Blasphemy:

Context:

• A demon oppressed blind and mute man is brought to Jesus.
• Jesus heals him, allowing him to see and hear.
• All the people were amazed.
• The Pharisees heard about it and immediately resisted.
• They accused Jesus of demonic activity.

Matthew 12:25-30 “...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. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 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. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters...”

Mark 3:23-27 “...And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house...”

Was Jesus doing supernatural things?

Why would the Pharisees assume the activity was demonic?

• They had already made up their minds about Jesus.
• They weren’t about to change their minds about Jesus.
• They had to have an alternate explanation for the reality that couldn’t be denied.

Why do people staunchly hold to opinions, even in the face of evidence to the contrary?

• People make up their minds about something.
• People refuse to change their minds once they’re made up.
• People can always come up with alternate explanations even when reality is right in front of them.

Does everyone believe that Jesus still does supernatural things?

Can you convince a person about the reality of Jesus?

• John 3:3 “...Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...”
• John 6:44 “...No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day...”
• John 6:63-65 “...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father...”
• Acts 16:14 “...One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul...”

Who “...gives life...” so a person can come to Jesus?

• It is the Spirit who gives life. No one can come unless it is granted by the Father.
• The trinity is involved in the born again process.
• The Father grants it. The Spirit gives life. A person comes to Jesus.

Matthew 12:31-32 “...Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 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...”

Mark 3:28-29 “...Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin...”

What is the “...blasphemy that will not be forgiven...”?

• Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.

Is it blasphemy to say the work of the Holy Spirit is the work of the devil?

At what point does denying the work of the Holy Spirit become blasphemy?

Why would someone commit the unpardonable sin?

• People make up their minds about something.
• People refuse to change their minds once they’re made up.
• If the work of the Holy Spirit is ascribed to Satan, a person will not allow themselves to be led by the Spirit.
• If a person is not led by the Spirit, they will not find the way, the truth, and the life. 
• If a person doesn’t find the way, the truth, and the life, they will not find the forgiveness that leads to eternal life.

Galatians 5:16-18 “...But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law...”

Will you walk by the Spirit if you attribute the work of the Spirit to Satan?