2. Matthew 12:22-32

3. READ: Matthew 12:22-32
Jesus here is home in Capernaum (Mk 3:20)
A blind and mute demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus and He healed him (Mt 12:22).
The people seeing this started wondering if this was “the Son of David” which is a reference to “the Messiah” (Mt 12:23).
The Pharisees, seeing this, get upset and say that this demon was cast out by Beelzebub, the prince of demons i.e. Satan (Mt 12:24, Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15).
That is the background to Jesus saying…
“the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come” (Mt 12:31).
“whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mk 3:29).
So let us examine…(SLIDE)

4. Question
THE
What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that puts one guilty of an eternal sin?
There is something here we need to consider…(SLIDE)

5. This was not a mere impulsive exclamation that denigrated the Holy Spirit.
Let’s look at Mark 3:30. (SLIDE)

6. “for they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’ ”
This phrase here “for they were saying” is vitally important to this discussion.
This phrase is one word in the Greek and is “elegon.” Here it is in the “imperfect tense.”
Professor William Lane commented here…(SLIDE)
Mark 3:30

7. “The use of the imperfect tense of the verb in the explanatory note, ‘because they were saying that he is possessed,’ implies repetition and a fixed attitude of mind”
Thus this was an attitude issue not an expressive issue.
In other words the problem was not with their words but their attitudes.
This is why Jesus would later say…(SLIDE)
William Lane

8. “You brood of vipers. How can you speak good, when you are evil
“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Considering the heart that is involved here this makes John’s words all the more thought provoking. (SLIDE)
Matthew 12:34

9. “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him…39 Therefore they could not believe…”
It’s not that “blasphemy alone” makes one eligible of an eternal damnation, remember Paul. (SLIDE)
John 12:37, 39

10. “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
Can there be any doubt that Paul spoke out against the miracles of Jesus and the Spirit who performed them?
Yet he was forgiven!!!
1 Timothy 1:12-14

11. Matthew 12:22-32