'Wherefore I say unto you,
All manner of sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven unto men:
but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost
shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man,
it shall be forgiven him:
but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost,
it shall not be forgiven him,
neither in this world,
neither in the world to come.'
(Matthew 12:31-32)
Hello
@GerhardEbersoehn,
It was the words of the Pharisees in Matthew 12:24,
'This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils,' that caused the Lord to speak those words (above).
* Our Lord knew their thoughts, and why they had said these words in the hearing of the People, who were in awe at His healing of the man possessed with a devil, blind and dumb. They sought to prevent the people from believing that He was the Christ. The Lord also knew that they had already held a council to see how they might destroy Him.
* Yes they attributed the work of the Holy Spirit, wrought by Christ, to a demon: that was what was unforgiveable.
The Lord says later:-
'But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified,
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
(Matthew 12:36-37)
* I think we should let the words of the Lord stand, as they are, and not seek to attach to them any other meaning.
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris