Blasphemy - Mt. 12:31, 32

"Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven--except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven... either in this world or the world to come." Mt. 12:31, 32

Never really understood this, so I thought I'd unpack some thoughts about it. First off, this is a very big statement. And Jesus is very definitive here, he even says that anyone can blaspheme against HIM and be forgiven, but not the Holy Spirit -- what gives?! He seems to be saying that the Holy Spirit carries some level of importance that even HE doesn't have. As I thought more on this, I realized that Jesus was alive while he was saying this! Usually you hear Jesus referring to the Holy Spirit as a helper that he is going to send AFTER he leaves. But obviously the Holy Spirit was alive and well and operating since the beginning of time. This is the same Holy Spirit that gave him the power to perform miracles that could only point to God; it is ONLY by this Holy Spirit that we can ever hope to find salvation; this Holy Spirit IS God! Princeton defines blasphemy as, "the act of depriving something of its sacred character." The Holy Spirit IS the power of God, and it is this power, if blasphemed, that is the unforgivable sin.

God, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit!

Today's reading: 1Sam. 30, 31; 1Chron. 10; Mt. 12