[ ] 4/27/2014 #1056
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
Mark 3:22-30
INTRODUCTION: There have always been people who feared they had committed some sin that God cannot or will not forgive. Such thoughts leave them feeling they have no hope. In these verses, Jesus tells us what the unpardonable sin is and who has committed this sin.
I. UNREASONABLE ATTACKS
A. POWER OF JESUS.
In Matthew 12, Jesus entered the synagogue where He healed a man with a withered hand. This angered the Pharisees. He later delivered a man who was demon possessed, blind, and dumb.
B. PEOPLE AGAINST JESUS.
1. His family and friends. (v. 20-21)
Jesus' family and friends were concerned for His health and His mind. Jesus seemed to be a fanatic in His religious practice. He was not able to eat His meal for the multitude of people wanting His help. His friends said "He is beside Himself."
2. His foes.
The Pharisees made their plans how they might destroy Jesus. (Matt. 12:14) They envied Jesus and wanted Him dead. (Matt. 27:18) The religious crowd heard the people acknowledging Jesus' great power. They were afraid they would lose their influence and importance in Jerusalem and with Rome. (John 11:47- 48)
C. PROFANING OF JESUS. (v. 22)
The enemies of Jesus charged Him of being possessed by Satan. Beelzebub is a name of Satan. The Pharisees concluded that the supernatural power of Jesus was from Satan and not from God. They rejected Jesus as their Messiah and accused Him of being a servant of the devil. This was a blasphemous attack against Jesus who cast out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit.
II. UNDENIABLE TRUTH
A. PERCEPTION OF JESUS.
Jesus knew the thoughts of those who plotted His death. (Matt. 12:24-25) Jesus knew what was in every man's heart. (John 2:23-25)
There were others who wanted Him to perform some sign or miracle to test Him. (Luke 11:16) Jesus knew the intention of those who came to Him.
B. PARABLE OF JESUS.
1. Issue in the parable. "How can Satan cast out Satan?"
The enemies of Jesus charged Him of doing His miracles and signs in the power of Satan and demons. They said Jesus had cast the demon out of the man by the power of Satan. In Jesus' parable, He destroyed the arguments of His foes.
2. Illustrations in the parable.
a. Divided kingdom. (v. 24)
A kingdom divide against itself cannot stand. This would be civil war. Jesus' point was that Satan could not be divided in his own kingdom.
b. Divided family. (v. 25)
A house that is divided cannot stand. People within the house cannot be fighting with each other. Satan is not fighting with himself.
c. Division within Satan. (v. 26)
If Satan is opposed against himself, he cannot stand, and will be destroyed.
d. Strong man. (v. 27)
A well defended home cannot be invaded unless you first tie up the strong man of that house. Satan is the defender of his house. Satan is the strong man. Jesus had the power to invade Satan's kingdom and deliver those who were in Satan's grip. Satan was no match against Jesus. The Lord Jesus was and is stronger than Satan.
Jesus' miracles of healing and delivering people from demons were evidence that He was indeed the Son of God. Everything Jesus did was against Satan. The Lord Jesus healed those whom Satan inflicted. Jesus freed those who were in bondage to Satan and his demons. Jesus relied upon the Holy Spirit who worked through Him. If it was Satan working through Jesus, then Satan would be working against himself.
III. UNPARDONABLE SIN
A. FORGIVEABLE SIN. (v. 28)
Jesus said all sins are forgivable, even blasphemy.
1. Blasphemy of Paul.
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:12-15)
2. Blasphemy of Peter.
"But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak." (Mark 14:71)
B. FATAL SIN. (v. 29)
Jesus stated clearly what the unforgivable sin is in verses 29 through 30. The fatal sin which has no forgiveness is called "the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 12:31) The word “blaspheme” means “to speak evil of”. The scribes were guilty of speaking evil of the Holy Ghost.
This sin is different from any other sin. Jesus, as the Son of God, stood before men as a man. Jesus performed His miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those in Jesus day who spoke against His miracles and power were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This was an act of attributing evil to the work of the Spirit. It was a deliberate act on their part to deny the truth of who Jesus was and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees had witnessed the irrefutable proof and had rejected it.
Jesus was very specific about the unforgiveable sin. The Pharisees had blasphemed the Holy Spirit. They had continued to resist the Holy Spirit convicting them of their sin. These men had witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit through Christ. They rejected the very truth they had heard and seen.
There is no evidence that this sin can be committed today. This sin is not mentioned after the resurrection by any of the New Testament writers.
Charles Stanley: "The unpardonable sin Jesus referred to was something that could take place only when He lived on earth."
The only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in his unbelief.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)
The person who rejects Jesus in this life will be separated from God in the lake of fire forever. (John 14:6)
Conclusion.
If a person is concerned or worried that they have committed the unpardonable sin, they probably have not. A person can continue to reject the drawing of the Holy Spirit and his heart can become so hard he can no longer hear the voice of the Spirit. Sin causes hearts to grow hard, especially continual and unrepentant sin. Even Christians can have a hard heart. The solution in keeping our hearts soft is to confess our sins. (1 John 1:9)