Matthew 12:30-32 - The Unforgiveable Sin
- Chad Werkhoven
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
God's grace is stronger than you are - especially in your weakest moments!
Matthew 12:30–32 (NIV)
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 6: God’s Saving Intervention
For God,
who is rich in mercy,
according to his unchangeable purpose of election
does not
take his Holy Spirit from his own completely,
even when they fall grievously.
Neither does he let them
fall down so far that they forfeit
the grace of adoption
and the state of justification,
or commit the sin which leads to death
(the sin against the Holy Spirit),
and plunge themselves, entirely forsaken by him, into eternal ruin.
Summary
How often haven't we noticed as we've read the Bible together this year the stark contrasts that the Bible - and especially Jesus - so often draw. They stick out to us so much because we live in a world infatuated with nuancing nearly everything. But once again, Jesus eliminates the gray areas and makes clear that there are only two types of people in this world: You're either with Christ, or you're against Him. You're either gathering with Him or you're scattering. There's no middle ground or in between.
Jesus goes on here to summarize the entire gospel: every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven! God teaches us all sorts of important things in His Word, some of which are really complicated and tough to wrap our heads around, so don't lose sight of just how profoundly simple the gospel is at its core: every sin you've ever committed can be forgiven!
But there's a but. We're not used to reading about exclusions and disclaimers in the gospel! There is a sin, Jesus reports, that will not be forgiven: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
D.A. Carson helps unpack what Jesus means here:
The first sin [speaking against the Son of Man] is rejection of the truth of the gospel, but there may be repentance and forgiveness for that [when one finally realizes the truth of the gospel]. The second sin [blasphemy of the Holy Spirit] is rejection of the gospel truth in full awareness that this is exactly what one is doing—thoughtfully, willfully, and self-consciously rejecting the work of the Spirit... For such a sin there is no forgiveness, either in this age or the age to come.
 Dig Deeper Â
Think of how close so much of life is to the edge. A moment's distraction on the interstate could end in disaster. A flippant remark might cost you your job. A flash of anger can mortally wound a friendship that took years to build. After reading Jesus' warning here, it might seem paralyzingly scarry to think how easy it is to commit what's come to be known as the unforgiveable sin!
Perhaps after a really bad day, or year, or decade, when the truth of the gospel seems distant and your faith is weak, you'll lose control and let fly with curses against the Spirit, and just like that lose the salvation and eternal life you once had.
The Canons here seek to assure you that your Father will never let this happen! He will not let you commit the sin which leads to death (the sin against the Holy Spirit), and plunge yourself, entirely forsaken by him, into eternal ruin. This, in fact, is one of the key truths of the Canons that we've seen all year long: God's grace is stronger than you are - especially at your weakest moment!
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who guides, guards and protects us with grace that's stronger than we are;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will trust God's protection over every aspect of your life so that you can live free from any sort of worry;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: John 13
