"but
whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in
this age nor in the age to come."1
Jesus had healed a man who was demon possessed, blind, and mute. Now, to do one would be a miracle in itself, but he casts out a demon and heals the man of two ailments. Earlier on the Sabbath Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, saying "is it not lawful to do good on the Sabbath?" The Pharisees had then plotted to destroy Him for breaking their traditions and rules.3 In context we begin to get more insight of what it means to be for or against God.
"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven."4
What is blasphemy against the Spirit? well, lets look at the surrounding scriptures. Jesus healed the man possessed, and "When the people saw this they said, “Can this be the Son of David?” The people were asking was this the Messiah, in other scripture we see they said, surely would not our leaders tell us? But when the Pharisees heard Jesus had healed the man possessed, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."5 Jesus responded to the Pharisees, if they spoke against the Son of Man (notice He did not say Son of God, who was the Word and God) they would be forgiven, but not against the Holy Spirit.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit."6
We see in Revelations Jesus saying to the Church, "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other. because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."7 Either make the tree good or bad. And in context we see that when Jesus said you will know them by their fruit, he was speaking of false prophets. If Jesus warned against such should I not take heed? you will know false prophets and teachers by their fruit. We read on, how to tell them by their fruit; the wise are those who build their house not on worldly wisdom and prudence but upon the Rock, the words of Christ. And we read a godly leader is a servant to all, receiving the little children of God. "Yet wisdom is justified by her children. Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.”8 If leaders have repentant hearts, and the people are children of the leaders then we see repentant people of God, and leadership by example. Surely repentance begins in the house of God and with its leaders.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."29
I think we have more insight into what it means to enter the kingdom of God like children and to receive His little Children. They said of Jesus, "Look a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Jesus responds, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick? I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”22 Now, the scriptures say Christ came because none were righteous, no not one. So no one was righteous therefore Jesus calls all men. Jesus said earlier to enter the kingdom their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisee. The righteousness of the Pharisee was by works of the law, in Christ righteousness is received freely by faith that it be according to Grace.
"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."12
Oh, look at me the Pharisee said, I tithe ten percent of all my herbs even. But then he looks at the man he calls a sinner and gives him no mercy. Jesus said, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." I have a friend who has lung issues, most likely from him smoking in the past. He has received Christ and as Paul writes, his sin is no longer imputed toward him, righteousness is. He has even stopped smoking but some would say to him, he was not deserving of mercy, he was paying for his sin. Such contradicts the mercy and forgiveness he has received in Christ and questions whether those who accuse him understand this, maybe they know Christ but have been bewitched as the Galatians, fallen from Grace. If they know Christ, they would know of what He said,
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."14
Jesus performed many miracles but the leaders spoke against the work of God, as being demonic, why? we see one reason was because he broke their traditions and rules, so they sought to destroy Him for this. Some in the Church today would give their lives for Jesus, for His Church, and would go off to some foreign land, only to be treated as if they were evil, of Satan. False religion, justification by works, is of the flesh and as Paul writes that which is of the flesh is contrary to the Spirit. Such sacrifice of adhering to laws doesn't please God, it is faith working by love. Paul writes the letter of the law kills whereas the Spirit gives Life. Legalism doesn't allow the Spirit of God to work and it causes little children to stumble, calling them evil. If you call that which is good, evil, then what are you?
"If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them. For nothing is concealed that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known."12
How can those who call His little children evil escape the truth? We see the great proclamation of truth! "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."27 "Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."31 If Christ is the truth and the Light then he who hides the truth doesn't acknowledge nor proclaim Christ. "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."33 No divine authority covers truth, and those who say they are Light do not operate in secret rooms, nor do evil to those who seek truth.
"For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."15
Jesus did many mighty works but many did not repent, Jesus said it would be better for Sodom than them.19 Unrepentant authority is against God, they are always accusing the people, you are angry, bitter, disobedient, unforgiving but they teach by their own example. And one that would bring a false witness, blasphemy, against God? The scriptures say a lying tongue and a false witness is an abomination to God. More so, they brought a false witness and lies against Jesus saying the works were demonic. These leaders made a false witness against the Holy Spirit in which he performed miracles. Now, if a brother has the Spirit of God in him and someone falsely accuses a brother, does he accuse him of being a demon, thus falsely accusing the Spirit of God? And did not Jesus warn of the fate of one who would cause a little one of His to stumble? Surely, those who cause little children to stumble are against God.
"When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."15
Israel was under Roman control but this was not the first time Israel had been led away into captivity. Leadership has great accountability and we see it was the leaders of Israel who harassed the people, they were hireling shepherds. The Spirit of God could not work among many of the people, they were of little faith but also the leaders "lorded" over the people as the world does, seeking personal gain, setting such examples of selfishness, pride, arrogance, and an unrepentant heart. Those who follow Christ, are servants of all and receive all. Who is all? all of the little children of God. "And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Then He had a little child stand among them.”16
Guilty
Jesus had healed a man who was demon possessed, blind, and mute. Now, to do one would be a miracle in itself, but he casts out a demon and heals the man of two ailments. Earlier on the Sabbath Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, saying "is it not lawful to do good on the Sabbath?" The Pharisees had then plotted to destroy Him for breaking their traditions and rules.3 In context we begin to get more insight of what it means to be for or against God.
"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven."4
What is blasphemy against the Spirit? well, lets look at the surrounding scriptures. Jesus healed the man possessed, and "When the people saw this they said, “Can this be the Son of David?” The people were asking was this the Messiah, in other scripture we see they said, surely would not our leaders tell us? But when the Pharisees heard Jesus had healed the man possessed, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."5 Jesus responded to the Pharisees, if they spoke against the Son of Man (notice He did not say Son of God, who was the Word and God) they would be forgiven, but not against the Holy Spirit.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit."6
We see in Revelations Jesus saying to the Church, "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other. because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."7 Either make the tree good or bad. And in context we see that when Jesus said you will know them by their fruit, he was speaking of false prophets. If Jesus warned against such should I not take heed? you will know false prophets and teachers by their fruit. We read on, how to tell them by their fruit; the wise are those who build their house not on worldly wisdom and prudence but upon the Rock, the words of Christ. And we read a godly leader is a servant to all, receiving the little children of God. "Yet wisdom is justified by her children. Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.”8 If leaders have repentant hearts, and the people are children of the leaders then we see repentant people of God, and leadership by example. Surely repentance begins in the house of God and with its leaders.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."29
I think we have more insight into what it means to enter the kingdom of God like children and to receive His little Children. They said of Jesus, "Look a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Jesus responds, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick? I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”22 Now, the scriptures say Christ came because none were righteous, no not one. So no one was righteous therefore Jesus calls all men. Jesus said earlier to enter the kingdom their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisee. The righteousness of the Pharisee was by works of the law, in Christ righteousness is received freely by faith that it be according to Grace.
"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."12
Oh, look at me the Pharisee said, I tithe ten percent of all my herbs even. But then he looks at the man he calls a sinner and gives him no mercy. Jesus said, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." I have a friend who has lung issues, most likely from him smoking in the past. He has received Christ and as Paul writes, his sin is no longer imputed toward him, righteousness is. He has even stopped smoking but some would say to him, he was not deserving of mercy, he was paying for his sin. Such contradicts the mercy and forgiveness he has received in Christ and questions whether those who accuse him understand this, maybe they know Christ but have been bewitched as the Galatians, fallen from Grace. If they know Christ, they would know of what He said,
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."14
Jesus performed many miracles but the leaders spoke against the work of God, as being demonic, why? we see one reason was because he broke their traditions and rules, so they sought to destroy Him for this. Some in the Church today would give their lives for Jesus, for His Church, and would go off to some foreign land, only to be treated as if they were evil, of Satan. False religion, justification by works, is of the flesh and as Paul writes that which is of the flesh is contrary to the Spirit. Such sacrifice of adhering to laws doesn't please God, it is faith working by love. Paul writes the letter of the law kills whereas the Spirit gives Life. Legalism doesn't allow the Spirit of God to work and it causes little children to stumble, calling them evil. If you call that which is good, evil, then what are you?
"If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them. For nothing is concealed that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known."12
How can those who call His little children evil escape the truth? We see the great proclamation of truth! "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."27 "Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."31 If Christ is the truth and the Light then he who hides the truth doesn't acknowledge nor proclaim Christ. "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."33 No divine authority covers truth, and those who say they are Light do not operate in secret rooms, nor do evil to those who seek truth.
"For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."15
Jesus did many mighty works but many did not repent, Jesus said it would be better for Sodom than them.19 Unrepentant authority is against God, they are always accusing the people, you are angry, bitter, disobedient, unforgiving but they teach by their own example. And one that would bring a false witness, blasphemy, against God? The scriptures say a lying tongue and a false witness is an abomination to God. More so, they brought a false witness and lies against Jesus saying the works were demonic. These leaders made a false witness against the Holy Spirit in which he performed miracles. Now, if a brother has the Spirit of God in him and someone falsely accuses a brother, does he accuse him of being a demon, thus falsely accusing the Spirit of God? And did not Jesus warn of the fate of one who would cause a little one of His to stumble? Surely, those who cause little children to stumble are against God.
"When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."15
Israel was under Roman control but this was not the first time Israel had been led away into captivity. Leadership has great accountability and we see it was the leaders of Israel who harassed the people, they were hireling shepherds. The Spirit of God could not work among many of the people, they were of little faith but also the leaders "lorded" over the people as the world does, seeking personal gain, setting such examples of selfishness, pride, arrogance, and an unrepentant heart. Those who follow Christ, are servants of all and receive all. Who is all? all of the little children of God. "And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Then He had a little child stand among them.”16
Guilty