“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31 ESV).
Matthew recorded Jesus’ warning to the crowds and especially to the Pharisees after they witnessed a clear work of God. They had witnessed the deliverance and healing of a demon-oppressed man, yet they willfully attributed that miracle to Satan. Jesus responded with both urgency and mercy. On the one hand, He declared the vast scope of God’s forgiveness: every sin and blasphemy could be forgiven. On the other hand, He exposed a unique danger: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This was not a careless word or momentary doubt, but a deliberate, informed, and settled rejection of the Spirit’s witness to Christ. The Pharisees had Scripture, miraculous evidence, and the Spirit’s testimony before them, yet they hardened their hearts and called light darkness. Jesus explained that such sin is unforgivable not because God’s mercy has limits, but because persistent rejection of the Spirit cuts off repentance itself. In rejecting the Spirit who points to Christ, they rejected the only means by which forgiveness is received.
So, is there an unforgivable sin? Yes, but it’s not what people think. There is no sin so dark that the blood of Christ cannot cleanse it when we turn to Him in faith. At the same time, it warns us of the danger of hardened unbelief. The unforgivable sin is not failure, doubt, or some extreme or heinous sin, but a settled refusal to believe what the Spirit testifies about Jesus. When we are convicted of sin, we must not resist or explain it away, but humbly repent and trust Christ.
For those of us who worry whether we have strayed too far, this text actually offers comfort: our concern is evidence that the Spirit is still at work in us. Therefore, let us guard our hearts from cynicism and pride, and respond quickly and gladly to the Spirit’s voice.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we praise You for Your abundant mercy and the all-sufficient blood of Jesus. Keep our hearts soft toward the Holy Spirit’s conviction and testimony about Christ. Guard us from hardness, pride, and unbelief, and lead us continually in repentance and faith. Thank You that Your forgiveness is freely given to all who come to You through Your Son. In Jesus’ name, amen.