What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Have you committed this unpardonable sin?

The Word of God has the answers. Let’s take a look at the context. In Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus delivers a demon-possessed man from a demonic entity.

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” (Matthew 12:22-23)

The pharisees, who had heard about the miracle, looked for a way to discredit the miracle that Jesus had just performed.

24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. (Matthew 12:24-29)

After revealing the source of His power and authority (The Holy Spirit), Jesus gave the pharisees a sobering warning:

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. 31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. (Matthew 12:30-32)

Firstly, either the Pharisees had committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit or came very close to committing the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I suspect they only came close to committing the unpardonable sin. Otherwise, why would Jesus give them a warning if they were already beyond hope?

Secondly, look at the term that’s used here: blasphemy. Blasphemy is a sin that you commit by speaking something. So we know that the pharisees were being warned, because of the words they had spoken. In fact, in verse 32, Jesus warns, “anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.”

Since blasphemy is a sin that you commit through sinful words, we can rule out sins that are commonly mistaken for the unpardonable sin. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not suicide, murder, witchcraft, backsliding, evil thoughts, or sexual sin. It is a sin that you commit by what you say.

Thirdly, we know that the unpardonable sin can be committed in this lifetime, for Jesus said that the one who commits it will never be forgiven, “either in this world or in the world to come.” Some say that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is simply the rejection of salvation or the stubborn refusal of the gospel up until death. But that cannot be the case, since the unpardonable sin is unforgivable, even in this lifetime. So the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is most certainly not just the rejection of salvation or the Holy Spirit.

So judging by what Jesus said to the pharisees, we can conclude that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is speaking against the Holy Spirit or the attributing of the Holy Spirit’s power to demonic power.

But remember, we still don’t know whether or not the pharisees had already committed it or were merely coming close to committing it. The Biblical text implies a very deep-rooted form of sin. You can’t commit this sin on accident, yet we should still tread carefully. After all, I don’t want to inspire ease where Jesus sought to inspire fear.

And this is very important to note: Not all verbal expressions of skepticism, anger, disobedience, or disrespect toward the Holy Spirit can be categorized as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can only come from a conscience that is completely seared. I’ll prove that to you with scripture now.

So have you committed the unpardonable sin? Let me present another verse to you.

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. (John 6:37)

Nobody comes to Jesus unless they are drawn by the Father. And the Father certainly would never draw someone who couldn’t be forgiven. Therefore, if there is a desire in you to be forgiven and to be right with God, then you are being drawn by God - and Jesus will not reject you. Comparing scripture with scripture, we discover that…

A.) it is not possible for the Spirit-filled believer to commit this sin and

B.) those who commit it couldn’t possibly have any interest in repentance, nor would they have any fear of having committed the unpardonable sin.

All scriptures have to be harmonious with one another. So think about it this way: if someone commits the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, then they will always be rejected by God. And Jesus promised to never reject anyone who comes to Him, because those who come to Him have been drawn by the Father. If the one who committed the unpardonable sin ever came to the Lord, then the Lord would have to break His promise of never rejecting anyone who came to Him. Therefore, the one who has committed the unpardonable sin would never approach God in the first place. Indeed, such a person has no desire to ever again approach God.

Bottom line: Are you afraid that you may have committed the unpardonable sin? That fear alone is proof that you haven’t.

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