The Unforgivable Sin – Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

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The Lord Jesus says whoever commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. What is this Unforgivable Sin, and how can we avoid doing it?

 


 

BIBLE VERSES

 

This teaching from the Lord Jesus about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is quite somber.

 

Here is the main passage where it is revealed:

Matthew 12:31. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

sin. The Greek word is ἁμαρτία (“hamartia”). It means to miss the mark, guilt, sin, fault, failure.

blasphemy. The Greek word is βλασφημία (“blasphēmia”). It means language that is abusive. It can also mean making scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation. Politicians do that to their opponents.

forgiven. The Greek word is ἀφεθήσεται (“aphethēsetai”). It means to send away, to release, to permit to depart, to remit, to forgive.

Spirit. The Greek word is πνεύματος (“pneumatos”). It means wind, breath, spirit. The context is key to knowing which meaning is intended.

In this verse, the Greek word pneumatos is NOT preceded by the word “holy.” So it means “spirit,” and not “Holy Spirit.”

In some other passages, the Greek word pneumatos IS preceded by the word “holy.” In those cases, the two words are translated as “Holy Spirit.”

 

This teaching by the Lord Jesus about the Unforgivable Sin is echoed in many other Bible verses:

Isaiah 22:14. The LORD of Hosts revealed himself in my ears, “Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,” says the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.

Mark 3:29. but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.

Luke 12:10. Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Hebrews 6:4. For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Hebrews 6:5. and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Hebrews 6:6. and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

Hebrews 10:26. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:27. but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.

1 John 5:16. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this.

 

INTERPRETATION

 

There are many ways to interpret this teaching about the Unforgivable Sin.

We believe the Unforgivable Sin is the steadfast refusal to repent.

We humans can repent at any moment of our life. But if we steadfastly refuse to repent, all our lives, then after we die, we will have no more chance to repent.

 

OTHER

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss

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Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.