Matthew 12:22-37
22 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. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25 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. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “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 plunder his house.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 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.
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Questions:
ReplyDelete- What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
- The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Yet we have good and bad moments. Is our hearts good and bad? What's going on?
- Will we have to give account for our words? Does Christ cover this too?
Note: I could have sworn we have already dealt with the issue of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit - but I can't find it. So, I guess we will address it again.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-matthew-12-31.htm says:
ReplyDeleteTo speak evil words against Jesus as a man working among men, though deplorable, was an evil that could be forgiven. The Son of Man in his earthly ministry was as liable to
misunderstanding and ill treatment by others as any new messenger. When the source of evil speaking against Christ is ignorance, misconception, or ill-informed prejudice, then that blasphemy is as pardonable as any sin. Men could repent of their careless neglect of his work or their mistaken opposition to it, and when they did repent, they were forgiven. There are many examples in the New Testament of people who first opposed Jesus but later turned to accept him.
Paul marveled at the mercy extended to him even though he had been "a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor" (1 Tim.1: 12-16, emphasis mine, dwp). The apostle described himself as the "chief of sinners" to show, in fact, the perfect patience of Christ as the Savior of all.
The person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, how ever, places himself beyond the reach of forgiveness. This is true because the Holy Spirit is the agent in the revelation of divine truth (2 Sam. 23:2; John 15:26; 16:13; Eph. 6:17; 2 Pet. 1:21). It is only through the work of the Spirit that we come to know of God, our sins, the atonement provided through Christ, and our need for repentance and obedience. Blasphemy against the Spirit is unforgivable because its source is a heart
of malice, selfish preference of wrong over right and evil over good, and a willful refusal to believe. The Pharisees had revealed that their hearts were evil, and Jesus called them a "brood of vipers" (Matt. 12:34). Such a perverse spirit consciously and deliberately rejects the truth and thus the salvation it brings. "Either in this age, or in the age to come" (Matt.12:32) simply means "never." In Mark's account, Jesus called it an "eternal sin" (3:29). As long as a person persists in this state, genuine repentance is impossible. There is no room in this person's heart for penitence, which is a prerequisite for forgiveness. 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.
There is such a thing as opposition to divine influence that is so persistent and deliberate, because of continual preference of darkness to light, that repentance, and therefore forgiveness become impossible.
The Hebrews writer said it is impossible to renew to repentance those who crucify the Son of God afresh, placing themselves in a state of open repudiation of the only way of salvation (Heb. 6:4-6). For them "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" (10:26f). They have sinned the sin "unto death" (1 John 5:16).
http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/why-blasphemy-against-holy-spirit-unpardonable-sin says:
ReplyDeleteWhile it is technically true that people can speak against the Son and still be forgiven, they cannot do so and be forgiven if they are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Messiah. To do so would be to reject the prompting of the Holy Spirit in their heart and mind. The result is a hardened conscience (1 Timothy 4:2); Titus 1:15) that can no longer respond to the Spirit's work of leading people to repent of and confess their sin (John 16:8). Such rejecters are beyond the reach of God's Spirit, for they have tuned out the only channel through which God can reach them. When that is done, they are beyond hope. They have committed the unforgivable sin.
Many sensitive Christians worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The very fact that they are concerned is an indication that they are still listening for the Spirit and desire to respond to Him. Frederick Bruner is right on target when he writes, "the spirit of the sin against the Spirit is an unworried adamancy. It is impenitence, the unwillingness to repent… It is not careless acts, it is a hardened state"
Jesus goes on to claim that the true state of people can be told by the words that come out of their mouths (Matthew 12:33-37). Such a truth does not bode well for the Pharisees, whose mouths have recently set forth the view that Jesus' actions were inspired by the devil rather than God. If they continue in that line, Matthew 12:22-37 implies, they will eventually commit the unpardonable sin.
My 2 cents:
ReplyDeleteThe above article covers it pretty well, but I thought I would add a thought.
I believe that what Christendom calls "accepting Jesus into your heart" is a process by which the Holy Spirit reveals (God / Himself) to us in some way, and we respond by dropping everything and rushing towards Him ("I have to have Him!"). Sometimes this is a process. We get a glimpse of God, are intrigued, we get another and are interested, etc.
Given that, this is what I believe blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is: When someone gets that glimpse of God (the Holy Spirit) and is repulsed or disgusted. (That is opposed to nervous, afraid or even furious). If that happens, that person has made their eternal choice. That disgust will never turn to intrigue.
I add that that disgust must be directed at a true glimpse of God, and not at, say a representative of God's vile behavior (or even behavior that is considered vile).
You may counter that the verse is talking about somebody speaking out, and not their internal reaction. I counter that by saying every word that comes out of the mouth starts in the heart. It's the heart attitude that's the real issue. The words are just a reflection.
One last thought: We must never ever judge another person by saying that they blasphemed the Holy Spirit and are now beyond salvation. Only God know the heart. We are very bad judges of other people's hearts.
https://bible.org/seriespage/18-beelzebub-or-holy-spirit-matthew-1222-37 says:
ReplyDeleteThe message is primarily addressed to folks who oppose Christ and blaspheme the Spirit concerning His miracles--in other words, unbelievers. To make an application to believers, we would have to formulate secondary applications, applications derived from the implications here. We could say things like:
1. Believers should be encouraged in their faith by passages like this because Jesus demonstrates again that He truly is the divine Son of God.
