Scripture

“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven – except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.”

Observation

A demon possessed man who can neither see nor speak is brought to Jesus. Jesus heals him, causing the crowd to ask if Jesus is the Messiah.

The Pharisees dismiss this, claiming that Jesus gets his power to remove demons from satan.

Jesus replies that any nation that fights against its own people is doomed. If satan is casting out satan then he is divided, and his kingdom will not last.

Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, except the sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. A good person, like a good tree, produces good fruit, but an evil person is like a bad tree that produces bad fruit. The words we speak show the quality of the heart, and we will be judged for our words.

Application

Some christians worry about whether they have committed the unpardonable sin. Jesus does not explicitly say what it is, so this can be a cause for concern. I think anyone who is worried about this has nothing to fear because the very term “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” suggests a certain hardness of heart.

In the context of this statement, Jesus has cast out a demon from a man, allowing him to see and speak. The the Pharisees attribute this powerful act of compassion to satan. This is an extremely high level of religious blindness. If a person who claims to speak for God cannot discern between what God does and what satan does, they are in a very bad place spiritually. Not only that, but their pride will make nearly impossible to repent and so their sin cannot be forgiven.

Prayer

Father, I pray that you will keep my heart soft towards you. Let me never be so hard that I am no longer able to see the difference between you and satan. Amen.