Jesus said,
Every sin shall be forgiven except…Ma. 12:32
In yet another confrontation with the Pharisees, Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me…” Matthew 12:30. This He said because they claimed Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons, verse 24. Then Matthew records these astonishing words…But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them. Matthew had made this revelation before, chapter 9:4: But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” Jesus knows you. He knows how you think and how you feel.
Perhaps the claim of the Pharisees against Jesus and His power to heal came from Him displaying His power on the Sabbath, Matthew 12:11-14. In addition to correcting their view of the Sabbath, Jesus corrects their doctrine regarding Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Verse 26: If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Then Jesus claims that He has power over Satan, Verse 29. Then the line in the sand, Verse 30: He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
Jesus does not stop teaching with that statement. He continues, verses 31 and 32. A more complicated statement about forgiveness. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven them; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
The Pharisees were coming very close to committing the unforgivable sin. They were denying all evidence given by God through the Holy Spirit that Jesus was Christ. They were willfully opposing God. Their opposition was taking its natural course: malice leading to violence. More than once their stubbornness led them to want to kill Jesus, the took up stones to stone Him to death.
In today’s terms, they were denying themselves access to the ministry of the Spirit. Prior to His departure, Jesus promised to send us The Helper, John 16:7. Translated Comforter in the KJV. Who is identified as the Holy Spirit in John 14:26. Who will abide with us forever, John 14:16. Who will teach us all things, John 14:26. Who is the Spirit of truth from the Father and will testify of Jesus, John 15:26.
Who will lead people to Jesus, John 16:7 thru 11. John 16, Verse 8: And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment. For this reason, when a person denies (blasphemes) the Holy Spirit of God they give up all access to conviction of sin of righteousness and of judgment. They are done. They are given up to a reprobate mind. They die in their sins. They suffer the second resurrection.
The giving of this warning is love and grace. Jesus did not threaten the Pharisees with death as they did Him. Instead, Jesus offered them life. Their plot to kill Jesus would not deny them to eternal hell. But their denial of the Holy Spirit would. It is always better to accept God’s mercy. Life depends on it.
