The Sin That Can Never Be Forgiven
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Begin Point 1
Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
A possesed and sick man
In the original language, the illnesses are related to the possesion.
For the sake of this passage, the actual healing is not as important as the accusation that it brings about.
Once Jesus healed the man, the people or “crowds” were amazed and asked a question.
“Can this be the Son of David?”
What were they asking?
Son of David
2 Samuel 7:12-16
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”
They were asking, “Is this the promised Messiah-King that had been promised?”
The answer is yes he is, but that answer is not given just yet.
Instead, the Pharisees, who had just been conspiring to destroy Jesus in verse 14, respond to the crowd.
They claim that Jesus had cast out demons under the power of Satan.
Notice how the Pharisee’s opposition to Jesus has escalated. He has gone from a rabbi who should correct His disciples, to a dangerous man who needs to be destroyed, to now, being accused of being in leauge with the devil himself!
The first point is not so much a sermon point but establishes the setting.
I. Jesus has authority over demons and this raises the question, “is Jesus the promised Messiah-King?” (22-24)
I. Jesus has authority over demons and this raises the question, “is Jesus the promised Messiah-King?” (22-24)
We know the answer to this question but in a moment, Jesus will answer it.
Remember Matthew’s audience
They would have these same questions as they are reading this.
let’s keep moving.
Begin Point 2
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
(25) The point here is very simple,
Any organization (kingdom), if it is not united in purpose, will fail. We know this.
You can see this in everything from sports teams, to buisnesses, to literal kingdoms.
We can even see this in local churches
(26) In vs. 26, Jesus applies this principle to Satan’s “kingdom.”
Jesus is basically saying that Satan is too smart to let his various agents work against eachother.
(27) Jesus then questions the Pharisees regarding their accusation of Him.
Jesus aknowledges that various religeous leaders associated with the Pharisees have also cast out demons.
Jesus’ point is that, If Jesus is able to so powerfully cast out demons and do so much harm to the Kingdom of Satan, yet he is empowered by Satan himself, then musn’t those who are less effective be powered by Satan as well?
“Therefore, they will be your judges.” Means that the Pharisees’ guit or innocence is testified to by those who cast out demons for them.
(28) Jesus then addresses the original question
“Can this be the Son of David?” (Verse 23)
Jesus answers this in verse 28
Matthew 12:28
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
The answer is yes
What we see here is...
II. Jesus is the Messiah-King who has come to establish the forever kindom of God (25-28)
II. Jesus is the Messiah-King who has come to establish the forever kindom of God (25-28)
This is not just a simple statement about Christ but it is a profound statment about the kingdom
Notice, he doesn’t say that the kingdom will come upon you but rather that is “has”
ALREADY/NOT YET
Let’s move on...
Begin Point 3
Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Jesus here is proclaiming his victory over Satan who he is accused of being in league with.
This shows us that...
III. Jesus is victorious over the ruler of this world, who is powerless to stop Him. (29)
III. Jesus is victorious over the ruler of this world, who is powerless to stop Him. (29)
Look at verse 30, this brings us to one of the more challenging passages of Scripture to understand.
Begin Point 4
30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
(30) Jesus begins with a simple statement:
Essentially, you can’t stay indifferent towards Jesus, by not Him or His message, you are regecting Him, there is no middle ground.
(31-32) Here it is, what does this say?
It says that if you sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit or by Speking agianst Him, you will not be forgiven, yet every other sin will be.
Blasphemy means “extreme slander”
these statements are parallel
Is this teaching that if you say something wrong about the Holy Spirit (Using His name in vain, expressing discouragement in a sinful eay, etc.) you can’t be saved or will lose your standing with God as a Christian?
No, that is inconsistent with the Gospel.
Instead, let’s focus on the context. The Pharisees had already rejected Jesus’ claim of messiahship.
Jesus says that can be forgiven but in this context they are at least close to sinning in a way that can’t be forgiven.
What is the situation?
They have just been shown evidence that proves, in their minds, that Jesus is the Messiah-King, but instead of attributing the healing to the Spirit as they should, they instead attribute it to Satan.
Essentially, rejection of the Son of Man is temporary and can be reversed, while blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is final rejection of the truth. It attributes the goodness of the Gospel to Satan and constitutes a final rejection of the truth despite understanding it and seeing the irrefutable proof.
This ultimately describes someone who is rejects the truth and dies without repentance.
IV. The rejection of the Gospel is the sin that will not be overlooked (30-32)
IV. The rejection of the Gospel is the sin that will not be overlooked (30-32)
What do I do with this?
Realize who Jesus is.
Live as a citizen of a kingdom that is here now.
Don’t fear a sin that can draw you away from God, instead fear God and live for Him as a response to faith.
What if you say, I think I have commited this sin but I want to repent?
Someone who is in this condition would not say this.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”