Expert: Sal - 6/5/2004

Question
What exactly is the "unforgivable sin" mentioned in Mark, Luke and Matthew?  

Answer
Dear Chris:

In order to properly understand what the unforgivable sin is, we must carefully study the context. The passage concerning the unforgivable sin occurs in Matthew (12:31-32), Mark (3:28-29), and Luke (12:10). These are three accounts of the same incident. Matthew's account is the most detailed; therefore, I will use it as the basis for my interpretation.

Matthew opens his account with Jesus performing an exorcism of a blind mute (Matthew 12:22). “All the crowd were astonished. ‘Might this not be David's son?' they asked” (vs. 23). Let us note two very important facts for our study. One fact is that Jesus' exorcism astonishes the people not because he cast out a demon, others could do likewise (Mark 9:38), but because the possessed man was a mute. This is of significance because Jewish exorcisms were performed by getting the demon to admit its name. Then the exorcist would use the name in order to force the demon out of the victim.  So mutes were considered to be incurable. When Jesus performed such an exorcism at another time we read of the crowds astonishment. “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” (Matthew 9:33). The other fact to note is that the question, “Might this not be David's son?” means  “Might Jesus be the Messiah?” This is because the Messiah was expected to be from the lineage of David (Psalm 110:1-4; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:32). Therefore, Matthew begins his Gospel that was written to a Jewish audience with “A family record of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham” (1:1). Now with these two facts, that Jesus performed a miracle no one else could and that he was being thought of as possibly being the Messiah, firmly in mind let's continue with our exegetical study of this passage.

When the Pharisees heard these two facts they immediately tried to refute the peoples' speculation. “This man can expel demons only with the help of Beelzebul, the prince of demons” (vs. 24). Jesus then shows the foolishness of the “demonic hoax” theory with three arguments. The first argument (vss. 25-26) is that if the Pharisees were right this would mean that Satan was destroying his own kingdom. “If Satan is expelling Satan, he must be torn by dissension. How, then, can his dominion last?” (vs. 26). Jesus second argument (vss. 27-28) is that if the Pharisees were right that he expels demons with Satan's help would this not also apply as well to their fellow Pharisees who can perform exorcisms? (vs. 27). If they refuse to recognize the greater miracle of the exorcism of the mute how can they accept the lesser miracles of their own? Jesus adds, “Let them (those who performed exorcisms) be the ones to judge you” (vs. 27b). Finally, Jesus states that if he is right, and every indication is that he is, than they are rejecting God's Anointed One! (vs. 28). The third argument (vs. 29) is that he must have power over Satan so that he can save those who Satan has bound up in sin. Those in sin are Satan's “property”. Satan would never willingly give up any captive souls they must be forcibly taken from him. Therefore, Jesus cannot be expelling demons by Satan's power because he is opposing Satan's desires.

The arguments finished, Jesus notes that the Pharisees are not helping to gather souls with him (vs. 30). They are actually causing great harm to the people. As Jesus noted elsewhere, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you frauds! You shut the doors of God's kingdom in men's faces, neither entering yourselves nor admitting those who are trying to enter” (Matthew 23:13). Next we read of the unforgivable sin. “That, I assure you, is why every sin, every blasphemy, will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (vs. 31). Based on the above careful exegesis I believe that the unforgivable sin is refusal to repent and help Jesus gather souls for the kingdom. Of course if one is ignorant then no sin is imputed. “If you were blind there would be no sin in that. ‘But we see,' you say, and your sin remains” (John 9:41). The unforgivable sin is the refusal to believe what one knows to be true in ones heart. “But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep” (John 10:26).

Pope John Paul II stated, “According to an exegesis, 'blasphemy' does not properly consist in offending against the Holy Spirit in words; it consists rather in the refusal to accept the salvation which God offers man through the Holy Spirit, working through the power of the Cross” (Dominum et Vivificantem [The Lord and Giver of Life]).

We must not let pride stop us from accepting and acting on what we know to be true. The Pharisees allowed pride to cause them to reject Jesus. “Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). This is what caused the Pharisees to commit the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit, i.e. refusal to repent or final impenitence.

I pray that this was helpful to you. If I can be of further help please do not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal