What is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Therefore, I tell you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, not in this age nor in the age to come.

`- Matthew 12:31-32

Why the strong language by Jesus? Those that blaspheme the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; why? The word blasphemy means to speak evil, to revile, to hold in contempt. Now, let us put context to Jesus’ statement. Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The people were amazed, but the Pharisees said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of Satan, and not by God’s power (Matthew 12:24). What a serious indictment to make! Why would someone be so foolish as to attribute the work of God to the devil? The reason has to be that the religious leaders hated Jesus and wanted Him dead. When one is led by the devil, they are not going to give praise to God when His power is working through one of His servants – in this case, the Lord Jesus Himself.

Jesus needed to warn all that if you speak against Him you can be forgiven. Perhaps the reason He made that statement is that many people were confused about who he was. Remember when Jesus was alone with His disciples, He asked them, “Who do men say that I am?” Some say you are John the Baptist, Elijah, and others say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God! (Matthew 16:14-16). 

So, there was obvious confusion among those in that day as well as there are many today who are confused about the true identity of Christ.

But, those in that day that witnessed Jesus’ healings, miracles, and power knew His power came from God. Remember what the teacher in Israel said, Nicodemus in John chapter 3, “Rabbi we know you are a teacher from God, for no one can do these signs unless God is with Him” (John 3:2b). Nicodemus was a Pharisee (John. 7:50). He was a member of the sect that hated Jesus. So, for some of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ power to say that it was demonic, was an unforgivable act. It proved their utter disdain for the Holy Spirit who is God, the third person of the triune. An attack on one member of the Trinity is an attack on all members of the Trinity. The one’s calling Jesus demonic were the actual ones being influenced by Satan. Jesus called them brood of vipers and declared that the devil is their father (Matt 12:34; John 8:44).

Can someone blaspheme the Holy Spirit today? There are some that say no. And why? The reason they say that is because Jesus is not currently on earth so no one can eyewitness His miracles today and attribute His power to the devil. The writer would argue that people can do blaspheme the Holy Spirit every day. How? Not in the exact same way some did during the time of Christ, but through their willful unbelief in the power of the Spirit of God through the preaching of the gospel. Now understand, the gospel comes in various forms: audible which is the most common from a preacher or a podcast or radio. Written, through perhaps a blog, a book or transcript. And visual, television and video.  Jesus had this to say regarding His words, “The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63b). Paul declared these words in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”  To my knowledge, there is no worse sin than blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. It is so heinous that it is unforgivable declared by our Lord Jesus.

For them, in that day it was attributing the power of God to Satan – declaring Jesus as demon-possessed and His works and mission as Satanic. Anyone that witnessed Jesus’ undeniable and verifiable miracles and healings and rejected Him deserves eternal damnation.  Jesus through the Holy Spirit is still healing many – the healing of the soul by granting eternal life to those who believe in His ultimate expression of love, the sacrifice of His own precious life. To treat the atonement as profane and common, or worst demonic would place a person in the same unforgivable and unpardonable sinful status as the Pharisees. That person’s doom is tragically irreversible.