The Torah Life Series

Transcription

1 Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit Messianic Rabbi Richard Kennedy Kislev 25, 5773 (December 8, 2012) Many have read in Scripture that one may be forgiven of all manner of sin except for the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This very word is enough to cause one to pause and think and for good reason. If one does not have one s sins forgiven then one will not be allowed to live in the eternal Kingdom of God. So, just what was Yeshua saying? What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Because of the serious nature of this topic, it is important that we take a few steps back in Scripture and read the discourse in context. Yeshua had just left the synagogue on Shabbat and many were questioning Him and following Him. We pick up the Scriptural passage at this point. 22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Yeshua knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaks a word against the Son Page 1 of 5

2 of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Mt 12:22-37) (Parallel passage in Mk 3:22-31) This passage reveals that the people brought a man possessed by demons to Yeshua. This man was also blind and mute. Yeshua cast out the demons and healed the man so he is able to see and speak. While the people were astonished, the Pharisees mocked Yeshua and slandered His work by claiming that it was by Beelzebub, or rather by the power of Satan, that Yeshua was able to do such a thing. This is our first clue to understanding this passage. While Yeshua was bringing deliverance and healing, He was being mocked for His work. Mocking is speaking evil of others or making light of them or their work. God does not want us to speak evil of others. Speaking evil of others is known as lashon hara. Lashon hara literally means the evil tongue. Scripture warns us many times against lying lips, speaking falsely or bearing false witness; all of which are lashon hara. You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Ex 20:16) You shall not raise a false report: put not your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. (Ex 23:1) You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people: neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD. (Le 19:16) Page 2 of 5

3 Keep your tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (Ps 34:13) Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. (Ps 31:18) Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. (Pr 12:22) Yeshua answers the Pharisees, beginning in verse 25, and addresses their false words. His rebuke is about speaking falsely (lashon hara). We know this because Yeshua says in verse 34, How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. He then continues to the end of the chapter expounding about the words which comes from one s mouth. Because blasphemy is speaking falsely or speaking contentiously against another, it is lashon hara. Therefore, Yeshua is telling us in verse 31 and 32, that speaking falsely or contentiously against the Holy Spirit is a sin that shall not be forgiven. False or contentious speech against the Holy Spirit would be, among many things, speech that denies the authority, power, or work of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of such speech is to denigrate the Holy Spirit either in one s own mind or in the eyes of others. Denigration of this sort comes from a heart that is against The Holy One, blessed be He. This is why Yeshua said in verse 30, He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. Such a person comes to destroy the work of God by either denying it or by making light of it. We are now left with the question of one who has previously blasphemed the Holy Spirit, but is now seeking salvation. Many have asked the question Can such a person be saved? It has been taught that regardless of any sin, including blaspheming the Holy Spirit, God will forgive the sinner, but this is not what this passage teaches. Perhaps there are some who desire salvation, but who had previously blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Should such a one as this shrug one s shoulders and walk away from God or His Torah? I believe that if one want s to be saved and have such a sin in one s past, Page 3 of 5

4 then one should not be discouraged, but should seek God and His gift of salvation. God will decide what to do with such a person. Elohim is a just God and will make a righteous and just decision. There may also be those who think they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, but in truth they did not. With such a one as this, the Adversary will try to take advantage of such a position and cause one to feel guilty and try to make them think that seeking salvation or Torah is useless. Therefore, it still is beneficial for one to press ahead, seeking repentance and salivation from the author and finisher of our faith. For those who are saved, it is our job is to carry the message of salvation to whoever will listen. We are to sow the seeds of the Good News instead of trying to decide if another person has blasphemed the Holy Spirit. But, what of those who are already saved and then blasphemes the Holy Spirit? The scripture points out that if one had transgressed the Torah, then they would die without mercy under two or three witnesses. But, it is a much greater punishment for those who are saved in Messiah to trod underfoot the Son of God, or counted the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing, or who has done despite [insult] to the Spirit of grace. 28 He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb 10:28-29) Those who are saved, but then turn from this salvation with distain against God shall be punished more severely than those who die after being convicted under Torah. This is in accord with an earlier portion of the book of Hebrews that reads: 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain Page 4 of 5

5 that cometh often upon it, and brings forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God: 8 But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Heb 6:4-8) This is a hard word, and one that should not be ignored by any believer. God desires us to come to Him with a humble and contrite heart; accepting the blood atoning sacrifice of Yeshua for the remission of our sin, and to receive salvation with thanksgiving and praise. We are to remain true to the Holy One, blessed be He, as a wife is to remain true to her husband. We are not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, nor regard the blood of Messiah as unholy, nor reject the precious salvation that we have received. Because many who are saved do not fully understand the depths and wonders of the gift of salvation, we who are saved and mature in the faith should take it upon ourselves to teach our brothers and sister about this wonderful gift and the dangers of rejecting God, His Holy Spirit, or His gift of salvation. Page 5 of 5