Blast Femur

[oscarkipling]

Matthew 12:31-32
31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone 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.

Say, what does this verse mean? Or more specifically what does speaking against the Holy spirit Entail? Also, what does it mean to not be forgiven...I mean what are the consequences?

[TEITZY]

Christians have differing opinions about exactly what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit involves, but in context Jesus is talking to the Pharisees (unbelieving Jewish leaders) about their claims that He was casting out demons by satan's power rather than God's divine power. So the sin specifically is saying (blasphemy involves speaking) that Jesus is casting out demons by satan's power. Debate rages as to whether this 'sin' can still be committed today and by whom but such 'speculations' are fruitless IMO.

When Jesus says they will "not be forgiven" He means exactly that, this specific sin was spiritually fatal to the unbelieving Pharisees and from this point there is no turning back for them - they had gone beyond the point of no return. Chapter 12 is a pivotal moment in Matthew as it outlines Israel's rejection of their Messiah and an increasing animosity of its leaders towards Jesus.

In verse 34 Jesus tells the Pharisees their true nature - that they are children of satan - and that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". If anyone is to be saved they need to be convicted of their sins by the Holy Spirit (see John 16:8). The problem with the Pharisees is that their hearts were so hard that even when exposed to the most convincing miracles and demonstrations of the Spirit's power they rejected it, and even worse, they said satan did it! This sin was fatal (eternally damning) because it showed that nothing could ever change their unbelief to saving faith.

God also has a limit to which He strives with unbelievers (see Gen 6:3) before He hands them over to their sinful desires (see Rom 1:18-32) and all hope of salvation is lost. I think this event in Matt 12 marks the end of God's striving with the leaders of Israel.

Cheers
Leigh

[oscarkipling]

Christians have differing opinions about exactly what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit involves, but in context Jesus is talking to the Pharisees (unbelieving Jewish leaders) about their claims that He was casting out demons by satan's power rather than God's divine power. So the sin specifically is saying (blasphemy involves speaking) that Jesus is casting out demons by satan's power. Debate rages as to whether this 'sin' can still be committed today and by whom but such 'speculations' are fruitless IMO.

When Jesus says they will "not be forgiven" He means exactly that, this specific sin was spiritually fatal to the unbelieving Pharisees and from this point there is no turning back for them - they had gone beyond the point of no return. Chapter 12 is a pivotal moment in Matthew as it outlines Israel's rejection of their Messiah and an increasing animosity of its leaders towards Jesus.

In verse 34 Jesus tells the Pharisees their true nature - that they are children of satan - and that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". If anyone is to be saved they need to be convicted of their sins by the Holy Spirit (see John 16:8). The problem with the Pharisees is that their hearts were so hard that even when exposed to the most convincing miracles and demonstrations of the Spirit's power they rejected it, and even worse, they said satan did it! This sin was fatal (eternally damning) because it showed that nothing could ever change their unbelief to saving faith.

God also has a limit to which He strives with unbelievers (see Gen 6:3) before He hands them over to their sinful desires (see Rom 1:18-32) and all hope of salvation is lost. I think this event in Matt 12 marks the end of God's striving with the leaders of Israel.

Cheers
Leigh


well that certainly is an interesting answer, thank you

[Tanya~]

Oscar my response is pretty much the same as Leigh's. I wrote about this topic in my blog which you can read here: http://bibleonlinestudy.blogspot.com/2008/03/blasphemy-of-holy-spirit.html

[oscarkipling]

Oscar my response is pretty much the same as Leigh's. I wrote about this topic in my blog which you can read here: http://bibleonlinestudy.blogspot.com/2008/03/blasphemy-of-holy-spirit.html


well that was a good read, thanks.