Mark 3:28-35 (NKJV)
The Unpardonable Sin (Matt. 12:31, 32; Luke 12:10)
28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him
(Matt. 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21)
31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”
33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
V28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter…” Is the Lake of Fire guaranteed for those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit? It is those who lived at the time Jesus did and had full and complete knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah fulfilling the Scriptures. They lied about Jesus and the Holy Spirit because of their hate for Jesus. It is a method for destruction to turn the followers of Jesus into haters of Jesus. Their hearts are so seared and so in love with sin that they have gone past the opportunity to be able to repent. Let us beware of refusing the Gospel and loving sin and even with conviction refusing to believe. Compare Matthew 23:37, Matthew 22:3, Proverbs 1:24, John 5:40, and Acts 7:51.
V29 “…but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation…” Their will and seared conscience were so deeply set against Jesus that they falsely accused Him of being demon possessed. But Jesus states the obvious in the parallel passage: Matthew 12:25-30.
V30 “…because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” An unclean spirit has been defiled by sin; they are demons. They are accusing Jesus of being demon possessed with the demon doing the miracles. All their lies had one purpose which was to destroy Jesus and influence any who might believe in Him
V31 “Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.” Maybe His mother would get Jesus to listen. Some Christian groups believe that Jesus always listens to an appeal from Jesus. Here we see that those groups are wrong.
V32 “And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”
V33 “But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”
V34 “And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” Jesus doesn’t even listen or meet with her or His brothers.
V35 “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Blood relationships are important, but in God’s way of thinking, those who obey the great King of kings are more important. We are to obey God first. Compare Luke 11:27-28.
We learn:
- What blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is.
- Jesus’s answer with perfect knowledge and logic.
Questions:
- How do people become so hardened by sin?
- What do we learn from Jesus about answering statements and questions?