The Unpardonable Sin
Mark 3:20-30
July 26, 2009
I. Introduction:
A. The passage before us today contains one of the most ominous warnings recorded in scripture.
B. Jesus’ ministry had grown to enormous proportions vs.20.
1. It was so large that his relatives came because they were concerned about Him.
a) They like many others thought He was a little too fanatic in His work vs.21.
b) It seems He didn’t even have the support of His own family.
2. Some other people also came to see and hear Him vs.22.
a) The Pharisees who had been dogging Him sent for reinforcements from Jerusalem.
b) Remember they are on a mission to destroy Him and are looking for any excuse to have Him stoned.
C. These men have no answers for the things that are taking place and the effect it is having on the people and it is driving them nuts.
1. His teaching was far superior to theirs.
2. They tried to accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath.
3. Now the people are beginning to ask if this might be the Messiah Matt.12:22-23.
4. In their frustration they resort to slander by accusing Him of being in cahoots with the Devil.
5. This act by the Pharisees brought about the solemn warning of the unpardonable sin.
D. As I was preparing this message I came across a web site which encourages people to blaspheme the Holy Spirit and thereby commit the unpardonable sin.
1. It purports to demonstrate that the concept of a righteous just God who will punish people for their sin is a myth created by man and those who sign on with them are asserting their agreement with it.
2. This just goes to show you that you can find just about anything on the internet but is also brings up some questions which our passage today addresses.
a) Is it possible to commit a sin that is unforgivable?
b) If it is possible what exactly would that sin be?
c) Is it possible for us to commit that sin today or was it something that could only happen during Jesus’ earthly ministry?
3. The answers to those questions are best understood by examining them in the context of today’s passage.
4. I want to look at 3 aspects of this passage.
a) The accusation
b) The answer
c) The admonition
II. The unpardonable sin.
A. The accusation vs.22.
1. Lacking any other explanation for the things that Jesus is doing and not wanting to admit that He is who He says He is these men resort to an accusation they hope will incite the people.
a) One of the prominent aspects of the Lord’s ministry was casting out demons.
b) It was not something hidden it was obvious that amazing things were happening.
c) One commentator put it this way; “Observe the contrast between the thoughts of the multitude and of those who professed to be their teachers, the scribes and Pharisees. The multitude, free from prejudice, and using only their natural light of reason, candidly owned the greatness of Christ’s miracles as wrought by a Divine power; whereas the Pharisees, filled with envy and malice, attributed these mighty works which he wrought by the finger of God, to the direct agency of Satan.”
d) They could not deny that those things were happening – that would have caused them to lose credibility with the people.
e) So they said “well yes he does these things but not by God He does it by Satan’s power.”
2. Beelzebub
a) Lord of the flies, Lord of the dwelling place.
b) One of the many titles ascribed to Satan.
c) They are accusing Him of working in cooperation with Satan.
B. The answer:
1. Up to this point Jesus has pretty much stayed quite about their accusations but now He speaks out vs.23.
a) He speaks to them in parables.
b) This is the primary form of teaching used by Jesus.
c) The Lord uses 4 arguments to refute the accusations of the Pharisees.
2. Common sense vs.23-25.
a) The stability of a kingdom or a family is dependent upon unity.
b) Once a kingdom or a home is divided it is easy to defeat them.
3. Argument from absurdity.
a) Vs.26 demonstrated the logical conclusion when a kingdom is divided.
b) It is absurd to think that Satan would oppose himself. He would in essence neutralize himself.
c) Satan isn’t against Satan he is against God.
4. The argument from their own practice Matt.12:27-28.
a) They would never say that their own sons were under the power of Satan.
b) Their own practices proved them to be wrong.
5. The argument from experience vs.27.
a) Jesus is testifying of His own power over Satan.
b) Luke 11:21-22
c) If He has defeated him He has no need to cooperate with him.
d) Jesus defeated Satan during His temptation and He continues to plunder his kingdom when He frees captives from Satan’s clutches.
6. So Jesus sets forth an iron clad argument to prove his accusers wrong.
C. The admonition - Having refuted their accusations against Him Jesus now gives a stern warning to those who persist on this course vs.28-29.
1. There are two basic views concerning these verses.
a) This sin was a one time offence which cannot be repeated.
b) It is a sin that any person can commit at any time.
2. Break down.
a) Blasphemies
(1) To speak reproachfully, To rail at, revile someone.
(2) Malicious misrepresentation.
(3) It is the attributing of evil to God or denying some good we should attribute to Him.
b) All sins are forgivable even blasphemies.
(1) Sin is actions in rebellion against God.
(2) Blaspheme is the verbalization of that rebellion, a conscious act.
(3) Paul was a blasphemer before he was saved.
(4) There is not a sin that Jesus blood won’t cover.
(5) Even at the very end of life – thief on the cross.
c) The only exception vs.29.
(1) In this case it is attributing the direct work of the Holy Spirit to Satan vs.22.
(2) In the face of incontrovertible evidence to that fact these men persist in attributing the acts of Christ to Satan vs.30.
(3) The fact that they did this is evidence of the total hardening of the heart.
d) Eternal condemnation
(1) As a result they can never be forgiven Matt.12:32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
(2) The person who does this is guilty of an eternal sin.
(3) One that cannot be forgiven ever.
III. How does this all relate to us?
A. Look at our 3 questions.
1. Is it possible to commit a sin that is unforgivable?
2. If it is possible what exactly would that sin be?
a) As defined here it is refusing to attribute the clear unambiguous works of the HS to God.
b) This becomes more important when we consider the role played by the Holy Spirit in salvation.
3. Is it possible for someone to commit that sin today or was it something that could only happen during Jesus ministry?
a) For non Christians yes it is.
b) If a person persists in a state that is resistant to the work of the Holy Spirit he is in danger of committing this sin.
B. How does one ensure that he doesn’t commit this sin?
1. Vs.28
2. There isn’t a sin that God won’t forgive is we simply turn to Him in repentance.
3. Consider the thieves on the cross.
a) Both started out blaspheming Jesus.
b) One repented the other continued.
c) The one who repented is in heaven today.
d) The other will never ever be forgiven.
