Blasphemy Against The Holy Ghost

In Matt 12:31-32 Jesus said "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." Both Mark 3:28-29 and Luke 12:10 say the same thing.

What Is The Sin Of The Blasphemy Against The Holy Ghost?

By examining these three passages we see what Jesus condemned here as "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost" was attributing the miraculous work of the Holy Ghost to the power of Satan.

Can This Sin Be Committed Today?

If a person attributes the miraculous work of the Holy Ghost to the power of Satan today, then he commits the sin of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost today the same as then. But some say, "but nobody is performing miracles today; so how could we attribute the power of a Holy Ghost enabled miracle to Satan?" In reply, let me remind the readers that when we discuss with the Pentecostals, and we point out the miracles were to confirm the word, they say that we need the miracles today to confirm the word to us today. We usually reply (and rightfully so), we have the miracles found in the Bible for confirmation. Using similar reasoning, the truth is that someone could blaspheme against the Holy Ghost today by believing the miracles of the New Testament actually occurred, but believe and say they were performed by the power of Satan.

The Obvious Meaning Of The Passages

Frequently in Albert Barnes’ commentary, he gives various explanations for a passage, and then tells which one he believes is the correct one. Many times, one of the reasons given for why he takes his position is stated by the following quote from him: "Because it seems to be the most obvious. It is that which will strike plain men as being the natural meaning; men who have not a theory to support, and who understand language in its usual sense." Now I ask my reader – What is the "most obvious" meaning of Matt 12:31-32? What is the meaning "which will strike PLAIN men as being the natural meaning; men who have not a theory to support, and who understand language in its usual sense"? Of course, the obvious meaning is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is the one sin that cannot be forgiven, EVEN IF REPENTED OF.

But What About I John 1:9, etc.?

In opposition to this obvious meaning of the passage, many Christians will ask about passages like I John 1:9 that teach any and all sin can be forgiven. Their point is that since the Bible teaches any sin repented of will be forgiven, that means the position taken by this article is incorrect.

There is really no conflict however. What we have here is the rule, and the exception to the rule. We understand the rule, and the exception to the rule in the divorce and remarriage passages. Luke 16:18 states the general rule that remarriage after divorce is adultery. But Matt 19:9 states the one exception ("except") to that rule: if the divorce was "for fornication," then the subsequent remarriage is not adultery.

Likewise, I John 1:9 states the general rule that any and all sin will be forgiven, if we are willing to confess that sin. However, Matt 12:31 states the one exception ("but" is used in the sense of "except") to that rule: if the sin is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it will not be forgiven, even if we confess that sin. As a matter of fact, the first part of Matt 12:31 ("All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men") states the same general rule of forgiveness as I John 1:9; and then Matt 12:31 goes on to state there is one exception to that rule. Conclusion: all sin will be forgiven (if one repents and confesses), but there is ONE EXCEPTION to that rule, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost!

Does Blasphemy Of Holy Ghost Equate To No Repentance?

Some say the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is any sin a person won’t repent of, or is when a person reaches a point where they cannot repent. Notice the following two quotes from an article written by a Christian, commenting on the sin of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost: "His sin is unpardonable simply because he is unwilling to travel the road that leads to pardon. The only sin that God is unable to forgive is the unwillingness to accept forgiveness" … "Grieving …, resisting …, and quenching … the Holy Spirit may lead one to become so calloused that he will not even hear the truth."

These two positions end up at the same place, that anybody willing to repent may receive forgiveness for any sin. This position is pleasing from an emotional viewpoint, because we are never put into a position of having to say somebody desiring forgiveness cannot receive it. Someone has put the position this way: anybody desiring forgiveness and showing remorse, must not have committed the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, therefore they can be forgiven. But though this position may be appealing from an emotional viewpoint, it ignores the plain truth taught by Jesus, that there is one sin that will not be forgiven, no matter how sorry a person might be that they have committed the sin. Following is a summary of scriptural problems with this position that this blasphemy equates to being unwilling to repent:

• There is NOTHING EVEN REMOTELY RESEMBLING THIS IN THE PASSAGES. Nothing in either of the three passages (Matt 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, or Luke 12:10) say or imply the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is a sin that will not, or cannot be repented of.

• This passage names ONE sin as unpardonable, but these positions would mean that ANY SIN could be called the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost (since any sin can remain unrepented of, or since a person could eventually be hardened concerning any sin) including blasphemy against Jesus, which the passage says is NOT the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.

• Is there a passage that teaches you can reach a point where it is absolutely impossible to change your mind, or does the Bible just teach you can reach a point where it is difficult to repent? Assuming one can reach a point where it is impossible to repent, there is absolutely no reference made to it by these three passages in question.

• The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is not the lack of repentance at all, but involves SPEAKING against the Holy Ghost. The sin does not involve leaving something off, such as repentance; instead it involves doing something actively, specifically, speaking evil against the Holy Ghost.

The difference between the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and every other sin is not in the repentance, but in the forgiveness – at least according to Jesus. Let me restate Matt 12:31 with what is understood from other passages (like Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:22, II Pet 3:9) inserted – "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men (if they repent): but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." The word "but" here is used in the sense of "except." So the clear force of the exception is there is one sin that won’t be forgiven men "if they repent" as opposed to the "all" (other) sin that will be forgiven if one repents. That exception no more contradicts I John 1:9 and the like (the general rule) than Matt 19:9 (the exception) contradicts Luke 16:18 (the general rule). Seeing it that way should help us to understand that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost can be repented of just like any other sin (there is no reason to think otherwise anyway); the difference is that God will not forgive it, even if it is repented of.

I John 5:16 A Sin Unto Death

I John 5:16 reads, "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it." The teaching here fits Matt 12:31 "hand in glove." If a man commits any other sin, pray for him, he shall be forgiven (again, assuming he repents). But if a man commits the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, no need to pray for him (you would be wasting your time), he cannot be forgiven (even if he does repent). I John 5:16 is not talking about sin unrepented of, because we are to pray for people in that circumstance (Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60); I do it all the time.

Why Is This Issue Important?

Understanding this issue correctly is important for the following reasons:

• Because it is important to teach exactly what God’s book says on this and every other matter.

• Because we need to warn people that if they commit this sin, unlike any other sin, they CANNOT be forgiven, even if they repent.

• Because we must not compromise God’s teaching in order to make it more palatable. We must not water it down just because we feel unwilling to face the possibility of God refusing to accept someone who truly desires his acceptance.

• Because we must be willing to accept clear Bible teachings over standard brotherhood positions. Where is our loyalty, to our brethren’s standard positions, or to God’s book and what it actually teaches?

Conclusion

Is there any real reason not to accept the OBVIOUS meaning of the Matt 12:31-32, that there is one sin God has decided not to forgive no matter what? I’m sorry, but the Bible teaches once a person commits the sin of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, there is no hope for him left. It doesn’t matter if that person is baptized, it doesn’t matter how good that person lives, it doesn’t matter how many times that person repents, prays, and confesses, he CANNOT ever be forgiven of this sin!

July 21, 1996

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