Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
Don A. Raines
Scripture Text: Mark 3: 22-30
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has caused a lot of speculation and controversy among religious people, including many Christians. Some are afraid that they will or even have, unknowingly, committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit by denying miracle or by speaking against the Holy Spirit in some way. However, if we look at our text in its context, I believe that we can rightly divide it and gain an understanding of what Jesus is teaching concerning the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
The first part of chapter 3 presents the background to Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees. The Pharisees had accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. Instead of praising God for the wonderful miracles of healing that Jesus was doing, the religious elite (Pharisees & scribes), accused him of healing the man's withered hand by the power of the devil (Mark 3: 1-6; 22-30). There was no joy or praise offered to God by the so-called religious elite on behalf of the wonderful miracle that had been done. They only had contempt for Jesus. Pride is a very self-destructive force. Many people will lose their souls because of their pride. Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." James said in James 4:6, "…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
However, Jesus answered their accusations with logic, which was always a stumbling block to his accusers. In verses 23-26 we read, "…How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end." (Mark 3:23-26)
Jesus uses a universal truth (divide & conquer) to point
out the absurdity of their accusations. If he casts out the devil by the power of the
devil, then the devil would fall, because he would be fighting against himself! This is
true with any kingdom or government or even one's own house. If you can divide a house or
kingdom, it becomes vulnerable and weak and can be easily destroyed. Conversely, unity
fortifies a house or kingdom. There is strength in unity. Solomon said in Eccl.
4:9-12,