2. Believers can take comfort in the grace of God that Christ has been judged for them, in their place. They may have to give an account of their works at the Bema Seat of Christ, but not at the last judgment where there will be condemnation for unbelief and unrighteousness, and where there will be no forgiveness. Believers have been forgiven, and so there is no condemnation for them.
3. But believers should also guard their words, because what they say reflects who they are, and those words should reflect a heart of faith and a life of righteousness.
4. And, believers should do what Matthew is doing here, and proclaim who Christ is to people and tell them that in Christ there is forgiveness of sin, but there is no neutrality--only by being in Christ can people “gather” with Christ.
https://bible.org/seriespage/18-beelzebub-or-holy-spirit-matthew-1222-37 continues:
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, Jesus in several places in the Gospels spoke of evil being in the heart, or that what proceeds from the heart is evil. So we can correlate those passages in His teachings to show the importance of being born again, or repenting, or coming to faith in Jesus.
The passage naturally correlates to Gospel teachings throughout the Scripture. There is salvation and forgiveness only in the LORD God--and by His claims and by His mighty works, Jesus reveals that He is this LORD God. And so passages that center on faith in Jesus Christ as the guarantee of salvation and deliverance from the judgment would be useful. And Paul reminds us in Romans that we are to confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth.
Likewise James focuses on speech, showing that good things should come from a good heart. Our difficulty is that we do not always show by thoughts, words, or deeds, that our hearts have been cleansed and created anew. We who know that Jesus is the Messiah, who know that He did His works by the power of the Spirit, who know that He is coming to judge the world, ought to make sure that our words and works harmonize with that faith.
https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com/tag/matthew-1233-37/ says:
ReplyDeleteThe condition of our heart is caused by what we store there. What we store up feeds our hearts and tumbles out of our mouths. What we choose to take in – what we look at, listen to, read and discuss – becomes, by definition, the “treasure” in our hearts. What am I reading? What kind of music do you listen to? What television programs and movies am I watching? What websites are you visiting online? Who do you spend time with, and what do you discuss? Now I know you are probably not dwelling on the “dark side.” Your choices are not so bad. But here is the question I ask myself continually – will this program, this magazine, this movie or online site, or this conversation strengthen my Christian walk? Will it help me to grow deeper roots? Will it help me become more like Christ?
It’s what I call “The Sponge Principle.” Whatever a sponge absorbs, it will express when squeezed. If I am exposing myself to sour attitudes, sexual content, anger or violence – when I am “squeezed” I will express ugliness. But what if the things I choose to take in aren’t as bad as all that? The principle still applies. If I am only sitting in tepid water, I will produce a tepid spirit. But – if I am purposefully absorbing God’s Word, enjoying the fellowship and influence of godly people, and the goodness of praise – when life squeezes me, what comes forth is the evidence of God in my heart, things like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). I want my life to always express the beauty and blessedness of God.
Jesus tells us how to measure and recognize the condition of our heart, and how to restore an unhealthy heart back to wholeness. What does the fruit of your lips say about the status of your heart? Do you need to make some changes in what you are soaking in?
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-matthew-12-36-37b.htm says:
ReplyDeleteWell, that's not good. How many careless words have I spoken in my lifetime. Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? Maybe I talk too much.
A “careless word” in this context is a word spoken rashly or carelessly without thought as to whether it is pleasing to the Lord or not. It may have been spoken in anger, or excitement, or exasperation, or under pressure, or in ignorance. The Scriptures warn, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20).
So, there have been many such words come from our mouths in a lifetime, and Jesus says that they each one will be considered at the judgment and we will either be justified by them or condemned by them. Well, the gospel is not “good news” for nothing. It is the answer to our dilemma. It is what is going to get us out of this mess we got ourselves into.
Well, what do we do? There are untold awkward moments in each of our lives where we uttered a careless word that we ought not to have spoken, or done some “small” thing that wasn't exactly proper. At the judgment, am I going to hear recited all those things I have ever done, most of which I have probably forgotten about a long time ago? Will I be held accountable and condemned by every one of them?
Yes.
Or no.
It depends.
“Yes” if I must face the consequences of the choices and decisions I have made as I developed a character that was prone to carelessness with respect to God and His will, not considering obeying Him as Lord as a very high priority in my life. The outcome of those things is eternal, spiritual death. “Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.” (Romans 6:21)
But perhaps you are more interested in the “no” side of the question. Yes, we can avoid the disastrous, eternal outcome of those things. There is a way to avoid having to give an account for any and every careless word we have ever uttered. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). This is what the sixth chapter of Romans is all about. It is about overcoming sin. It is about being buried with Christ when we are baptized into His death. It is about coming up from baptism to walk in newness of life. It is about dying to sin and living unto righteousness. It is about obeying God from the heart.
Our sins, including “every careless word” are taken away by Christ. They are 'washed away” (Acts 22:16) and “forgiven” (Acts 2:38). It is by obedient faith in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross that we receive this hope. “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-26). Or, as David put it, and as the New Testament quotes: "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." (Romans 4:7,8).
And that is why the gospel is “good news”.