Why did Jesus say blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unforgivable sin?
In several places scripture notes various heinous sins as especially worthy of damnation. Revelation 21:8, for example, lists murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, and idolaters – along with all liars, and those who are cowardly, faithless, or polluted – and consigns them to the lake of fire and brimstone. We might wonder why those who are sometimes dishonest, afraid, or doubtful would be lumped in with murderers and idolaters; we might imagine it must mean unredeemed liars or cowards; but the passage itself does not say that.Similarly, Romans 1:18-32 and I Timothy 1:9-11 list sins that receive God’s wrath. Because we believe in the gospel of grace, we might suppose God will forgive those who repent of such sins; but the texts themselves do not say that.Mark 3:28-29 offers the sweeping declaration that people will be forgiven for their sins and for whatever blasphemies they utter. The parallel passage in Matthew 12:31-32 explicitly includes blasphemy against Jesus as something that will b
