The “Unpardonable Sin” has generated much debate and confusion over the years. What is this “sin?” Is there a sin that God will not forgive? These are important questions. From the Word of God, we know God forgives adultery, idolatry, “abusers of themselves with mankind,” etc. (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Perhaps the common interpretation of the “Unpardonable Sin” is that it refers to a person who dies having rejected Christ. Wiersbe explains, “People today cannot commit the ‘unpardonable sin’ in the same way the Jewish religious leaders did when Jesus was ministering on earth. The only sin today that God cannot forgive is rejection of His Son.” Obviously, if a person dies without Christ, there is no pardon (John 3:36; 1 John 5:12; Heb. 9:27). But is that what the Bible is actually saying?
The context of Mark 3:28-29 shows the scribes have accused Jesus of having a demon, and casting out demons by “the prince of the devils” (v. 22). Jesus explains that “if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (v. 24). Then, in verses 28-29 Jesus says all sins and blasphemies may be forgiven, but “he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness.” Why did Jesus utter such a serious warning? “Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit” (v. 30).
Commenting on this passage, H. A. Ironside says, “In declaring the work of the Holy Spirit to be that of the prince of the demons, the scribes crossed the deadline. Their hearts were hardened, and the day of repentance for them had passed.” Dr. Ironside goes on to say,
Actually there is no sin that is unpardonable if men repent and turn in faith to Christ. But it is possible to sin so that the conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron. Men then lose all desire to repent and are given up to strong delusion; believing a lie, they are doomed to eternal perdition.
In Matt. 12:31, Jesus says, “the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven.” In verse 32, He further states, “whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost … shall not be forgiven … neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” In dealing with a passage, it is important to know what the specific words mean. Blasphemy is defined by Strong as “vilification.” The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary describes it further,
The word blasphēmia is a combination of two Greek words, blaptō, “to hurt, harm or injure,” combined with phēmē, “speech,” resulting in the word blasphēmia, “injurious speech.” The classical meaning is “evil speech,” “profane speech,” “defamation,” or “slander.” It is the word used to denote the strongest form of mockery or slander. In reference to the gods, blasphēmia is also the misrepresentation of their true nature or power.
As to whether God would refuse to forgive any sin, The Bible clearly teaches that God is “longsuffering … not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9). But we also read “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Gen. 6:3). And Pro. 1:24-26 gives this sober warning,
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Dr. Ironside gives a fitting summary for the “Unpardonable Sin.” He states, “Mark 3:28-29 was never intended to torment anxious souls honestly desiring to know Christ, but the verses stand out as a blazing beacon warning of the danger of persisting in the rejection of the Spirit’s testimony of Christ until the seared conscience no longer responds to the gospel message.
REFERENCES
Gilbrant, Thoralf, ed., The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary – Alpha-Gamma, (Springfield, MO: Complete Biblical Library, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Ironside, H. A., H. A. Ironside Commentary – Mark, (San Diego, CA: Horizon Press, 1948), WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Strong, James, Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2007), WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Wiersbe, Warren, The Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament, Volume 1, (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2001), WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
