One of the most misinterpreted passages of the Bible is the one where Jesus speaks of the “unforgivable sin”. What is it? Why is it so bad? Who commits it? The problem is that people take it out of context. Here, we’ll uncover the truth… Let’s dig in…
Mark 3
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.
5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
Crowds Follow Jesus
7 Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.
9 Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. 10 He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. 11 And whenever those possessed by evil (unclean) spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” 12 But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. 14 Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, 15 giving them authority to cast out demons. 16 These are the twelve he chose:
Simon (whom he named Peter),
17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”),
18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus,
Simon (the zealot – Jewish nationalist),
19 Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.
22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan (Beelzebub), the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”
23 Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. 24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. 27 Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, 29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” 30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
The True Family of Jesus
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. 32 There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers (and sisters) are outside asking for you.”
33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3 NLT
Related: What is the Truth about Mary, the Mother of Jesus?
Representing God in a Real Way
Jesus holds nothing back. He is fearless, stands up to the religious leaders, who have hard hearts and He speaks with wisdom and authority…
- He contradicted many ideas, that for centuries had been the center of their religious traditions.
- They tried, but couldn’t put Jesus into their box of religious law.
- This caused irreconcilable differences that ultimately led to Jesus’ death.
- Nevertheless, Jesus continued to “work” on the Sabbath by healing people.
Blind Pharisees
These Pharisees and scribes knew the scriptures very well. They knew a Messiah was coming and from Daniel’s prophecies, they knew that He would come soon. They expected a King to militarily relieve them of the Roman oppression. They did not expect, nor want, someone to turn their centuries-old traditions and laws upside down. The Pharisees were extremely arrogant and proud. They also had very hard hearts. As a result, they were very antagonistic each time Jesus shut them down or shut them up.
Celebrity Status
People followed Jesus back then because of His miracles and healing of people. They wanted to see what He would do next. Very much like a celebrity magician. They were fascinated, drawn to Him like flies to light. Unfortunately, many did not understand WHO He was — the long-awaited Messiah. That’s the point I’ll get to in a bit.
The Choosing of the 12 Disciples
Next, Mark lists the 12 Disciples.
- Jesus needed an even number because later He’d send them out 2-by-2 to evangelize.
- In other Gospels’ lists of the Disciples, Peter is always first, then James and John. They were Jesus’ inner circle. As we go on, you’ll see that sometimes these 3 are singled out.
- These men would serve as eyewitnesses to…
- The Gospel — Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven
- The miracles, healings, transfiguration, and teachings
- His death on the cross
- And finally, His resurrection and ascension.
The Unforgivable Sin
Why is this passage so misinterpreted? It’s because it’s taken out of context. I recently completed a course on How to Interpret the Bible with Dr. Frank Turek. The first thing we covered was — context, context, context. Without going into the whole course, (I’ll do a post on it later), when we look at a Bible passage, the first thing we want to do is figure out how does it apply to me? The problem with that is most times, the passages applied to the people at the time it was written. This is one such case.
Since this is such a deep, heavy passage, I’ve included 3 different explanations that lead to the same conclusion…
The simplest one is from Pastor Sandy Adams…
No passage in the Bible is as misinterpreted as this idea of the unpardonable sin. First, let me tell you what it’s not? It’s not cursing God – or succumbing to a particularly vile sin – or thinking horrid evil thoughts.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is resisting the Spirit’s purpose and mission… In John 15:26, Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
The Holy Spirit’s job is to testify of Jesus. Thus, blasphemy against the Spirit is to reject His witness of Jesus. It’s to turn a deaf ear to the Spirit’s call and conviction. Die having never heeded what God’s Spirit says about Jesus, and it’s a sin that’s never forgiven.
Here’s what’s going on in our text… The Jews heard God the Father speak from heaven, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Father spoke audibly. Yet they deny His voice. Strike one!
Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures, forgave people’s sins, fulfilling His Messianic claims. Again the Jews heard those claims, yet they denied Jesus. Strike two!
Now Jesus heals the sick and casts out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit, and these same Jewish leaders are witnessing these miracles. Yet here they are denying the work of the Spirit. They’re ascribing to evil spirits the work of the Holy Spirit. Strike three!
Jesus is saying, deny the witness of all three persons of the Godhead – and it’s three strikes, you’re out. A person can reject the Father’s testimony of Jesus, and Jesus’ personal claims, and there’s still hope. But, when you turn a deaf ear to the personal witness of God’s Spirit there’s no one left to speak. God said in Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” That’s why if you feel His tug, please respond!
Sandy Adams
Next is one by David Guzik in the Blue Letter Bible…
a. He who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness: This blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is serious indeed. The person guilty of this sin is subject to eternal condemnation. In other Gospels (such as in Luke 12:10), this sin is described as “unforgivable.”
b. Because they said, He has an unclean spirit: These religious leaders were in danger of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because they looked at the perfectly good and wonderful work of God in Jesus and officially pronounced it the evil of Satan. This pointed to a settled rejection of heart against Jesus – possible evidence of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
i. “Notice that these men had not yet committed the unpardonable sin… Otherwise Jesus would never have warned them. By his own words, there is no use warning a man who has committed the unpardonable sin; he is beyond help.” (Steadman)
c. He who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness: Many people wonder what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is, and some wonder if they have committed this sin. The warning of Jesus makes us recognize the terrible danger of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and our need to avoid this sin at all cost. At the same time, we guard our hearts against the unwarranted accusation of this sin.
i. We understand what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is by first understanding what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about. Regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8), and that He will testify of Me (John 15:26).
ii. Therefore, when we persistently reject the work the Holy Spirit wants to do in us and when we have a continued, settled rejection of what He wants to tell us about Jesus, then we blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
iii. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven – not because it is a sin “too big” for God to forgive, but because it is an attitude of heart that cares nothing for God’s forgiveness. It never has forgiveness because it never wants forgiveness God’s way.
iv. “These words were never intended to torment anxious souls honestly desiring to know Christ, but they stand out as a blazing beacon warning of the danger of persisting in the rejection of the Spirit’s testimony of Christ, until the seared conscience no longer responds to the gospel message.” (Ironside)
David Guzik
And finally, here’s a video from Pastor Mike Winger…
How Hard is YOUR Heart?
Basically, at some point, if you keep rejecting the Good News of Jesus’ True Salvation, you will get to the point of no return. That said, the fact that you’re reading this (or listening to it), means that you’re not a lost cause. You are NOT beyond repentance. Stop rejecting Jesus. Stop making stupid excuses. And stop living in a self-willed delusion and surrender your life to Jesus today!
What are you waiting for? It’s time to get right with God!
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
