The Unpardonable Sin (Mark 3:20-35)

I NSANE ? 20 And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” (Mark 3:20-21) 20 And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” (Mark 3:20-21)

A CCUSATIONS The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” (Mark 3:22)The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” (Mark 3:22)

T HE D EFENSE 23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!” (Mark 3:23-26) 23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!” (Mark 3:23-26)

T HE D EFENSE “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.” (Mark 3:27)“But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.” (Mark 3:27)

B LASPHEMY 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30) 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30)

B LASPHEMY : W ORDS 15 “And tell the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he will bear the consequences of his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of Yahweh is to be put to death; the whole community must stone him. If he blasphemes the Name, he is to be put to death, whether the foreign resident or the native.” (Leviticus 24:15-16, HCSB) 15 “And tell the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he will bear the consequences of his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of Yahweh is to be put to death; the whole community must stone him. If he blasphemes the Name, he is to be put to death, whether the foreign resident or the native.” (Leviticus 24:15-16, HCSB)

B LASPHEMY : W ORDS 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (John 10:31-33) 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (John 10:31-33)

B LASPHEMY : A CTIONS 30 “But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or foreign resident, blasphemes the Lord. That person is to be cut off from his people. 31 He will certainly be cut off, because he has despised the Lord’s word and broken His command; his guilt remains on him.” (Numbers 15:30-31) 30 “But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or foreign resident, blasphemes the Lord. That person is to be cut off from his people. 31 He will certainly be cut off, because he has despised the Lord’s word and broken His command; his guilt remains on him.” (Numbers 15:30-31)

B LASPHEMY : A CTIONS 26 “When they made every firstborn pass through the fire, I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I had given them in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh. 27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me.’” (Ezekiel 20:26-27) 26 “When they made every firstborn pass through the fire, I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I had given them in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh. 27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me.’” (Ezekiel 20:26-27)

I NCORRECT D EFINITIONS 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30) 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30)

F ULL F ORGIVENESS If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7, 9)…the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.…If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7, 9) “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

F ULL F ORGIVENESS He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19) “…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)“…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

F ULL F ORGIVENESS “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 10:43)“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 10:43) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace… (Ephesians 1:7)In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace… (Ephesians 1:7)

F ULL F ORGIVENESS When you were dead in your transgressions…He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions… (Colossians 2:13)When you were dead in your transgressions…He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions… (Colossians 2:13)

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30) 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30)

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT “This sin consists of unusually malicious, willful rejection and slander against the Holy Spirit’s work attesting to Christ, and attributing that work to Satan.” - Grudem

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT “In light of the context this refers to an attitude (not an isolated act or utterance) of defiant hostility toward God that rejects His saving power toward man, expressed in the Spirit-empowered person and work of Jesus. It is one’s preference for darkness even though he has been exposed to the light.” - Grassmick“In light of the context this refers to an attitude (not an isolated act or utterance) of defiant hostility toward God that rejects His saving power toward man, expressed in the Spirit-empowered person and work of Jesus. It is one’s preference for darkness even though he has been exposed to the light.” - Grassmick

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT “The unforgivable sin, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an act of resistance which belittles the Holy Spirit so grievously that He withdraws forever with His convicting power so that the man who declares war on God is never able to repent and be forgiven.” - Derek Thomas“The unforgivable sin, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an act of resistance which belittles the Holy Spirit so grievously that He withdraws forever with His convicting power so that the man who declares war on God is never able to repent and be forgiven.” - Derek Thomas

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is attributing to Satan the works of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated in Jesus’ ministry. Having rejected the testimony of the Father, the Son, and now the Spirit’s miraculous authentication, nothing more could be done for the salvation of those religious leaders.” - Constable“Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is attributing to Satan the works of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated in Jesus’ ministry. Having rejected the testimony of the Father, the Son, and now the Spirit’s miraculous authentication, nothing more could be done for the salvation of those religious leaders.” - Constable

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT “The unpardonable sin or, for that matter, any other sin does not change man’s nature—he does not become more depraved. The blasphemy against the Spirit does nothing to man’s nature that renders God impotent. No amount or quality of sin can make a person unsusceptible to the work of God’s Spirit if He so chooses, [since the Holy Spirit’s drawing power is omnipotent]. Ultimately then, the reason why the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unpardonable is because God chooses to allow the one who commits the sin to remain in his own depraved condition. God does not grant that person the grace necessary to repent.” - Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Volume: DBSJ 09:1 (Fall 2004), The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit by William W. Combs“The unpardonable sin or, for that matter, any other sin does not change man’s nature—he does not become more depraved. The blasphemy against the Spirit does nothing to man’s nature that renders God impotent. No amount or quality of sin can make a person unsusceptible to the work of God’s Spirit if He so chooses, [since the Holy Spirit’s drawing power is omnipotent]. Ultimately then, the reason why the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unpardonable is because God chooses to allow the one who commits the sin to remain in his own depraved condition. God does not grant that person the grace necessary to repent.” - Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Volume: DBSJ 09:1 (Fall 2004), The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit by William W. Combs

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (Hebrews 10:26-28) 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (Hebrews 10:26-28)

B LASPHEMING AGAINST THE H OLY S PIRIT

29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which one is sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:29-31) 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which one is sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:29-31)

G OOD N EWS “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter…” (Mark 3:28)“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter…” (Mark 3:28)