- Feb 6, 2002
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MATTHEW 12:22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and unable to talk, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed. Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah? they wondered out loud.
24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided against itself is doomed. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 Let me illustrate this. You cant enter a strong mans house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! 30 Anyone who isnt helping me opposes me, and anyone who isnt working with me is actually working against me.
31 Every sin or blasphemy can be forgivenexcept blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. (NLT)
Imagine living an empty existence, full of dread at the prospect of meeting Jesus face to face. Sadly, that describes certain Christians. An "unpardonable" sin haunts their faith, preventing them from enjoying the freedom Christ offers. But the one sin Jesus said would not be forgiven-the deliberate rejection of God's power despite overwhelming evidence-could be committed only by people of His day.
The Pharisees who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' miracles stand accused of committing the one truly unpardonable sin. Jealous and angry at Christ's growing popularity among the Jewish people, the religious leaders dismissed His divine healings and exorcisms as the work of Beelzebub, or Satan. Jesus in turn refuted their faulty logic by explaining (1) Satan wouldn't hinder his own work by freeing a demon-possessed man, (2) the Pharisees also practiced exorcism, and (3) a demon could be driven out only by a power greater than its own. The religious leaders knew Jesus' arguments were true but still refused to accept Him as Messiah.
By ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil, the Pharisees willfully denied God's power despite irrefutable evidence. True faith and repentance meant nothing to these men compared to their priority of preserving their own reputation as leaders.
24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided against itself is doomed. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 Let me illustrate this. You cant enter a strong mans house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! 30 Anyone who isnt helping me opposes me, and anyone who isnt working with me is actually working against me.
31 Every sin or blasphemy can be forgivenexcept blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. (NLT)
Imagine living an empty existence, full of dread at the prospect of meeting Jesus face to face. Sadly, that describes certain Christians. An "unpardonable" sin haunts their faith, preventing them from enjoying the freedom Christ offers. But the one sin Jesus said would not be forgiven-the deliberate rejection of God's power despite overwhelming evidence-could be committed only by people of His day.
The Pharisees who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' miracles stand accused of committing the one truly unpardonable sin. Jealous and angry at Christ's growing popularity among the Jewish people, the religious leaders dismissed His divine healings and exorcisms as the work of Beelzebub, or Satan. Jesus in turn refuted their faulty logic by explaining (1) Satan wouldn't hinder his own work by freeing a demon-possessed man, (2) the Pharisees also practiced exorcism, and (3) a demon could be driven out only by a power greater than its own. The religious leaders knew Jesus' arguments were true but still refused to accept Him as Messiah.
By ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil, the Pharisees willfully denied God's power despite irrefutable evidence. True faith and repentance meant nothing to these men compared to their priority of preserving their own reputation as leaders.