The Unpardonable Sin
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

he Bible makes it very, very clear. God the Father has sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ down to our earth to physically die on a cross in order to give all men and all women total forgiveness and total remission of all of their sins - which includes all past, present and future sins that we will ever commit.

This gift of eternal salvation is available to every single person who will accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. The Bible makes it very clear that "whoever" calls upon the name of the Lord for eternal salvation will be saved from their sins if they are willing to accept Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross.

However, in 3 specific verses from Scripture, Jesus makes a very serious bone chilling statement. He says that the only sin that cannot be forgiven through the Blood that He has already shed for all of us is a direct blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

What exactly is He meaning by this? What exactly is a blaspheming of the Holy Spirit? Many Christians have freaked out over the years thinking or wondering if they have possibly committed this unpardonable sin.

I'll first start out by giving you the two verses where Jesus is making this statement, and then give you the interpretation of what I feel Jesus is trying to tell all of us with this statement.

The Scripture Verses

1.  This first verse comes from the Gospel of Mark. Before Jesus makes this statement, He is getting attacked by some of the Jewish Scribes. Jesus was casting demons out of people and these scribes were trying to tell everyone that Jesus was casting demons out of people by Beelzebub - the ruler of the demons. In other words, they were accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan himself.

Jesus then answers them right on the spot telling them how could Satan cast out Satan? He tells them that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and that it would make no logical sense for Satan to be casting out either himself or another one of his own demonic spirits. Satan would just be defeating his own purposes by even trying to do such a thing.

Now here is what got these Scribes in major trouble with the Lord. They obviously knew they were witnessing major supernatural miracles seeing Jesus cast demons out of people. But instead of just walking away and keeping their mouths shut, or trying to discredit Jesus by saying nothing was really happening or that these people were either not really possessed or all of this was just a figment of their imaginations - they make their one and final comment which will forever seal their fate for all of eternity - they literally attack the Holy Spirit Himself by saying that He was in fact the devil himself!

They knew that Jesus had something else operating on the inside of Him that was accomplishing all of these dramatic miracles. The Bible makes it very clear that it was the power of the Holy Spirit operating through Jesus that was doing all of these miracles.

But instead of leaving well enough alone and just walking away and keeping their mouths shut - they just had to take that one last final jab at Jesus and directly attack the Spirit that was operating on the inside of Him - which was the Holy Spirit Himself! And once they did - they were done! Right after this occurs, Jesus then makes one of the most bone chilling statements on sin that He has ever made.

Jesus specifically states that "all sins" can be forgiven through His blood - including any blasphemies against either Himself or anyone else. But the one sin that He and His Father will not forgive is a direct blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Here is the verse:

"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." (Mark 3:28-30)

Notice in the last few words of this verse that Jesus specifically ties in the blaspheming against the Holy Spirit with the Scribes stating that He had an "unclean spirit" operating through Him. In other words, Jesus was condemning them to hell for all of eternity because they were calling the Holy Spirit a demonic spirit!

2.  The second verse comes from Matthew. Again, the same scenario is unfolding where the Pharisees are attacking Jesus for casting a demon out of a blind and mute man. They once more accuse Him of casting this demon out by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Jesus once more goes into the exact same explanation as He did in the above verse from Mark where He says that Satan is not going to cast himself out - as a house divided against itself cannot stand, even in the demonic realm.

However, Jesus makes one additional comment in this verse. He says that He is casting these demons out by the "Spirit of God" - which is the Holy Spirit. Right here, the battle lines are being drawn. Jesus is saying on the one hand that He is doing all of these miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit operating through Him - and then you have some of the Scribes and Pharisees alleging that He is doing all of these miracles by the power of the devil.

Then Jesus once more comes down with the hammer and says:

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:31-32)

Without question, this statement being made by Jesus is one of the most dire and extreme warnings He has ever given. He is literally telling us that there is one specific sin that will never, ever be forgiven - and that one sin is a direct blasphemous attack against the Holy Spirit Himself.

Jesus even says you can speak a word directly against Him and that you can still be forgiven - but He will not forgive anyone who will directly attack the Holy Spirit.

Interpretation

So what exactly is Jesus meaning when He talks about someone who is directly "blaspheming" the Holy Spirit?

1.  The word "blaspheme" in Webster's dictionary means to "speak irreverently or profanely of or to God, to curse or revile." Another part of their definition says "any remark or action held to be irreverent or disrespectful."

Many of the different Bible dictionaries describe blasphemy as "insulting, cursing, lacking reverence for God, claiming deity."

