BLASPHEMY IN THE KINGDOM
2 Samuel 5:1–7, 10; Psalm 89; Mark 3:22–30
Today’s gospel underscores the gravity of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark3:29).
To blaspheme is to speak with disrespect about God. Blasphemy is a verbal or written rebuke of God’s name, character, work, or attributes. It is a lack of reverence for sacred objects or places. In the gospel, the teachers of the law attributed what was undeniably divine to Beelzebul (Mark 3:22).
Blasphemy was a serious crime in the Old Testament. In Lev. 24:10–16, the man who blasphemed God’s name was stoned to death. In the New Testament, Jesus says such a person will never be forgiven.
How are we guilty of this sin today? In 1 Tim. 1:20, Paul explains that he had abandoned two false teachers to Satan so they would “be taught not to blaspheme.” This means that promulgating false doctrine and leading God’s people astray is blasphemous.
Why is there no forgiveness for this sin? Rejecting the Savior will leave you without the Savior, and rejecting pardon will make you unpardonable. Simply put, it’s not that there are unforgivable sins; rather, people can become so obstinate and closed up to forgiveness that they are unable to receive it. So we can’t have what we have rejected.
Today’s gospel also prompts us to discern. Let us discern between the Spirit of God and opposing forces. Let us distinguish divine influence from other influences. Today, there are many influences: money, power, fame, and the like.
Apostle Paul says to each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good—the Kingdom of God (1Cor. 12:7). What kind of spirit do you have? Are you building or destroying? In the first reading, Saul destroyed the kingdom given to him, but David unifies the nation, rebuilds it, and reawakens the drooping spirit of the Israelites. What are you doing?
Let us pray
Father, have mercy on us when we blasphemed and denied your saving power. We believe in your pardon; grant us your pardon through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
