The Unforgiveable Sin
TRANSLATION
(1) Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus first began to speak to his disciples, saying, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (2) There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be made known. (3) Whatever has been said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and whatever has been whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops.
(4) “And I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do no more. (5) But I will tell you whom you ought to fear. Fear the one who, after having killed (the body), has the authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you to fear him. (6) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. (7) The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear. You are worth more than many sparrows.
(8) “And I tell you that everyone who publicly acknowledges me before others I, the Son of Man, will acknowledge before the angels of God. (9) But whoever denies me before others I will deny before the angels of God. (10) Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
(11) “And when you are brought before synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, (12) for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what to say.”
OBSERVATIONS
Knowing the kind of hostility they were about to face, Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for the confrontations that were coming. Repetitions in this segment included “fear” (three times in vss. 4, 5, & 7), “kill/killed” (vss. 4 & 5), “sparrows” (vss. 6 & 7), “acknowledge(s)” (twice in vs. 8), “denies/denied” (vs. 9), “angels of God” (vss. 8 & 9), and “Holy Spirit” (vss. 10 & 12). We should note Jesus’ use of a figure of speech, “the yeast of the Pharisees,” to describe their hypocrisy (vs. 1).
We should also pay special attention to the juxtapositions found in verses 2, 3, & 8: “covered…revealed, hidden…made known, dark…light, whispered…proclaimed, and acknowledges…denies.” Two other memorable illustrations included “five sparrows sold for two pennies” and “the hairs of your head are all numbered.”
OUTLINE
I. Jesus issued several warnings…
– regarding hypocrisy. (1-3)
– regarding whom to fear. (4 & 5)
II. Jesus provided several encouragements…
– regarding human value. (6 & 7)
– regarding faithfulness in persecution. (8-12)
IDEA STATEMENT
Knowing whom we should fear and worship gives us a sense of our worth and guards us against blasphemous behavior.
APPLICATION
This passage, containing Jesus’ warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, has long caused believers haunting anxieties. Many have asked, “Is this a sin I could possibly commit? And if I could do this, could I risk losing my salvation and being eternally separated from God?” The doctrine of Eternal Security assures us that true believers can never lose their salvation just as Paul wrote: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” However, that stops short of dealing with our questions regarding blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In seeking an answer, we should remember that the context of our passage is of vital importance.
What exactly constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Matthew helps us answer this question with his more detailed account of the opposition Jesus faced from the Pharisees. Jesus’ enemies made the following accusation: “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons” (Mt. 12:24). It would appear from this context that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit occurred when Jesus’ enemies attributed his personal ministry, clearly done by and through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, to the power of Satan. Because it is the Holy Spirit who illumines hearts and regenerates those who believe the truth of the Gospel, those who claimed that his life-giving ministry was actually the work of Satan placed themselves in danger of eternal perdition. This was a serious sin indeed, but one that is not being committed today since Jesus is no longer physically present working miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.