There can be no question that calling the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself, the devil himself - is without a doubt as blasphemous a statement that you could possibly make against Him. Calling the Highest of all Beings the lowest of all beings is without question the worse possible thing that these Scribes and Pharisees could have done. Not only was this the height of pure stupidity - but it was also the height of pure arrogance and pride.

As a result, they ended up being the first set of people that Jesus pronounced judgment on for committing the unpardonable sin as far as God was concerned.

2.  However, how does all of this apply in our day and age? Can this unpardonable sin still be committed today?

Many Bible scholars believe that this unpardonable sin cannot be committed today. They believe that this sin could have only been committed back at the time when Jesus was walking on our earth. In other words, you would have to attack Jesus direct just like the Scribes and Pharisees did to be found guilty of this sin.

However, I'm not quite sure about this position. Here's where I believe the first level of interpretation comes in as to what this verse might mean for all of us in this day and age.

From the way the above two Scripture verses are being worded, there is no question what God is trying to tell us. If you had verbally attacked the Holy Spirit, operating through His Son Jesus while He was living down here on our earth, by telling Him that He is the devil himself - then you would have directly blasphemed the Holy Spirit, and as such, God has now rendered judgment that this transgression will be considered unpardonable in His sight.

Now if we take this same scenario into our day and age, and take an anointed born-again believer who is walking with the power of the Holy Spirit operating through him to heal the sick and cast out demons just like Jesus was doing - then what happens if an unbelieving scoffer comes along and says the exact same thing - that these miracles are not being done by the Holy Spirit, but by Satan or one of his demonic spirits? Is this unbelieving scoffer guilty of committing the same unpardonable sin as the Scribes and Pharisees did back in Jesus' day?

Personally, I think there is a very good chance that this unbeliever may be guilty of committing the same unpardonable sin - especially if he knows that a real miracle is taking place just like the Scribes and Pharisees did.

If you will notice, many scoffers will not even tread into this kind of territory. If they see a Christian who has the anointing to heal the sick and cast out demons - they will either think that nothing is really happening or if something is really happening, that it is just the power of suggestion. Most doubters and unbelievers will either think that there are no demons to begin with, or if there is, that any healing or deliverance that may have just occurred was just the power of suggestion acting on that person causing him to believe that he had been healed or delivered from demons.

Very seldom will you see a nonbeliever do what the Scribes and Pharisees did back in Jesus' day and call the Holy Spirit Himself the devil or a demonic spirit. However, if someone should be as bold and as arrogant as some of these Pharisees were, and step out and directly blaspheme the Holy Spirit with this same kind of accusation - then I really think the exact same principle may apply as it did when Jesus was walking with the power of the Holy Spirit - and that these people would be just as guilty of committing the unpardonable sin as the Scribes and Pharisees were back at the time that Jesus was walking on our earth.

I believe that the same analogy would apply. The Holy Spirit is living and operating on the inside of each born-again believer today just as He was with Jesus. If God the Father is calling any blasphemous attacks against the Holy Spirit operating through His Son Jesus as the unpardonable sin - then I personally believe that God would call the same thing out in this day and age if any scoffer would do the exact same thing - call the Holy Spirit a demon or the devil operating through an anointed born-again believer.

3.  I know there are some Christians who have wondered whether or not they have committed the unpardonable sin. Demons love to play a person with this kind of false accusation once they lock in on someone to start and try to play their mind-games with them.

Some Christians think they may be guilty of this sin because they have been wrestling with God over certain issues, or they may have thrown major temper tantrums actually yelling at God. Just because you may be wrestling with God, yelling at Him, telling Him that you are going to walk off of His playing field, losing some of your faith, shutting down, not wanting to go to church or read your Bible - none of these things is a direct blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians will wrestle with God from time to time - especially when we get hit by any type of serious storm cloud. This is why the apostle Paul calls our walk with the Lord a "fight of faith." Sometimes we have to fight to keep our faith up and in God - especially when we are going through trying circumstances.

The only way I believe that any Christian could be possibly guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit would be if they were to change camps by either becoming a full pledged atheist by refusing to believe that God actually exists, or by literally switching camps to worship, serve and follow Satan direct.

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will not strive with a man forever. If a Christian starts to head down into these kinds of extreme dark waters - the Holy Spirit will be doing everything He possibly can to strive and wrestle with them to keep them from going over this kind of edge. But if after a certain amount of time this person keeps refusing what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell him and convict him of, and hardens his heart to the point where he will no longer listen to God, then I believe that God will quit striving with him after a certain point - and then that person will be lost forever.

If that should occur, then I believe this may also be considered a direct blasphemy against the Holy Spirit - especially since the Holy Spirit had been the One to actually wrestle and strive with this person over such a long period of time. What could be more blasphemous than telling God that you no longer believe that He actually exists, or if you decide you want to change camps and worship and follow his archenemy of all time - the devil himself?

