What is The Unpardonable Sin
April 14, 2021
Commentary
A man is brought to Jesus in who was blind, unable to speak and possessed with a demon. Jesus immediately healed him and the people were astonished (v. 22-23). The Pharisees accused Him of doing this in the power of Beelzebul (another name for Satan) (v. 24). Jesus gave three arguments to answer them:
1. If He cast out a demon by Satan’s power Satan would be working against himself (v. 25-26).
2. The Jews had exorcists who claimed to cast out devils and if this was so, by whose power did they cast out demons (v. 27).
3. He was able to cast out demons because He had first defeated Satan (v. 28-30).
These next verses have been referred to as the unpardonable sin. The big question is – Can it be committed today, and if so how? First of all Jesus made it clear that all sins can be forgiven (v. 31). Then what is blasphemy? It has been defined as intentionally speaking evil against the Holy Spirit (v. 32). But even blasphemy Jesus says can be forgiven just as any other sin when it is confessed and repented of. Then what was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which was more serious? Warren Wiersbe explains it this way. “When the leaders rejected John the Baptist, they were rejecting the Father who sent him. When they rejected Jesus, they were rejecting the Son but when they rejected the Holy Spirit that is the end. There is no more witness.” This means that the “unpardonable sin” is the final rejection of Jesus.
You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces (v. 33). Our words say what is in our hearts (v. 34). Good people produce good things and evil people produce evil things (v. 35). On the day of judgment we will have to give account for every careless word spoken (vv. 36-37).
Application
Do you know anyone who has committed the “unpardonable sin"? Not if they are still alive because as long as a person is rational he can still be forgiven.
Matthew 12:22– 37 (NET)
22 Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed him so that he could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “Could this one be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this they said, “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!” 25 Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. 26 So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. 29 How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever 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 known by its fruit. 34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. 35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Illustration: Japan’s Stubbornness Club
Stubbornness has caused a split in Japan’s Stubbornness Club-formed by 20 people who considered themselves obstinate, but wanted to be worthwhile members of society. Their monthly meetings became increasingly heated, and the vice-president has resigned to form a rival Society for the Preservation of Stubbornness. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations).