SIX SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT-LESSON 1
MATTHEW 12:31-37
Key verse: v. 31, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
Introduction:
All SIN IS SERIOUS, and to some degree CHALLENGES and ATTACKS the CHARACTER and AUTHORITY of God. But SIX SINS are specifically IDENTIFIED as sins AGAINST the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is a PERSON, He may be sinned against. Since He is ALSO God, it is an EXTREMELY SERIOUS MATTER TO BE GUILTY OF SINNING AGAINST HIM!!!!
“Our Lord now solemnly declares that a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is THE ONLY UNPARDONABLE SIN; and it is distinctly implied that their accusation, that he cast out demons by the help of BEELZEBUB [SATAN] was a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and so was past forgiveness.” —John A. Broadus.
I. BLASPHEMING THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Blaspheme = in reference to God signifies speaking DISRESPECTFULLY of His NATURE, ATTRIBUTES, and WORKS, Revelation 13:6, “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
1. God’s view of sin, v. 31; Hebrews 2:2, “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;”
a. The Lord will reason with the sinner, Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
b. If the sinner will forsake his sin and trust the Lord, Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
c. God has no pleasure in the death of the sinner, Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
2. The Lord is merciful to the sinner, Psalms 41:4, “I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.”
B. Blaspheming the Spirit is extremely serious:
1. There is NO FORGIVENESS for this sin, Luke 12:10, “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.”
a. Speaking against the Son of God would n be forgiven, Luke 23:34, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
b. Paul had tried the Lord’s patience, but was forgiven, 1 Timothy 1:13, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
2. The sin of REVILING [to assail with contemptuous or outrageously disgraceful or shameful language] the Spirit of God, and imputing his work to BEELZEBUB [SATAN], is a very great one, Matthew 12:24, 32, “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
Note: The name given to Satan, and found only in the New Testament, Matthew 10:25 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22. It is probably the same as BAALZEBUB, the god of Ekron, meaning “THE LORD OF FLIES,” or, as others think, “THE LORD OF DUNG,” or “THE DUNG-GOD.
II. LYING TO OR TEMPTING THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Christians lying to the Lord,
1. Ananias and his wife, MEMBERS of the CHURCH at Jerusalem, LIED TO the Lord about the price of the land they sold, Acts 5:3, “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”
2. Peter confronted Ananias’ wife, Sapphira, and asked WHY they had TEMPTED the Holy Spirit, Acts 5:9, “Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.”
B. Some folks tempt the Spirit of God by their wicked words and actions, Isaiah 5:18, “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: 19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!”
1. David REMEMBERED the HISTORY of Israel, Psalms 95:9, “When your fathers TEMPTED ME, proved me, and saw my work.”
2. Many think they will ESCAPE PUNISHMENT for their trying of God’s patience, but they are MISTAKEN as were the Hebrews, Numbers 14:22-23, “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:”
LESSON 2 TO FOLLOW: