Scripture: Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” Matthew 12:22-25, 30-31 ESV
Observation: As Matthew continues his account of Jesus’ ministry, the time marker “Then” refers to Jesus withdrawing from the Pharisees’ interrogation regarding whether healing on the Sabbath violates the Law (12:9-14), for he knew they conspired to destroy him (12:14-15). Yet, like ravenous hound dogs tracking the scent, the Pharisees keep spying on Jesus, hoping to find irrefutable evidence to find him guilty of a capital offense.
In the above story, Jesus mercifully heals a blind and mute demon-possessed man amid a crowd of eyewitnesses and the spying Pharisees. Marveling at his miraculous healing, the people exclaim, “Can this be the Son of David?” As theologian David Wilkins notes, the “common people” of Jesus’ day hoped the Messiah would follow King David’s robust military leadership style. Moreover, David was the only Old Testament servant of God who delivered a demon from a man (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Thus, the crowd hoped this bold prophet standing up against the oppressive religious leaders would be their David-Esque Messiah. The Pharisees knew the implication of the astonished crowd’s question and swiftly dismissed such a notion and accused Jesus of acting under the authority of Beelzebub, the prince of demons (i.e., Satan).
Thus, Jesus reasons against their preposterous accusation using two short parables found in verses 26-30 (not cited above). Both reinforce Jesus’ assertion (see verse 25 above) that a kingdom divided against itself will not stand. Having once again trumped the Pharisees’ machination to incriminate him, Jesus proceeds to accuse them of two sins that will lead to their demise:
- You’re either for me and gather the lost flock or against me and scatter them – verse 30.
- You are committing the only unpardonable sin: denying the hand of God working through the Holy Spirit—tantamount to blaspheming God (a capital punishment) – verse 31.
It is a stern but warranted warning for these religious leaders who are not only fighting against God but misleading his people.
Takeaway: So what are we to make of these two warnings? The first emphasizes that you can’t be neutral about Jesus’ identity. As three great writers of Christian thought (John Duncan, Watchman Nee, and C.S. Lewis) argued about the Biblical record of Christ’s claim to be the Son of God, he is either:
- deceitful (as the Pharisees concluded);
- delusional (as King Herod surmised); or
- divine (as all the New Testament writers attest).
And while all of us are at first ignorant of who Jesus is until the Holy Spirit reveals his identity, what we do with this truth that the Son of God is Lord and Savior is what matters. If we do not humble ourselves, repent, and receive his gifts of salvation and ongoing grace, we will be no better off than the Pharisees and Herod. We will perilously deceive ourselves and others (scatter), delusionally think we are in control, and foolishly try to make ourselves the center of our universe (divine).
Secondly, Jesus says that “whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven” (verse 32), but not if they speak against the Holy Spirit (stated twice in verses 31 and 32). Why? Are not all sins forgivable? Yes, if we sincerely repent and seek forgiveness. Here, Jesus addresses the actions of the Pharisees and others who are so calcified of heart, so closed-minded to the truth, that there is no spark of the Holy Spirit in them to see with their spiritual eyes and believe. Thus, they blaspheme the Holy Spirit by attributing to the devil (or any person or object) the supernatural work of the Father and Son. And at the heart of it, they lack faith in the Triune God—the only unforgivable sin—and thus deny their only means of salvation and eternal life.
As a pastoral note, if you or a loved one worries that you may have committed the unpardonable sin, the fact that you are concerned means you have not. But you would do well to follow Peter’s advice, who denied Christ three times: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV). So give your concerns and fears to Christ—it’s an act of faith in the work of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you and your Son for sending us your Holy Spirit, who ignites our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior. And we thank you that he continues to interpret even our sighs and groans and intercede for us. So would you please help us to rely on your Holy Spirit to guide and thrive us into your heavenly kingdom where we will worship and enjoy you and your Son forever? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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