Difficult Questions: What Does It Mean to Blaspheme the Holy Spirit?
From time to time, we dig into Scripture and seek answers to difficult questions from the Bible. Today, we are asking the question: “What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?”
If you are not aware of the meaning of the word blaspheme, it means to slander or speak evil against. In this case, it is one who slanders the Holy Spirit.
And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 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. Matthew 12:31-32 (New International Version, NIV)
Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29 (New International Version, NIV)
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is when your heart is hardened and is unbelieving towards the work of the Holy Spirit. What is the work of the Holy Spirit? To witness of Christ and the Gospel, to convict men of sin, and to draw people to the Lord. When people reject the Holy Spirit, they reject the One who can lead them to repentance.
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit involves attributing His work to satan. For example, the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out devils through beelzebub, or the prince of devils. They did not believe in Jesus, rejected Who He was, and refused to accept Him as the Savior. In doing so, they rejected the Holy Spirit, Who reveals Christ and brings people to salvation. A person with an unbelieving heart rejects the Holy Spirit’s work when they refuse to be saved and thus die in their sins. As a result, they never receive forgiveness for sin, and this is what is often called the unpardonable sin. Refusing the only remedy for sin makes it impossible for them to be pardoned by God. As a result, they are required to pay the penalty for sin themselves- which is eternal death (Romans 6:23).
The Pharisees were spiritual leaders. They knew the Scriptures but they refused to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation in Jesus. They resisted God and rejected the work of the Holy Spirit in leading them to repentance. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit can be done by someone who has not known Christ and utterly refuses the Holy Spirit and His work. It can also be committed by someone who has known the Lord and purposely chooses to reject the work of the Holy Spirit in maintaining a relationship with God.
If you are concerned that you have committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, then you clearly have not committed it. Your heart is still open and responsive to God and is not hardened and disobedient. Those who have committed this sin don’t care that they have done it.
Here is the process a person goes through towards blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
They grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)
They resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51)
They quench the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19)
They harden their hearts (Hebrews 3:8-13)
They are no longer sensitive to God (Hebrews 4:1-7)
Keep your heart right with God by following His Word and His Spirit. Honor the Holy Spirit and His leading. Maintain a soft heart towards God and you will avoid the unpardonable sin.
