Introduction:
1. I recently received a question about the above title. Here is the question:
"What is the "unforgivable sin"? In particular, is it possible for a believer in the 20th (or 21st century) to commit it? How do Hebrews 6 and Hebrews 10 bear down on this subject? Thank you for your time."
2. This question is one that has troubled many people over the years. Some have been very concerned as to whether or not they have committed this sin.
3. The unforgivable sin, as it is commonly referred to, is talked about by Jesus in Matthew 12:31-32. The other accounts are found in Mark 3:28-29 & Luke 12:10. As Jesus states, the unforgivable sin is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at Matthew 12 in context.
4. Matthew 12:22-32, “Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons." 25And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 26"And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? 27"And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. 28"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29"Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32"And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.”
I. First of all, let’s consider some things right off the top that Jesus cannot be referring too.
1. Murder. Whatever this sin is, it can not be forgiven. Murder can be forgiven. In Acts 2:22-23, the apostle Peter tells the Jews that they were guilty of putting the Messiah to death (murder). Several verses later, when these same men ask Peter what they must do (vs. 37), Peter tells them to Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Obviously they were able to have this sin forgiven.
2. Suicide. True, the individual would die without forgiveness, assuming that they were of a rational state of mind. But then so would the drug addict and the drunk driver. These also would perish without forgiveness. Suicide would be of the same class as is mentioned in II Thess 1:7-9. Those “who do not know God.”
3. Denying Christ. This is a very common interpretation of this passage but Jesus distinguishes this sin from blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in verse 32.
II. What is Blasphemy?
A. Christ does a very good job in defining the word for the Pharisees and for us in vss. 31-32.
1. It literally means “to speak against.” The word is generally used in reference to deity, to speak against deity.
2. In this sense, you cannot "blaspheme" a person - the word describes belittling or mocking deity.
III. The Context.
A. Jesus was casting out demons and the Pharisees charged Him with acting by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus replies with three illustrations:
1. Vs. 25-26 - A kingdom, city, or house divided against itself cannot stand. Division from within leads to destruction. Satan would not harm or be opposed to himself.
2. Vs. 27 – “You are inconsistent because you accept that your sons cast out demons.” This most likely indicates that some of their own children had become disciples and were given the power to cast out demons (Luke 10:17). It could possibly mean that they had sons who claimed to cast out demons (false exorcists) but the former is the most probable. Vs. 28 –They should have accepted what the signs demonstrated about the kingdom and should have repented.
3. Vs. 29 – One must bind the strong man first before plundering his house. By casting out demons, Jesus had bound the strong man. Jesus was showing His power over Satan and by it declaring who He really was. Vs. 30 - Applying this to them, they were either with Christ or Satan. There is no middle ground.
B. Jesus now shows the result of their hatred toward Him in Vs. 31-32.
IV. What is Blasphemy against the Spirit?
A. The Pharisees’ attributed to Satan the power by which Jesus worked miracles.
1. If one blasphemed or spoke against the Son, it may have been temporary. The testimony of the Holy Spirit may later convict him.
2. However, to speak against the Holy Spirit was permanent because there was no other source to convict him.
V. Can one commit this sin today?
A. In one sense, "No".
1. We cannot literally see the miracles that were performed and attribute the power to Satan.
B. However, in another sense, "Yes".
1. If one turns his back on (or blasphemes) the only source which will convict him, there is no other source of conviction.
VI. Hebrews 6:4-6
A. Look at verses 4-6: “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.”
B. It is impossible to bring to repentance those Christians who have personally experienced salvation, and who then, by their actions, continually re-crucify Christ and put him to an open shame.
C. When and if they stop these things, they can be brought back.
1. The problem is if they do not want to repent. In that condition it is impossible to renew them.
2. Their sins will not be remitted because the blood of Christ which alone can remove sins, is profaned and trampled on by them, making their final destruction unavoidable.
3. The Hebrew writer gives a good illustration in verses 7-8.
VII. Hebrews 10:26-31
A. The writer of Hebrews goes on to make some other good points in Hebrews 10:26-31. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
B. If we fall back into sin after we are Christians, there is no other sacrifice that can be made.
1. Christ has already come into the world and died for the sins of mankind (I John 2:2).
2. What else can be done if we toss that aside? That individual has “trampled under foot the Son of God.” He has “insulted the Spirit of grace.”
3. Verses 30-31 should be a strong reminder and offer us encouragement to stay faithful.
VIII. I John 5:16-17
A. Consider this passage of scripture. “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
B. The "death" here refers to the second death, eternal punishment.
1. If a brother sins and manifests repentance, pray for him (James 5:16).
2. If a brother sins and manifests stubborn impenitence, don't pray for him.
C. Sin is failure to keep God's commandments - either doing what's wrong or failing to do what's right.
1. "There is a sin not leading to death" - The person who has a repentant heart, though a sinner, will not have the same fatal outcome as other sinners.
D. The Lord will forgive every sin that a brother confesses (1 John 1:9).
1. There is, however, a sin that is unto death, that is, without forgiveness (1 John 5:16). Therefore, the sin unto death is any sin a brother will not confess.
Conclusion:
1. Blasphemy against the Spirit is not some mysterious sin that one has secretly or ignorantly done.
2. They attributed the power by which Jesus worked miracles (the Holy Spirit) to Satan.
3. They spoke out of malice, desiring to destroy Jesus.
4. The same type of sin flows from those who have completely fallen away (Hebrews 6:4-6).
5. Impenitence and hardness of heart comprises it, and it is sin which leads to death (1 John 5:16-17).
