Matthew 12:28-32 … if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

In our modern Church I hear very little preaching or teaching on the Holy Spirit of God. I find that odd, because of all the sins a person can commit, there is only ONE sin that God will NEVER forgive – that is “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost”. Jesus even said “you can speak a word against the Son of Man, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN, either in THIS WORLD or IN THE WORLD TO COME”. Who is “the Son of Man”? The Prophet Daniel foresaw the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 7:13), and called the Messiah the Son of Man. Jesus adopted this title for Himself, as Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. He is the “Son of Man”. Jesus in essence said:

“You can speak again Me, the Messiah, and it shall be forgiven. But if you speak against the Holy Spirit it shall never, ever be forgiven, not on earth nor in eternity”

This is a frightening statement to say the least. If there is a sin out there that gives me an express ride to hell, I want to know all about that sin so I can avoid it. Don’t you? Some people believe that the unpardonable sin cannot be committed today. I disagree. Jesus spoke on the unpardonable sin, and made sure that two men of God, the Apostle (Matthew) and early Church Evangelist (Mark) wrote about it. In Mark’s account we read:

Parallel Text Mark 3:27-30 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

If it is ONCE in the Bible, I heed it. If it is TWICE in the Bible, look out! God is serious. It is possible to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, an unpardonable sin. So let’s break this down. First of all,

What Is “Blasphemy”?

Years ago I assumed – as a young preacher – that everyone understood the words I was using, especially if I was using the King James Bible. I remember one sermon where I preached God’s word, and told the people that “heathen need to come to Jesus”. I preached that day believing everyone understood the message – I thought it was very clear – that is, until I stood at the door at the end of the service. A little old lady, a dedicated believer in the Lord, came to me and asked,

“Brother David, what’s a heethern?” (sic)

That’s exactly the ways she said it and, no, I am not mocking her. I love her, and love you. But I preached an entire message that she and others did not understand because I failed to explain a main word. A heathen is an unbeliever, one who has rejected Jesus Christ as Savior. So, what is “blasphemy”?

• Blasphemy is to speak against God, to belittle or chip away at God and His glory with your tongue. The first use of the word “blasphemy” is in the Book of the Law. In Leviticus 24 God is telling ancient Israel how to set up the Tabernacle, the tent where His people were to meet with Him, and where sacrifices were made. God tells the priests to use pure olive oil in the lamps, and make the lamps burn continually while the tent is set up (Leviticus 24:1-4). What do these “lamps” or “lights” symbolize? They symbolize the Light of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is the Bringer of Light (Genesis 1:3).
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12)

Leviticus 24:10-11 the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman’s son BLASPHEMED the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) “Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord,
he shall surely be put to death”

Isaiah 36:19-20 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, … that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

• It is also blasphemy to teach against what God has said is true. Jesus warned us:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking PERVERSE things, to draw away disciples after them.

Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to ALL generations.

Psalm 100:5 .. the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

John 17:17 Sanctify (or set them apart) them through thy truth (O Father): thy word is truth.

1 Timothy 1:19-20 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to BLASPHEME.

Blaspheme is therefore the use of the tongue to degrade or to deny God and what He has said is truth. When Jesus warned against Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the Pharisees had said something terrible. What did they say?

Earlier that day Jesus cast a demon out of a man who was could neither see nor hear (Matthew 12:22). Jesus healed the man. The Bible tells us, though:

Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard {of what Jesus did}, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Jesus was casting out devils by the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28). The Holy Spirit – at Christ’s Word – was coming to people who were in an absolutely helpless estate – and healing them. The man who was unable to see or hear was absolutely powerless. Jesus touched him, and through the intercession of God’s Holy Spirit, the sick were healed, and the demonically oppressed were freed. When John the Baptist told his disciples of Jesus, he said:

John 3:34-35 For he whom God hath sent (Jesus) speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto (Jesus). 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

The miracles that Jesus did, He did them not by the power of the devil, but the Spirit of God did them. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were partners from Heaven, sent to show the way of God unto man. The Pharisees saw Jesus heal people and said “He is doing this by the Prince of Demons”. Mark tells us that the Pharisees committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of God because:

Mark 3:30 Because {the Pharisees} said, He hath an unclean spirit.

The Pharisees attributed the work of God – a clear work of God – to that of Satan. Jesus did the works – the wonderful works of healing and blessing – not using His own divine power, but by the Spirit of God.

Matthew 12:28 … if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you

Why Is Blasphemy Of The Holy Spirit Unforgivable?

Jesus makes a statement that most people skip over when they read it. Read with me:

Matthew 12:28-29 … if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Who is this “strong man”?
The “strong man” is Satan and his network of evil.

Jesus casts out “devils” by the Spirit of God. The fallen angels – Lucifer included – are “devils”. Jesus Christ “entered the strong man’s house”, He entered this fallen world. Jesus could not spoil the strong man’s goods (the sin and wickedness that are produced because of unbelief) unless He first binds the strong man. Jesus’ ministry is under attack by the religious establishment known as the Pharisees. The Pharisees, along with the Scribes, continually challenge Jesus’ authority as Messiah, even though He does the work of the Messiah.

• Jesus Christ came to this earth to crush the strong man, the devil we call Satan or Lucifer. In the Garden of Eden Mankind lost the beauty of Paradise because Adam listened to a talking serpent, a picture of Satan. In the first Book of Scripture, Satan is pictured as a “serpent”, and in the last Book of Scripture, Satan is still a “serpent”:
  
  

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Matthew 4:9 … All these things (the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them) will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Matthew 4:10 … Get thee hence, Satan: for IT IS WRITTEN, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

• Jesus crushes the strong man (the devil) by destroying the power of sin. Jesus said:

Matthew 12:31 … All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men …

Matthew 9:2 … Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Matthew 9:6-7 … that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

Acts 5:31 {Jesus} hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:38 … {Jesus Christ} is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ..

Ephesians 1:7 {In Jesus Christ} we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:13-14 … delivered from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Jesus Sends The Holy Spirit To Crush The Strong Man, Satan. The Sent Holy Spirit Of God Who Gives Us New Birth And Eternal Life. Jesus’ Blood Makes Our Salvation Possible. The Spirit’s Activity Secures Our Salvation Once We Receive Christ as Lord And Savior.

So return to our first question: Why is blaspheme of the Holy Spirit unpardonable? It is because we are born into this world spiritually blind and deaf. It is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes and ears to hear the Gospel. It is the Holy Spirit, that blessed Third Member of the Godhead, Who convicts of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Jesus in speaking of the Holy Spirit promised His disciples:

John 16:7-14 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit of God opens our eyes to the Word of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit of God convicts of sin. The Bible tells us that the strong man, the little “g” god of this world loves to hide the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:3-5 … if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

When the Pharisees spoke up against Jesus that day so long ago, they attributed the work of God’s Grace to Satan. There are many who do the same thing even today. While hearing the glorious Gospel, that Christ came to give us life, to cover our sins “to deliver us from this evil world” (Galatians 1:4), some resist the Spirit. They make excuses. They examine their lives in the light of others and say, “Well, I’m not that bad?” They like the Pharisees mock Christ, and reject the Messiah and the way unto salvation.

Salvation is a supernatural work, done by a supernatural God. When your eyes are opened to your sins you must repent, and run into the arms of Christ. Then and only then will you be “born again” of the Spirit of God. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN (John 3:7)!

It is not the denomination that you are in that saves you. It is Jesus. It is not the works of righteousness that you do that saves you. It is the finished work of Calvary. We are born into this world separated from God. No man or woman can come to Jesus, unless the Father which sent Jesus DRAWS YOU (John 6:44). Remember Christ’s words:

John 3:6-8 … That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

It is blaspheme of the Holy Spirit to feel His leading, and to reject Him. If you reject the Spirit, you reject the One Who washes you. You reject Him Who causes your new birth. In short, it is blaspheme of the Spirit to reject the call unto salvation, to refuse Him Who pleads for you. To do so, like the Pharisees, is to die in your sins, hopeless, helpless for all eternity. Do not do so. Repent, run to the arms of Jesus today. Do not die in your sins. There is no forgiveness, none after death if you reject the Spirit’s call now. May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen!