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SUBJECT: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
QUESTION: What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the
unpardonable sin)
ANSWER:
First let us look at the Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary
definition of “blasphemy”:
Blasphemy (Page: 153)
Blas"phe*my (?), n. [L. blasphemia, Gr. : cf. OF. blasphemie.]
1. An indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs;
impiously irreverent words or signs addressed to, or used in
reference to, God; speaking evil of God; also, the act of
claiming the attributes or prerogatives of deity. &hand;
When
used generally in statutes or at common law, blasphemy is
the use of irreverent words or signs in reference to the
Supreme Being in such a way as to produce scandal or provoke
violence.
2.
Figuratively, of things held in high honor: Calumny; abuse;
vilification.
Now let us look at the Bible Dictionaries on this word:
BLASPHEMY (Grk. blasphemia, signifies the speaking of evil
of God; Heb. naqab shem 'Adonai, to "curse the name of the
Lord," Isa 52:5; Rom 2:24). Sometimes, perhaps, "blasphemy"
has been retained by translators when the general meaning
"evil-speaking" or "slander" might have been better (Ps
74:18; Col 3:8). There are two general forms of blasphemy:
(1) Attributing some evil to God, or denying Him some good
that we should attribute to Him (Lev 24:11; Rom 2:24). (2)
Giving the attributes of God to a creature-which form of
blasphemy the Jews charged Jesus with (Matt 26:65; Luke
5:21; John 10:36).
Punishment. Blasphemy, when committed in ignorance, i.e.,
through thoughtlessness and weakness of the flesh, might be
atoned for; but if committed "with a high hand," i.e., in
impious rebellion against Jehovah, was punished by stoning
(Lev 24:11-16).
New Testament. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt
12:31; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10), also called the unpardonable
sin, has caused extended discussion. The sin mentioned in
the gospels would appear to have consisted in attributing to
the power of Satan those unquestionable miracles that Jesus
performed by "the finger of God" and by the power of the
Holy Spirit. It is questionable whether it may be extended
beyond this one limited and special sin
(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
BLASPHEMY
The act of cursing, slandering, reviling or showing contempt
or lack of reverence for God. In the Old Testament,
blaspheming God was a serious crime punishable by death (Lev
24:15-16). It was a violation of the Third Commandment,
which required that the name and reputation of the Lord be
upheld (Ex 20:7).
The unbelieving Jews of Jesus' day charged Him with
blasphemy because they thought of Him only as a man while He
claimed to be God's Son (Matt 9:3). Actually, the
lawlessness of the Jews themselves was causing God's name to
be blasphemed among the Gentiles (Rom 2:24). By their bitter
opposition to Jesus and His gospel, they themselves were
guilty of blasphemy (Acts 18:6). Jesus condemned as
blasphemy their attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to
Satan (Matt 12:31-32).
Christians are commanded to avoid behavior that blasphemes
the Lord's name and teaching (1 Tim 6:1).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
As you can see from these definitions, there are different
kinds of blasphemy but your question was specific to
blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is the power of
God. To understand the blasphemy one must understand the
attitude in which this blasphemy is unleashed. The key word
here is “willful”. When one brings blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit, they do it willfully. Notice the definition of
this word:
Willful
Will"ful (?), a. [Will + full.] [Written also wilful.]
1. Of set purpose; self-determined; voluntary; as, willful
murder. Foxe.
2. Governed by the will without yielding to reason;
obstinate; perverse; inflexible; stubborn; refractory; as, a
willful man or
horse. -- Will"ful*ly, adv. -- Will"ful*ness, n.
Note: A willful person bringing blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit is obstinate, perverse, inflexible and stubborn. We
are talking about a black heart and mind against anything to
do with God. This is negative anger and hate to the
ultimate and highest degree. It burns white hot in their
mind. They have no fear of God. They do not feel guilty or
exhibit any remorse for having expressed this blasphemy.
Sometimes people write and express to me a fear that they
have committed the unpardonable sin. The fact that they
have written and expressed this fear is a key indication
that THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED THIS SIN.
So with these definitions in hand, blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit is:
The WILLFUL act of cursing, slandering, reviling or showing
contempt or lack of reverence for God.
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