Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Some say it is the rejection of Jesus. Some say it is the continual rejection of the Deity of Christ. God’s Word clearly states what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is, and I believe what it says. To find out exactly what scripture says on this subject you have to look at the context and the original meaning of the words in the passages. Let’s take a look at the context and meanings of a few words!

There are only two places where blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is mentioned. The first is found in Mathew 12:22-32. When Jesus cast out the deaf and dumb devil, the Pharisee’s said that He cast out devils by Beelzebub. Jesus answers starting in verse 25. Look at what Jesus said in verse 27 “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.” Notice that Jesus states that even their children were casting out devils! The question is “in what name do your children cast out the devils” The Pharisee’s weren’t concerned about their children, but with Jesus. They had already rejected Jesus as being the Son of God, and they were looking for a way to get rid of Him.

In verse 31 Jesus says that all sin and blasphemy can and will be forgiven of all men, whereas, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit – Holy Ghost here in Matthew – will not be forgiven men. In verse 32 Jesus clarifies verse 31 by saying that if you speak against the Holy Ghost it will not be forgiven you! In the Greek blasphemy (verse 31) means: from (blasphemos); vilification (especially against God):- blasphemy, evil speaking, railing. The word “speaketh” (verse 32) in the Greek is this: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, to speak or say (by word or writing):- answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Did you notice that reject or rejection isn’t part of either one of the meanings?? As a matter of fact, nowhere in this passage did Jesus even mention that the rejection of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy. So if Jesus did not mention that rejection of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy, why do pastors teach this is what this passage means? So where are they getting that rejection of Christ or the rejection of the Deity of Christ is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? I really don’t know where they get the idea of rejection from. The end of verse 32 says that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven you in this world or the world to come. Jesus said this to clarify that you will never be forgiven this sin, ever!

The second and last time blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is mentioned can be found in Mark 3:22-30. In verse 22 we see that the scribes said that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebub, and that was the reason He was casting out devils. The response Jesus gave was this in a nut shell, “Satan cannot cast out Satan and have his house remain standing. If a kingdom or house is divided against itself, how can it stand?” Let’s go down to verse 28. Jesus said all sins will be forgiven man, AND blasphemies which they shall blaspheme. Jesus goes on to say in verse 29 “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” Blaspheme in the Greek means: from (blasphemos); to vilify; specially to speak impiously :- (speak) blaspheme (-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil. Hmmm …. I see nothing about rejection here either. Blaspheme and blasphemy mean the same thing, SPEAK! So what Jesus is actually saying is this; “But he that shall speak against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal judgement:” WAIT! Did Jesus just say that those who speak against the Holy Spirit are in danger of eternal judgement? Well yes Jesus did say that. Damnation in the Greek means: decision (subject or object, for or against); by extension a tribunal; by implication justice (specially divine law):- accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment. But I digress, that is a totally different topic. Verse 30 is really just telling us why Jesus responded the way He did, because if look back at verse 22, the scribes said He was possessed by Beelzebub. The start of verse 30 uses the word because. When you see the word because, you have to go back to verse 22 and see why Jesus said what He said. We see that Jesus’s reply was in response to the scribes saying He is possessed by Beelzebub, and hence He was able to cast out devils.

The fact here remains that nowhere in either of these passages, does Jesus even remotely hint at or mention that if you reject Him, you commit blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. What Jesus is actually saying in these two passages is this. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is attributing the working power of the Holy Spirit to that of Satan and his mafia.

I believe there are three good reasons pastors teach that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the rejection of Jesus, or the rejection of the Deity of Christ:
1. They are looking for a way out to excuse themselves from the consequences of their actions because they themselves have attributed the working power of the Holy Spirit as not being from God.
2. They have been taught this all their lives, and are hesitant to look into it for themselves.
3. Through ignorance.