Introduction
Throughout the ages, many Christians have pondered the question of whether or not they have committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit; discussion of such blasphemy is found in all three of the synoptics. When Satan has his way, he convinces people that they have done something for which they are eternally damned. Church elders need to be cautious in dealing with this issue.
This paper will show that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven. This might appear to be a contradiction because Jesus seemingly said otherwise. However, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not a sin at all, but rather a state of the heart. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin that is not confessed and repented of.
The reader of this paper will discover that Jesus, when He mentioned the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, was addressing the unrepentant hearts of the Jews who rejected Him. Though the words that came out of their mouths condemned them, these words were not unforgivable. The only thing that made them unforgivable was that these Jews were unwilling to heed the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit and, as long as they remained in that state, they could not be forgiven.
Discussion of this state of heart is not only found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Therefore, it will be a task of this paper to show that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a state of the heart and is addressed throughout Scripture. Several passages will be visited in order to prove this.
There are a number of views on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Some of them, such as Augustine’s view, resemble the thesis of this paper, but many of them do not. In some ways, this paper will be plowing new ground, showing that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not only found in the synoptics, but throughout the Scriptures.
Exegeting Matthew 12:31-32
In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus said, “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.”
To properly interpret this passage, it is important to start in the beginning of Matthew 11. Matthew is building a case against the stubborn Jewish nation, who would not accept the truth about Christ, regardless of the evidence presented. In Matthew 11:2, it is apparent that John the Baptist had a struggle in faith, questioning if Jesus really was the Christ. In vv. 4-5, Jesus gives the Scriptural evidence that He truly was the One to come. Beginning in v. 7, He addresses the crowd of people who were probably going to use this account against John. In vv. 9-15, Matthew gives the account of Jesus defending John. “This generation,” in v. 16, begins Jesus’ indictment of the Jewish nation. Verses 17-19 show Jesus’ illustration of the ministry of Him and John, and the Jews’ rejection of their ministries. It is this rejection for which Jesus reveals their dangerous state in vv. 20-24. The indictment was strong. Due to all the evidence of His Messiahship, Jesus said that judgment would be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon, and even Sodom, than for the cities where He had performed so many miracles. The key reason for this indictment is found in v. 20, revealing their failure to repent. In vv. 25-27, Jesus shows His desire for mercy and forgiveness. Though the Jews had rejected Him, all they had to do was humble themselves like “little children” and He would have revealed His father to them. Jesus longs to bring peace to the troubled soul, but this cannot happen without repentance. If they would have confessed their need for Him, and admitted that all of their rules and traditions were nothing more than a burden, He would have gladly given them His rest (vv. 28-29).
In 12:2, the Pharisees again showed how steeped in tradition they were. Despite their accusation, it was completely lawful for the disciples to pick the heads of grain (Dt 23:25). In vv. 3-8, Jesus let them know that He was the Lord of the Sabbath and did not have to conform to their rules. Jesus supports His claim with another miracle in vv. 9-13. The next two verses reveal that the Pharisees were bent on rejecting Jesus, despite the evidence. In their hardness, they plotted how they might kill Him. Commenting on vv. 14-15, Matthew Henry said, “Christ had said and done enough to convince those Pharisees, if reason or miracles would have done it; but instead of yielding to the conviction, they were hardened and enraged, and therefore he left them as incurable, Jer. 51:9.” Verses 14-15 point to the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
In vv. 17-21, Matthew shows that Christ fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 42:1-4. Finally, v. 22 begins the immediate context of the blasphemy of the Holy spirit. The miracle that Jesus performed was especially miraculous in that the man brought to Him was demon-possessed, blind and mute. Three chapters earlier, in Matthew 9:27-34, Jesus healed a blind man and a demon-possessed, mute man. That account marked the first time that the Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out demons by the prince of demons (Mt 9:34). When Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, all three in one, it seems He wanted to remind them of this accusation, setting up another situation in which they could choose to accept or reject Him. His desire remained their repentance, allowing Him to pour His mercy on them. However, their statement in v. 24, accusing Jesus of being demon-possessed, clearly indicates that they were beyond forgiveness because of their unrepentant hearts. Jesus needed to do nothing more to prove His Messiahship, yet they were unwilling to accept Him. In vv. 25-29, Jesus methodically exposes their folly. Clearly, Satan aiding Jesus in casting out demons would cause the collapse of the kingdom of darkness. Additionally, their claim that Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebub precluded their children casting them out by any other power. The folly of their claim gave further evidence of the hardness of their hearts.
