These words form the gravest warning found in the entire Bible, for they speak of a sin which has no forgiveness. What is this “unpardonable” sin?
If we are to understand the nature of this sin, we must interpret it through the circumstances which surround our text. Jesus was speaking to men who stood in His presence, and He was warning them of this great danger. Who were these men? They were Pharisees who had come down from Jerusalem to spy upon His doings. They had come for the sole purpose of finding something in His works whereof to accuse Him. What did they find? They found Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit, healing the sick – obviously a good and divine work. Yet they said, “This man casts out evil spirits by the power of the evil one” (cf. Mark 3:22). They were, it seems, deeply moved, enlightened and convicted in their hearts; still, they hated Jesus, despised Him, rejected Him and ascribed His Holy Spirit power to Satan. Morally and spiritually blinded, their adamant hearts could not distinguish between light and darkness, evil and goodness, God and Satan.
Hence, we can see that the unpardonable sin is:
- A sin against knowledge and light. It is the rejection of the Savior in the face of repeated gospel teaching, preaching, warnings, even miracles and signs (Heb. 6:4-6; Prov. 29:1). It is the persistent refusal to believe in Jesus whom the Spirit presents before our souls. It is, therefore,
- A gradual sin, not a specific act of sin, but an attitude formed over a period of time. It does not overtake one like an unexpected flash of lightning; but step by step one says “No” to the Spirit until his heart is hardened to the point that he has no desire to come to God.
How is it that this sin cannot be forgiven? It is not that God refuses to forgive, but that He cannot forgive. The one condition of forgiveness is repentance. The person who has committed the unpardonable sin has no desire to know God and will not seek Him. God, therefore, cannot forgive this sin for which no forgiveness is asked.
Sinner, listen! “Today, if ye hear his voice, harden not your heart,” lest by the refusal to receive Him you may add the final link in the chain that will bind your soul forever.