Alright this thread is for others like myself who feared (I somewhat still fear) that they might have accidentally blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. That means hardening your heart and rejecting Christ right, not accidentally thinking things against the Holy Spirit or perhaps that Jesus wasn't really God and that He was of the devil. (I repented after thinking these thoughts that I most certainly did not mean and I can't help but still being a bit worried. I think if I'm worried about it I didn't commit the unforgivable sin though right?)
Hi April:
First let me assure that no one can "accidently" blaspheme the Spirit.
Second the sin as shown in Matthew 12 is not an individual sin but a national sin only Israel could commit and only when Jesus was there!
Let me explain as brief as possible. Let us post the passage.
Matthew 12:22-32
King James Version
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 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.
32 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.
Up to this point, Jesus and the disciples were announcing the kingdom long promised to Israel had arrived. All of Jesus miracle had been open and public and done to establish to the people of Israel that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Jesus even performed three specific miracles that were called Messianic miracles or that only Messiah could do when he came. All three have particular commentaries avbou them in the Scriptures because they were the 3 Messianic miracles.
1. Healing of a Jewish Leper. Up to this point no Israeli had ever been healed of leprosy. Gentiles had as chronicled in the OT, but never a Jew. So it became a teaching tradition that only Messiah would be able to heal a Jewish Leper. Jesus healed 10. Luke 17.
2. Healing of a man born blind. John 9. It was jewish belief that if one was born blind, either their parents or teh baby in the womb sinned to be caused to be born blind. This also became a tradition that only Messiah could heal.
3. Another Miracle that was not a Messianic miracle but one that was never before seen was the raising of Lazarus. John 11. Verse 39 MArtha told Jesus he had been dead 4 days and probably stinks. Jews believed the sould was attached to the body by a cord for three days where they could come back from the dead, but at the end of 3 days the cord was cut and they could no longer live. Jesus raised Lazarus. That is why from that point the Pharisees also sought to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus.
4. Casting a demon out of a deaf and dumb man. Jews could cast out demons, as even Jesus said. They had to communicate with the demon, gets it name (as Jesus did with Legion) and then were able to cast them out. But from one who could not speak- only Messiah would be able to do that!
So after Jesus cast the demon out , He had performed all three messianic miracles which is why the crowds in Matt. 12 said "Is not this the Son of David"? Which was a rhetorical question. Son of David was a messianic title and they were really looking for confirmation from the Pharisees as they had been taught their lives that only Messiah could do this!
Instead the Pharisees answered saying Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. This is what the blasphemy of the spirit is. It is attributing the miracles of Jesus to demonic power and not the Holy Spirit. This is also not an individual sin, but a national sin that only Israel in the time of Jesus could commit.
Jesus pronounced judgment on "that generation". It was unforgivable meaning the judgment was set and would happen no matter what. That judgment was the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD. 1.1 million Jews were estimated to be killed then. The judgment is spelled out in Luke 21:
Luke 21:20-24
King James Version
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
there is much more info on this. I tried to just highlight it for brevity's sake. I hope this helps.
Ron
P.S. Just scrolled through the answers to date and Christiphany also adds lots more and important info about this monumental thing the Pharisees did and the consequences.
