Question
What is the unforgivable sin?
Response
The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all record of Jesus speaking about an ‘unforgivable sin’. He said, “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31-32)
There have been several suggestions put forwards as to what this ‘sin’ might be. There have been those who have thought this particular sin was only possible to commit while Jesus was on earth – however no where in the Bible is that ‘clause’ stated. There are others who consider this sin to be committed by those who, having heard about Christ, still die not believing in him. Indeed people who die in this position are not forgiven; however, this verse appears to be talking about something much more specific than this.
If we are to attempt to understand what the ‘unforgivable sin’ is it’s important that we understand the context in which Jesus is speaking about it. In Matthew 12:22-30 we read of how Jesus is driving out evil spirits in the power of the Holy Spirit (vs. 28) but the Pharisees, despite their knowledge and all the amazing things they have witnessed Jesus do, refuse to acknowledge this and instead attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. This is at the heart of what the ‘unforgivable sin’ is.
This often leads people to panic and think, “What if I do this by a mistake? What if, out of ignorance I attribute something to Satan instead of the Holy Spirit?” However, we must not fear. The Pharisees Jesus is talking to are not mistakenly attributing the Spirit’s work to Satan – they are doing it deliberately. They appear to know exactly what is going on, but still they refuse to acknowledge who Jesus is and the Spirit’s power working through him.
Wayne Grudem says, “The context indicates that Jesus is speaking about a sin that is not simply unbelief or rejection of Christ, but one that includes (1) a clear knowledge of who Christ is, (2) knowledge that the Holy Spirit is working through him, (3) a wilful rejection of these facts, and then (4) slanderously attributing the work of the Holy Spirit in Christ to the power of Satan.”
But if the forgiveness of sins is possible through Jesus’ death on the cross what makes this sin unforgivable? It’s not unforgivable because it is such a bad thing that even Jesus’ death isn’t adequate to enable God to forgive it. It’s unforgivable because of the attitude of the person who commits it – because they refuse to accept the facts about Jesus and the Holy Spirit and therefore forgiveness is impossible. They know what the truth is and they have deliberately rejected it. Rick Cornish says, “The unforgivability comes not from any lack in God’s grace, but from their determined choice to reject God’s means of forgiveness.”
Therefore if you, or anyone else you know, are worried that you may have committed the ‘unforgivable sin’ you can be pretty sure that you/they haven’t. This is because your/their concern shows they have the opposite attitude of what this sin actually is. Your concern illustrates you have some knowledge of Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power working through him and do not want to deliberately reject the facts by attributing the Holy Spirit’s work to Satan.
Wayne Grudem, Bible Doctrine (1999), IVP.
Rick Cornish, 5 Minute Theologian (2004), NavPress.
Key Bible Passages
Matthew 12:22-32
Mark 3:20-30
Luke 12:8-10
“The unforgivability comes not from any lack in God’s grace, but from their determined choice to reject God’s means of forgiveness.”(Rick Cornish)
This response was written by Phil Green. Copyright © July 2006.
The following ideas may help you discuss this issue as a group:
- Get everyone in the group to share one thing they have done which was really bad (as in naughty). Once they have done this discuss whether they regret doing it and why.
- Read Psalm 103:12 and Hebrews 8:12 (and/or other verses about God’s forgiveness) and discuss how God’s forgiveness makes you feel (about God and about yourself).
- Now read Matthew 12:22-32 and discuss what the group thinks the ‘unforgivable sin’ is.
- Why do you think the Pharisees wouldn’t acknowledge the truth about Jesus and the Holy Spirit working through him?
- Why do you think people today don’t acknowledge Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
- How has God made forgiveness possible? (Read Acts 13:38-39 and Titus 3:4-7) Therefore, why is the unforgivable sin, unforgivable?
FAQ Disclaimer:
FAQ responses are designed to promote clear biblical thinking about subjects that are often difficult and confusing. The responses are all considered to be compatible with the Evangelical Alliance’s basis of faith but beyond that should not be assumed to represent the Evangelical Alliance’s ‘official standpoint’ on any particular doctrine or issue.
