Matthew 12:22-32 Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

The miracles Jesus performed were designed to be signs that he is the Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of God, the Messiah to come and it was working. After the exorcism of a demon possessed man who was blind and mute, people witnessed that he could speak and see and began to wonder if Jesus was the Messiah to come. Unfortunately, the Pharisees started to discredit Jesus’ miracles as being performed by Beelzebul. Beelzebul means “master of the house” and was used to refer to Satan. Jesus proceeds to prove that this assumption is incorrect appealing to some logic: A kingdom, city, or house divided against itself cannot stand. How can Satan cast out his own demons and stand?

Exorcisms performed by the Spirit of God are a sign that the kingdom of God has come. Using the imagery of the plundering of a strong man’s house, Jesus indicates that he is against Beelzebul and not in cooperation with him. Casting out of demons is not possible unless Beelzebul is bound. What is the blasphemy that will not be forgiven? The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The blasphemy that attributes God’s work to Satan. This blasphemy results from a heart that is unable to distinguish God’s work from Satan’s work and is unwilling to give glory to God for what only God can do. It is a heart that is darkened and unwilling to allow God’s light to come in. It is important to note that the blasphemy against the Spirit is not a one time deal of attributing something to Satan that God did, but a lifestyle that refuses to admit God’s work and give him glory.

God wants us to see and live reality. Satan is an expert in deception. If Satan can deceive us to think that what God does is not really his work, then he has a stronghold upon us. To follow Jesus is to perceive his hand at work in the world by the Spirit and to give him glory for his works.

Father, help me see and live in your reality. Deliver me from the evil of blaspheming against your Holy Spirit.

Matthew 26:57-75 Peter Denies Jesus

After his arrest, Jesus is taken before the high priest and the whole Council (Sanhedrin). The Sanhedrin, with 71 members in all, is the equivalent of the Supreme Court for the Jews. They had paid Judas to turn Jesus in and were paying false witnesses to accuse him, but none of them stuck and Jesus did not comment on any of them. In a last attempt to accuse him, the high priest questions him about his claim of being the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus admits his identity and the high priest accuses him of blasphemy. Blasphemy was condemned with the death penalty, but under Roman domination the Jews were prohibited to exact the death penalty. This is the reason for the Council taking Jesus before the Roman authorities (Pilate).

As members of the Council take turns to slap and spit on Jesus, Peter is outside waiting to see how it all turns out. While he is waiting, he is recognized by a servant girl as one who was with Jesus, but he denies it. And as he moves out of the courtyard, by the entrance, another slave girl recognizes him as well, but this time he denies with an oath. Finally, the bystanders come to him because they recognize his accent, but he denies again while swearing. At this time, the rooster crows and Peter remembers Jesus' prophecy about his denial and weeps bitterly.

It is easy for me to hide behind the Jews, or the Romans, even Peter. I could say to myself that they were the ones who spat and slapped and denied Jesus, but not me. The truth is that my sin was the cause of it all. I am the high priest who pronounced judgment on Jesus. I am the Council member who spat on his face. I am the Roman soldier who slapped him. And even though I can't imagine doing such a thing, I am the Peter who denied him three times. Why? Because my sin is the reason Jesus came to drink of that cup.

Even today, I spit, slap, and deny when I let sin reign in my life. I have been bought at a price and I am not my own. Christ bought me from the grip of death and gave me life to live it for him. When I give into sin, I spit his face. When I cave into temptation, I slap him again. When I surrender to the flesh, I deny that I know him even if for a moment. The abuse against Christ is not on the Jews, or the Romans; not even on Peter. It is on me!

Lord, forgive my lack of faithfulness to you. Give me strength to live for you. May I proclaim to all that I know you, not just with words, but with my life.

Matthew 12:22-32 Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

What exactly is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the unforgivable sin? Let's follow the story and we will find out. A demon possessed man who was blind and mute is exorcised by Jesus. Exorcism is one of the signs of the coming of the kingdom of God and the Messiah. Signs are meant to point to a reality and compel people to believe. That's why some raised the question: "Can this be the Son of David?" The Pharisees accuse Jesus of performing the exorcism by Beelzebul. Beelzebul is a term derived from an ancient pagan god Baal and used by the Jews to refer to Satan or a demon.

Christ's argument against such a thought is that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. He also points out that some Pharisees, in the past, had attempted to exorcise though without success - he questions by whom or in whose name did they try to exorcise. The only way to cast out demons (plunder the house) is by binding the devil (strong man) first. And to be able to bind the devil there must be faith in Jesus; there must be an allegiance to the Messiah and his kingdom. So the unforgivable sin, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is to continually refuse to make an allegiance with the Messiah despite the display of signs by the Spirit. It is unbelief in the face of the Spirit's call, through signs, to believe.

I wouldn't limit the work or signs of the Spirit to an era of miracles in Jesus' time and later the apostles'. The Spirit is alive and continues to work even today until the Lord's return. There are signs all around me. God is at work every day. The proclamation of the Gospel must be followed up by signs to drive people to believe. I must pray to my God to manifest himself in ways that serve to point people to the reality of the kingdom. I must pray that God will lift the blindness of this world so they may see Jesus. 

My emphasis on intellectual proof alone is not going to cut it. I need to believe that God will intervene in people's lives and pray to that end to see it become a reality. Arguments alone will not bring people into the kingdom. We need the demonstration of God's power in people's lives. Many times we think this must be a demonstrable miracle, but God can break through into people's lives in so many different ways. Do I believe? Am I praying for it?

Lord, grant me a passion to see you at work in people's lives. Move me to pray for signs in our day so people can me moved to believe. Help my unbelief. Open my eyes to see the splendor of your work as you give signs of the reality of your kingdom.