The Unforgivable Sin – What Is It?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesOver the years, many sincere Bible students have asked, “What is the unforgivable sin as recorded in first three gospel accounts?” The texts in question are, Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 11:14-23). Using the English Standard Version, Matthew’s account states, “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
The unforgivable sin, or “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”, is simply the rejection of the revelation which the Holy Spirit gave, first through the Lord (John 6:63), and then through His representatives (John 14:16-17; John 14:23-26). The Pharisees rejected Christ by attributing His power of casting out a devil of a possessed man to Beelzebub [Satan] (Matthew 12:22,24) rather than the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28). In essence, they permanently rejected Christ, His teachings, and authority. Today, we can permanently reject Christ by rejecting His teachings through the revelation by the Holy Spirit to inspired men (2 Peter 1:20-21). If we permanently reject the teachings of Christ, we too will suffer eternal consequences (Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:23-31; 2 Peter 2:20-22; cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). An additional study of this subject is provided.