scholars believe that the Jewish leaders knew undeniably that Jesus was from God, and that their attacks were just a terrible deception trying to turn people away from Him because they hated Him)..
What to take from all of this?
First, if a person is concerned that he has committed the blasphemy of the Spirit, that concern in and of itself is powerful evidence that he has not done so.
Second, this reminds us that the only way to be saved is through Jesus-and through Jesus alone. There will be no other Savior.
Acts 4:12-Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Third, this is a powerful lesson in teaching us that God will forgive any and all sins for which people repent. This is because He loves each person irregardless of their sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:8), and desires all to be saved (Ezekiel 18:23; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Timothy 2:1-6).
May we take this message of salvation into our own hearts (Hebrews 4:15-16) and to those around us in desperate need of redemption (Mark 16:15-16).
Father, thank You for Your amazing grace. Comfort us with the knowledge of Your forgiveness. Help us to share Your plan of salvation with others. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.