Matthew 12:22-32

Jesus Warns of Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

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.” (Matthew 12:22-32 NIV)

• Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who is blind and mute– The people are incredulous• Their question expresses disbelief, not

uncertainty

– The Pharisees are indignant• They claim he casts out demons by the

power of Satan

• Jesus exposes their hard-hearted disbelief– They know the truth, they simply reject

it• They cannot argue that everyone who casts

out demons is empowered by Satan• They cannot really believe that Satan would

defeat himself• Therefore, they know it is by the power of

God

• Jesus then warns against blasphemy of the Holy SpiritAnd 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.

• What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?– It is not merely continued unbelief• This would simply mean the unforgiven will

be unforgiven

– It is not a common sin• Despite past attempts to identify it with

adultery, divorce, suicide, etc.

• What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?– The key is found in the context• See Matthew 12:24• This is made explicit in Mark’s account

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin“ for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

(Mark 3:29-30)

• Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is attributing the work of the Spirit to Satan– It involves calling the good work of God evil

(cf. Isaiah 5:20)

– This is not due to ignorance, but insolence• It is not something one does accidentally• It is a rebellious rejection of God’s activity• The crowd disbelieved due to ignorance, the

Pharisees knowingly despised the work of the Spirit

• A second lesson– Jesus exhibits tremendous humility• Despite his status as God-incarnate he

humbly endures slanders and blasphemies directed against him• He is more concerned with his kingdom

mission than with protecting his personal reputation

– Perhaps we should do the same