What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and why is it considered such a serious offense?
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a concept that has puzzled many. There are two types of blasphemy related to the Holy Spirit:
One of them is impossible to commit.
The other one is all too common.
In this article, we’ll dive into both types, explore their meanings, and provide real-life examples to help you understand what is considered blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Contents
Bible verses on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
Before going into the details, let’s read the verses mentioning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
The mentions are recorded in Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30 and Luke 12:10.
Mark 3:28-30
“Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Matthew 12:31-32
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in that which is to come.
Luke 12:10
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
The background to the passages in Matthew and Mark is the following. When Jesus heals a mute, deaf, and demon-possessed person, the witnesses are amazed and wonder if Jesus is truly the Son of David, the Messiah. When the Pharisees hear this, they claim that Jesus casts out demons by Satan’s power.
After hearing this, Jesus summons them to Him and explains in parables how it’s illogical for Satan to destroy his kingdom by helping someone cast out demons.
Then He warns the Pharisees not to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in simple terms
There are two types of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
The first type is to witness Jesus cast out a demon from a person and not to admit the demon casting is done in the Holy Spirit but instead attributing it to Satan. (See a more detailed explanation in the next section.)
The first type of blasphemy is impossible to do in our time.
The second type of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a persistent, continuous, and willing denial of the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and revelation of truth.
The second type is not a momentary lapse, sin, mistake, or error but a continuous, persistent way of life in which a person denies and resists the Holy Spirit.
This is why, in Acts 7:51, Stephen says to the Jews, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.”
Examples of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
The most common example of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is ignoring the Spirit’s conviction of sin and revelation of truth.
God’s existence is so plainly seen in the creation that no one is without excuse (Romans 1:19-20). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s existence to everyone. He especially shows it through our conscience when we are doing good or bad (Romans 2:14-15).
Therefore, to ignore the truths and sins the Spirit reveals to us is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ example
Let’s now see Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees in more detail.
Jesus doesn’t warn about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit only because the Pharisees said Jesus has an unclean spirit. The Jews said, at least, on two other occasions (John 7:20, 8:48) that He had a demon, and Jesus didn’t warn them about blasphemy on those occasions.
Jesus warns them because He cast out a demon, and for that very act, the Pharisees say He has an unclean spirit. It is attributing the demon casting to Satan, which triggers the warning. (Source: St. Augustine)
Jesus explains in His parables how it is not logical for Satan to attack his kingdom.
Moreover, Jesus says that the Pharisees are also casting out demons and asks if they are doing it in the Holy Spirit or Satan’s power. Suppose the Pharisees claim to cast out demons in the Holy Spirit and yet claim that Jesus does it with an unclean spirit. In that case, they are essentially calling the Holy Spirit Satan.
Jesus explains the above logic to the Pharisees (Mark 3:23-27 and Matthew 12:25-29) before His warning (Mark 3:28-30 and Matthew 12:31-32). Suppose someone would after Jesus’ explanation still continue to say that Jesus casts out demons with unclean spirit. In that case, it would no longer be done in ignorance but in willing defiance.
Now, you see how grave this is. They would be committing the unforgivable sin.
This type of blasphemy—witnessing Jesus casting out a demon and attributing it to Satan—was specific to His earthly ministry. While we no longer see Jesus physically performing miracles, rejecting or misrepresenting the Holy Spirit’s work today could be considered a serious offense.
Modern-day examples
One example that comes close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is Richard Dawkins’ claim to be “a cultural Christian.”
Dawkins is one of the most famous atheists in the world. He has mentioned being “a cultural Christian” and “feeling at home in Christian ethos.” Yet he says he doesn’t “believe a word” from the Christian faith.
To recognize the goodness of Christianity, to understand that the Western way of life is built on Christianity, and to feel at home in a Christian ethos and, at the same time, claim that it’s all based on lies is getting very close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Examples in the Church Fathers
Some instances of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, according to the Church Fathers, include cases where individuals rejected the divinity of Christ or the Holy Spirit.
The Bible provides ample evidence for the divinity of Christ (see here) and the Holy Spirit (see here). Ignoring the evidence and denying the divinity of either one is to deny who God truly is.
Athanasius of Alexandria, Letters to Serapion concerning the Holy Spirit, Ep. 1
Where then do you find excuse for such audacity, so that you do not fear that which was spoken by the Lord, ‘Whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath no forgiveness, neither in this present age nor in the age to come’? The Arians, having misunderstood the incarnate presence of the Word and the things which were said in consequence thereof, took from them an excuse for their heresy and were condemned as enemies of God and as speaking things which are in truth idle and earthly.
All who call the Holy Ghost a creature we pity, on the ground that, by this utterance, they are falling into the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against Him.
How to avoid blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
If you believe in the Triune God, have given your life to Christ, and repented your sins, you are not committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
The fact that you are even concerned about this indicates that you are almost certainly not doing it. Only if you are committing a willful sin that you keep ignoring will you be in danger of this sin.
The fact that you, as a Christian, are interested in this topic is a sign that you seek God and care about your relationship with Him. This is not the condition of a person’s heart who commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. That person does not care about God, nor is he seeking pardon from Him, but you are. So, don’t fear you haven’t committed the unpardonable sin.
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