Per the article I did titled "Can a Christian Lose his Salvation?" - I believe there are several powerful verses from Scripture that do show that it may be possible for a Christian to lose his or her salvation. I know many will argue they don't believe in this. Their argument is that no one can be a true Christian and then fall away to serve Satan or become a full pledged atheist. They feel if something like this should ever happen, then this person was never truly saved and born again to begin with.

I really believe there are people who have true born again conversions when they are 15 or 16 years old - and then 20 or 30 years later they fall into dark side waters like changing camps to follow and serve Satan direct, become serial killers, serial rapists, or become involved in gang or organized crime activity where they are literally killing other people for hire or profit.

I believe that in each one of these types of extreme cases the Holy Spirit has been in major wrestling matches with each one of them trying to get them to retain their salvation. But again, the Holy Spirit will not strive with a man forever.

There is even a limit to God's patience and how long He will chase and strive after someone. Anyone who manages to lose their salvation by deliberately refusing to heed the warnings and strivings of the Holy Spirit on some of these more serious types of transgressions may be guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

4.  The other area where someone may possibly be guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is when the Holy Spirit is chasing and striving after someone who is not saved. Again, this verse where the Holy Spirit will not strive with a man forever may also apply to Him chasing after an unbeliever - where He is trying to show him the errors of his ways and the errors of his thinking.

If after a certain amount of time this unbeliever refuses to accept God's calling, refuses to turn from the sins he may be living in, refuses to accept what Jesus did for him at Calvary, refuses to accept all of the laborers that God may have sent his way to try and get him saved - then God will pull back and quit striving after him.

And if that should occur - this person will be done! And if this should happen to an unbeliever, then I believe there is also the possibility that he would be guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit - especially since the Holy Spirit was the main One who had been wrestling with him over all of those years

There are some Bible scholars and commentators who believe that this may be another definition or interpretation of what blaspheming the Holy Spirit is all about. Though this is a bit of a grey issue, I believe they may be right with that assessment.

Conclusion

To those Christians who think they may be guilty of having committed the unpardonable sin - study the above two Scripture verses very carefully. Unless you have directly called the Holy Spirit Satan himself or a demonic spirit like the Scribes and Pharisees did back in Jesus' day - then you are nowhere close to having had committed this unpardonable sin.

The only other possible scenario would be if you have decided to completely forsake and abandon God all together by choosing to believe that He no longer exists, or deciding that you want to change sides and follow and worship after the devil direct. Even then, you will still have some time with the Lord to see the errors of your ways and the bad choices you have made.

God will not give up on you and He will continue to chase after you - even if you have fallen into a Satan worshipping group. Many people who have fallen into these types of dark groups have been rescued and pulled out of them by the Lord after a certain length of time. But again, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit will not chase after and strive with you forever. Realize that there are limits and boundaries to God's patience, grace and mercy.

Unless you are treading or entering into these types of extreme dangerous grounds with the Lord - then you are nowhere close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Losing some of your faith, getting mad at God, holding grudges against Him, pulling back on Him, and arguing and wrestling with Him are not direct acts of blasphemy against His Holy Spirit.

God is obviously not going to be happy with this kind of child-like immature behavior, but you are not going to lose your salvation over it, and you are not going to be deemed guilty of blaspheming His Holy Spirit by throwing some of these kinds of immature temper tantrums.

The Bible says that our flesh and spirits will war against each other and for some, their flesh will at times get the upper hand on them. But don't misconstrue this type of rollercoaster ride in your walk with the Lord with either blaspheming God the Father or the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus had to come and die for all of us - because of our sins, because of our sin nature, and because of all of our character flaws and imperfections.

Just realize who you really are in Christ and learn to grow and mature in your walk with Him and try to keep your temper tantrums and pity parties to a bare minimum. This life is way too short to be wallowing in wrestling matches with the Lord, holding grudges against Him, and questioning some of the decisions He may have made with your life.

Realize that God the Father always knows best, trust that He has made the right decisions in the way that He has been handling your life, and press on into the calls and divine assignments that He has set up for you to walk in with what little time you still have left down here.

You only get one chance in the eternal scheme of things to accomplish God's perfect will for your life down here on this earth. Don't blow it or lose it because you have been wrestling with God over all of these years over issues that you will end up finding out later on were a complete waste of time to be arguing with Him in the first place.

Remember, God is perfect - you are not! God always knows best - you do not! God can see into you future - you cannot! Trust God - because you can't trust yourself or the world in general to achieve your full potential in Him in this lifetime!

 

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Scripture taken from New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005-2008 by Michael Bradley.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.