“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
Of all the warnings in Scripture, none is more sobering than this one. Jesus said there is a sin that “shall not be forgiven.” Not in this world. Not in the next. It is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—a hard-hearted, final rejection of the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus Christ.
Believers throughout the centuries have feared this verse, wondering: “Have I committed the unpardonable sin?” But Jesus didn’t speak these words to trembling sinners seeking forgiveness. He spoke them to religious leaders who had willfully rejected truth and called God’s Spirit demonic.
In this post, we’ll unpack what it means to blaspheme the Holy Spirit—and contrast it with the beautiful reality of believing the Spirit’s witness and receiving Christ fully.
🚫 What Is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
Let’s look at the full passage:
“And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” — Matthew 12:32, ESV
The context? Jesus had just healed a demon-possessed man. The Pharisees, seeing this undeniable miracle, declared: “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons” (v. 24). They did not simply misunderstand—they maliciously attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
This was no slip of the tongue. It was a willful, informed rejection of God’s truth. It was saying: “I see the light—but I call it darkness.” That is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
⚠️ What It Is Not:
- It is not struggling with doubt or fear
- It is not backsliding in weakness
- It is not using God’s name in vain once in the past
- It is not a sin that a repentant heart can commit
If you fear committing this sin—you haven’t. That very tenderness is evidence the Spirit is still working in you.
🕊️ What Does It Mean to Believe the Spirit’s Witness?
The Holy Spirit has one ultimate purpose: to glorify Jesus and lead people to Him. Jesus said:
“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…” — John 16:8, ESV
And:
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” — Romans 8:16, ESV
To believe the Spirit’s witness is to agree with His testimony: “Yes, I am a sinner. Yes, Jesus is the Savior. Yes, I will trust Him.”
🎯 Word Study: “Blaspheme” (Greek: blasphēmeō)
This word means “to speak evil of, slander, or show irreverence.” In this context, it means treating the Spirit’s truth with utter contempt. But its opposite is pisteuō—“to believe, to place confidence in.” The Holy Spirit invites us to believe—deeply and truly—in Jesus Christ.
🛠️ Life Application: Am I Believing or Resisting?
Ask yourself today:
- Am I responding to the Spirit’s conviction or suppressing it?
- Do I call good “evil” or am I learning to see with spiritual eyes?
- Have I accepted the truth about Jesus from the Spirit’s witness?
If you’ve never trusted Christ, today is the day to believe. The Spirit is speaking. Don’t reject His voice.
If you’re a believer, don’t harden your heart when He convicts. The more you resist, the easier it becomes to ignore Him. But the more you listen, the clearer His voice becomes.
“Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts…” — Hebrews 3:15, KJV
Belief is not a single moment—it’s a way of life. Every day we have the choice: blaspheme by scorning truth—or believe by trusting the Spirit’s voice.
⚖️ Blasphemed or Believed?
The Holy Spirit is not trying to trap you in judgment. He is pleading with you to receive mercy. He is the Spirit of grace, truth, and salvation. His witness is clear: Jesus is Lord. Your response will determine your eternity.
So today, listen. Believe. Surrender. And say with your whole heart, “Holy Spirit, I believe what You say about Jesus—and I receive Him as Lord.”
