BLASPHEMY
Romans 4:13, 16–18; Psalm 105; Luke 12:9–12
In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” 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 the lack of reverence for sacred objects or toward something considered sacred or sacrosanct. 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 not 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. Whenever we bear false witness, we betray Christ’s identity and dignity, and by so doing, we are blasphemous.
Why is there no forgiveness for this sin? There is no pardon for this transgression because only Jesus offers pardon (John 3:16). Rejecting the Savior will leave you without the Savior, and rejecting pardon will make you unpardonable. You can’t eat your cake and still have it. By and large, it’s not that there are unforgivable sins; rather, people can become so obstinate and closed up to forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit that they are unable to receive it.
In addition, Jesus says in the gospel, “He who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” Similarly, in John 3:36, He says “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him”. So we can’t have what we have rejected.
Let us pray.
Father, through this daily reading of your word, increase our faith. 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
