Daily Word: Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

We are continuing to look at the words of Yeshua in His discussion with the scribes concerning casting out unclean spirits. The scribes accused Yeshua of being possessed by Beelzebul. He explains that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Then, in verses 28-30: Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Ruach haKodesh (Hebrew for "Set Apart Spirit") never has forgiveness, but is guilty before the eternal judgment."--for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." Yeshua is teaching that there is something as the un-forgivable sin. The inquiry now is, what did Yeshua mean? To unlock the meaning, we need to remember Who is talking and to whom is He speaking.

Yeshua was a first century Jewish rabbi. Both He and His audience would have been monotheistic Jews (this means that they believed in only one God). The doctrine of the trinity would not develop until three or four centuries later. So eliminate the interpretation that Yeshua is saying that you can sin against the Father or Son and be forgiven, but to sin against the Holy Spirit brings everlasting death. Instead, read the words as they are meant to be read. Yeshua is saying that if one accuses Him of being possessed of an unclean spirit, then there is no forgiveness for him or her. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to reject Yeshua as being possessed by Satan. Remember, this is the context we find the teaching. Yeshua is addressing those that have said He is possessed by Beelzebul, cannot be forgiven. It is one thing to reject Yeshua; it is quite another to accuse Him of being possessed by Satan.

I have known several over the years that feared that they had committed the un-forgivable sin. The enemy of their souls would batter them mentally. Once explaining to the fearful one what this verse actually meant, they found peace. The bottom line is, that if you feel the guidance of Ruach haKodesh in your life or even the conviction of sin, you may rest easy as He has not left you.