Just prior to Christ saying one of the most controversial statements in all of Scripture, He makes it very clear that there is no middle ground. In v. 30, He is saying that there can be no compromise; that you are either for God or against God. It is obvious that the Pharisees were against Him and that their doom would be severe; all who reject Christ will receive the same doom. Commenting on this verse, Adam Clarke said, “If we be on the side of the devil, we must expect to go to the devil’s hell; if we be on the side of Christ, we may expect to go to his heaven.”
The timing of v. 30 shows that it does not take an especially wicked person to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. All who are not “with Christ” will, at some point, fall under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and be given the chance to repent. Verse 31a declares that every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. This forgiveness comes through confession, repentance and faith in Christ (1 Jn 1:9, 2 Cor 7:10, Eph 2:8). Any man can be forgiven any sin or blasphemy—even against Christ Himself—if he responds to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, leading him to repentance and faith. This is undeniable.
Students of the Bible study this passage and focus on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. In this passage, Christ elaborated that such blasphemy cannot be forgiven. However, He also said that speaking a word against the Spirit would not be forgiven. The reason He mentioned both was that they are different. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a state of the heart. Speaking a word against the Spirit only verbalizes this state. Jesus mentioned their verbal sin because that was the evidence of the unrepentant state of their hearts. This verbal sin, if confessed and repented of, could have been forgiven (see 12:31a). The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin that is not confessed and repented of. To paraphrase, Jesus is simply saying that any act of sin or blasphemy can be forgiven; but when someone hardens his heart to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and refuses to repent, forgiveness is impossible.
Taking the study past v. 32 makes this clear. Jesus said in v. 33 that bad fruit was evidence of a bad tree. So, the words that the Pharisees spoke—the bad fruit—were only unforgivable because they, themselves, were “bad trees.” Their hearts were filled with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Verse 34 says, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Verses 36-37 says that they would have to give an account for their words and that, by their words, they would either be acquitted or condemned. Jesus uses the illustration of a court room. Evidence condemns the man, but the man commits the crime. The crime, of course, is born in his heart. Jesus is showing that the Pharisees were guilty because of their hearts. In their hearts, they were guilty of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit—the complete and utter rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, which they rejected, was His ministry to reveal Christ to them (Jn 15:26) and to convict them of their sin (Jn 16:8).
More evidence that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the unrepentant state of the heart is found in vv. 38-42. Some Pharisees came to Jesus seeking a miraculous sign of His Messiahship, proving that they knew Jesus was not possessed by Beezlebub when He casted out demons. Jesus responds by calling them an adulterous generation and said that the only sign they would get would be the sign of Jonah (i.e., His resurrection). Even Nineveh would shame them for their unrepentant hearts.
In vv. 43-45, Jesus talks about unclean spirits. In doing so, He is referencing their accusation in v. 24. He says that if an unclean spirit leaves a man and comes back, it brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, so that the final condition of the man is worse than the first. Jesus then added the words, “That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” Seven represents completeness. So Jesus was basically saying that “this wicked generation,” after blaspheming the Holy Spirit, was beyond remedy (Pro 29:1). Every unrepentant heart has unclean spirits within it, but a heart that rejects the conviction of the Holy Spirit has within it the same spirit of prostitution, that has always led unrepentant Israel astray (Hos 4:12). The only way someone can find forgiveness is through responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If the Spirit is blasphemed, there is no other way. Therefore, there is no hope of forgiveness. This was the state of the hearts of the Pharisees. That is why, in chapter 13, Jesus began to speak in parables.
The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit Throughout Scripture
The immediate context of Matthew 12:31-32 makes it clear that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is more a state of the heart than it is a verbal sin. However, this becomes clearer when blasphemy, defined as a state of the heart, is found throughout Scripture. If it can be proven that there are other passages in Scripture that speak of a state of the heart that is beyond forgiveness, then the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be limited to the specific actions of the Pharisees in Matthew 12. Rather, it must mean that this blasphemy is not verbal at all. It must be a state of the heart. This paper will examine some other passages that seem to represent the same state of heart to which Jesus is referring in Matthew 12.
The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in Hosea
The prophet Hosea referred to a “spirit of prostitution” that led the nation of Israel astray (Hos 4:12). Hosea 5:4 says, “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart.” A theme of the book of Hosea is the vile adultery of which the nation of Israel was guilty.
About the spirit of adultery, Proverbs 30:20 says, “‘She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” That statement describes the state of Israel in Hosea.
Another theme found in Hosea is the mercy of God (Hos 6:6). His mercy could only come if the people repented. Twice, Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 to the same Jews who blasphemed the Holy Spirit (Mt 9:13; 12:7). The context of this verse reveals what Jesus might have been saying. In Hosea 6:1-3, Israel is guilty of having a worldly sorrow and a false repentance. In vv. 4-6, God reveals the measures He took to bring them to true repentance, so He could show them mercy. He cut them to pieces with His prophets, killed them with the words of His mouth, and His judgments flashed on them like lightning. All this, and the people still refused to repent (Hos. 7:10). They were in a state of the heart, where forgiveness was impossible.
The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in Jeremiah
In Jeremiah 8:22, the prophet asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” He was broken over the state of Judah yet was told three times not to pray for them (7:16; 11:14; 14:11). God had afflicted them with an incurable wound (14:19) and was not going to listen to their cry for help (11:11, 14; 14:12). This refusal to listen resulted from their unwillingness to repent even though they were willing to pray to Him (14:7). God would not forgive this people, but this was not due to God’s unwillingness to forgive them. His desire was that the nation of Judah repent, so He could repent of the disaster He had planned (18:7-8). He longed to heal them of their wound, but their wound could not be cured because they would not repent (30:12-15). God’s desire is always to pour out His mercy (2 Pet 3:9), but He cannot do this unless there is repentance (Lk 13:3). Judah was unrepentant. Therefore, forgiveness was impossible.
The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in Hebrews
Another passage that reveals a state of the heart where forgiveness is impossible is Hebrews 6:4-6. It is important to note that the writer of Hebrews was addressing Roman Christian Jews, who were facing severe persecution under Nero. The writer repeatedly warns them not to fall back into Judaism, for many were facing that temptation. After all, their allegiance to Christ caused them to face persecution, but they could have found protection from the Roman state had they gone back to Judaism.
Understanding this history helps with properly interpreting Hebrews 6:4-6. Some say that the writer, when speaking of those who have once been enlightened, was addressing Jews who were close to salvation—not those who had experienced salvation. This interpretation would aid those who believe that a Christian cannot forfeit his salvation. The context disproves this. The writer addresses his hearers as “holy brothers” in 3:1. Scripture would never address the unconverted as “holy brothers.” The purpose of this paper is not to prove or disprove the doctrine of perseverance, but proper exegesis of this passage shows that Christians can fall away.
The writer speaks of those who 1.) were once enlightened, having the veil removed and seeing the truth 2.) had tasted the heavenly gift of salvation 3.) shared in the Holy Spirit by being born again 4.) tasted the goodness of the word of God, as only Christians can truly appreciate God’s word; and 5.) tasted the powers of the coming age—fulfilled prophecy in the Gospel dispensation. These were born again Christians. If a Christian falls away, and refuses to repent, it is impossible to be brought back to repentance because he is “crucifying the Son of God all over again.” (6:6) Crucifying is a present tense verb. The writer is referring to someone who deliberately continues in sin, rejecting Christ and refusing to repent. He makes this clear in Hebrews 10:26, saying, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” Anyone that continues in sin cannot be forgiven. This passage speaks of a state of the heart in which forgiveness is impossible and is comparable to Deuteronomy 29:18-20.
Conclusion
This paper has visited three passages that speak of a state of the heart where forgiveness is impossible. This has shown that the passage in Matthew 12, where Jesus speaks of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, was only one of many instances of a state of the heart in which forgiveness is impossible. It is erroneous to say that the act committed by the Pharisees was unforgivable. Rather, their state of heart was such that they were unwilling to repent and surrender to Christ. Therefore, forgiveness was impossible. Though they blasphemed Jesus and the Holy Spirit with their tongues, it was the unrepentant state of their heart that made forgiveness impossible. Their verbal sins were only evidence of the states of their hearts. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin that is not confessed and repented of. Understanding this should not only clear up this passage for the confused, but it will also bring freedom to so many who think they have done something for which they can never be forgiven.
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IF MY PEOPLE... 