Ask a Pastor: What is the Unforgivable Sin?

Question

What is the unforgivable sin? What does Jesus mean in Matthew 12:31-32?

Answer

This event is also recorded in Mark 3 and Luke 11. The most detailed record is in Mark, so I will use that text to answer your question. It runs from vs. 22-30, but the most relevant to your query is vs. 28-30.

"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation," because they said, "He has an unclean spirit" (Mark 3:28-30).

In the context and from the parallel passages, we know that the scribes are telling the people that Jesus has a demon. They say, “He has Beelzebub”, and “by the ruler of the demons He casts our demons.” To which Christ replies, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” Then He explains that a kingdom that is divided against itself can’t stand. Instead, He exclaims, “I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12: 28).

After this Jesus makes the statement that all sins, and whatever blasphemies we may utter will be forgiven, except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He adds to that, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matt. 12: 32). But that still does not tell us what the unpardonable sin is. What is it that absolutely will not be forgiven? Why will it not be forgiven? Mark, inspired by the Holy Spirit give us the answer: Because they said, “He (the Lord Jesus Christ) has an unclean spirit.” They called Christ’s work the work of Satan, and in doing so they blasphemed the Holy Spirit: they spoke against the Holy Spirit.

If anyone sees the evidence of the Christ’s saving grace in a sinner, and then calls that Satan’s work, that person is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. That sin is unpardonable because it says that Jesus has a demon. Until the moment we die, every other sin can be repented of, even the sin of unbelief. But for the sin against the Holy Spirit there is no repentance, hence no forgiveness.

There are three things to keep in mind here:

1. The only people who can commit this sin are those who are familiar with the Scriptures’ descriptions of the Holy Spirit’s work in applying the saving grace of Christ. Yet when they see its evidence in a fellow sinner, they call it the work of Satan. Let us be very careful about how we judge and talk about God’s grace in others.

2. Our forefathers rightly taught that if you fear you have committed this sin, you have not committed it. Because, they said, the person who commits this sin is hardened beyond fear and caring and will never confess it, repent of it, nor ask for forgiveness.

3. Every other sin will be forgiven. How will all other sins be forgiven? “The blood of Jesus Christ his (God’s) Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). When will all other sins be forgiven? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).