Blasphemy against the Spirit

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, 'He is out of his mind.' (Mark 3:20–21)

You will remember from two studies ago that one of the things Mark's Gospel teaches us is how popular Jesus was with the Jewish people. This passage further illustrates that fact.

Such a large crowd had gathered at the house where Jesus was that neither he nor his disciples had been able to eat. Jesus was being mobbed by the crowds in the same way that celebrities today are mobbed by the crowds.

The Bible says: 'When his family heard about this…' People were coming to see Jesus and then going away and telling others what he was doing. In this way news about him had spread through the whole region of Galilee (Mark 1:28) and had reached the ears of his family as well.

When his family heard the news they came to take charge of him because they thought he had taken leave of his senses. What they actually said was that he was out of his mind, which is not something we should say about God. But that was nothing compared to what the teachers of the law said about him.

Beelzebub

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.' (Mark 3:22)

That was a terrible thing to say. 'Beelzebub' is a Hebrew word which means 'Lord of the flies.' The Greek equivalent is 'Beelzeboul' which means 'dung god' or 'god of the dung heaps'. Flies frequent dung heaps, which may link the meaning of the words.

Nevertheless 'Lord of the flies' was a vile insult. Beelzebub was also one of the names the Jews gave to Satan.

A strong man

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: 'How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.' (Mark 3:23–27)

Jesus said that Satan will not drive demons out of people. Demons are under Satan's authority and indwell them in order to control areas of their lives. If Satan drove them out he would be opposing himself and his kingdom (his rule over people's lives) would be weakened.

Satan will not give ground easily. Jesus referred to him as a strong man, which he is. Satan is a spirit being and is very powerful, but there is one who is more powerful than he. Only someone more powerful than Satan can release people from his control, and that someone is the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:28:

'But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.'

Every demon Jesus drove out during his earthly ministry was driven out by the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus told the teachers of the law that they had blasphemed the Spirit of God. They had called the Holy Spirit 'the Lord of the flies' which was blasphemy. (Blasphemy is acting irreverently towards, or speaking irreverently about, something that is sacred.)

An eternal sin

'I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.'

He said this because they were saying, 'He has an evil spirit.' (Mark 3:28–30)

Jesus said that all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. I find that an amazing statement. You hear people misusing the name of Jesus and God almost daily; it is a common figure of speech for some people.

Jesus said that all such blasphemies will be forgiven them (providing they repent) but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:32).

If you are looking for scriptures that teach the importance of the Holy Spirit, this is one of them.

God's grace

Surprisingly you don't hear unbelievers using the Holy Spirit's name (or title) irreverently. I think that's because of God's grace. If they did blaspheme the Holy Spirit they could never be saved. For that sin is even beyond the blood of Christ; it cannot be atoned for.

There are Christians who fear that before they were saved they may have blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Such fears can torment them and cause them great anguish. My own view is that such a thing is impossible.

God could not bring a person into a relationship with himself if they had committed a sin that was unforgivable because it's sin that separates us from God.

Just one sin drove Adam and Eve from God's presence in the garden. Light cannot have fellowship with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14); sinful man cannot have communion with a holy God.

However the Bible says that as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). Because of that we're able to come into his presence.

So if a person is enjoying peace and fellowship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, then every one of their sins has been forgiven and they are saved.

A limit to God's patience

If God normally prevents people from blaspheming his Spirit, then why did he allow the teachers of the law to do it? I believe he allowed them to commit that sin because his patience with them had run out.

God had given the leaders of the Jews ample time to accept his Son. Not only had they refused to accept him, they were now looking for ways to kill him (Mark 3:6). So God stepped back and allowed their sinfulness to run its full course.

There is a limit to God's patience. The Bible says that God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built (1 Peter 3:20). What was he waiting for? He was waiting for man to repent, for Noah was not only building an ark, he was also preaching righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). But God didn't wait forever and eventually sent a flood that destroyed them all.

Now is the time of God's favour

Is God speaking to you? Is he speaking to you about his Son, Jesus Christ, who died for your sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to cleanse you from your sin and bring you to God (1 Peter 3:18)? If he is, then don't resist his call any longer; thank him for what he's done for you and give your life to him today.

The Word says:

'In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

The ark Noah built was symbolic of Christ, through whom we are saved from God's wrath. Have you entered the ark God has prepared for you through his Son? If you haven't then do so now.

Michael Graham
March 2003
Revised July 2010

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