Blasphemy

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Question: What exactly is Blasphemy?

Answer: First, let's take a look at the primary scriptures that discusses this subject: "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:31-32, NIV)

The English word comes from the Greek word blasphëmia (Strong's Concordance #G988). A Greek dictionary defines the word as "vilification, evil speaking, railing." Webster's definition of adds "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God," and "the act of claiming the attributes of deity." The word profane, a synonym, is defined as treating something sacred with abuse, irreverence or contempt.

The above definitions show that when one blasphemes it is not something done by accident. To blaspheme, one must have knowledge of the person, object or idea that is being spoken against. Blasphemy was the initial charge against Jesus that condemned him to die (Matthew 26:63-66).

The Bible makes a distinction between what it means to blaspheme the Son of Man (Jesus) versus the Holy Spirit. This, however, begs the question as to why there is a distinction. Why would sins against Jesus be forgiven but not those against the Holy Spirit? Does this mean that God's Holy Spirit, given upon repentance and baptism, is somehow GREATER than the Savior of mankind who made possible its giving in the first place?

People, out of their lack of full knowledge and understanding, may wrongly blaspheme Jesus and still be forgiven. For example, many people living at the time of Jesus - who saw his miracles and heard him speak - concluded that he was from God. But they also blasphemed because they denied and rejected He was the SON of God and the Messiah. Yet, because of their ignorance and the fact that they were not called of God, this sin (upon repentance) will be forgiven.

"But although He (Jesus) had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled . . . 'He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.' " (John 12:37-38, 40, NKJV)

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a completely different matter. Although God worked through certain individuals throughout the time of the Old Covenant, he did not "pour out" His Spirit like he would do on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).

In order to receive the Holy Spirit, a person has to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, repent of their sins, and be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38). One cannot understand, or comprehend the "Holy Spirit" unless one has first believed in Jesus, repented, and has chosen to submit to the will of God. If, after all this and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit, a person then deliberately (with full knowledge) blasphemes (treats with contempt that self-same Spirit), then that person has turned completely against God. Someone in this state has no hope of forgiveness because, simply put, they will not ask the Being whom they hate for forgiveness. The apostle Paul explains this further:

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

"Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:26-29, NIV)

The reason there is no forgiveness for blasphemy is not because God is not merciful and loving, but because a person who has deliberately done so and rejected God has no other way to be forgiven.