“22 Then they brought to Jesus a demoniac who was blind and mute. He cured the mute person so that he could speak and see. 23 All the crowd was astounded, and said, “Could this perhaps be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” 25 But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 Either declare the tree good and its fruit is good, or declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you say good things when you are evil? For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” Matthew 12:22-37.
Did you notice that Jesus speaks of the Pharisees committing the sin of blasphemy against the Spirit. Their accusation is blasphemous because they identify the Spirit working through him with the devil. In other words, the Pharisees mistake the divine Spirit who heals the sick, calms storms, gives sight to the blind, expels demons, and even forgives sins through Jesus’ ministry (Matt 8–9) for a satanic power. Such a charge against God’s Spirit will not be forgiven. This does not mean that God does not want to forgive them. Nor does it mean that this sin is too great for Jesus to pardon. Rather, those who persist in their opposition to the Spirit in Christ close themselves off from the very instrument of salvation that Christ wants to offer them: the Holy Spirit. They do not want to have anything to do with that Spirit who brings forgiveness because they think it is satanic. Thus, Jesus concludes, whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
At the end of this discourse between Jesus and His accusers, Jesus turns the tables on His accusers and indicts the Pharisees on the very charges they are bringing against Him. First, He says that a tree is known by its fruit. On the one hand, this is a continuation of Jesus’ defense. Only a good tree produces good fruit; therefore the good fruit of Jesus’ exorcisms must be from God. On the other hand, this statement accuses Jesus’ accusers. By speaking against the Holy Spirit, the Pharisees are bearing bad fruit. And this is why Jesus calls them evil and a brood of vipers — images associated with Satan and his workers (3:7; 13:19, 39; see Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9; 20:2). Ironically, those who accused Jesus of being in synch with Satan are now revealed to be the ones cooperating with Satan’s kingdom. By opposing the Messiah, they participate in the devil’s resistance to God’s kingdom.
Second, Jesus focuses on the blasphemous words spoken by the Pharisees. He says that the mouth reveals what is in the heart, which refers to how the Pharisees’ words against the Holy Spirit reveal the evil in their hearts. They will be held accountable for every careless word they speak — again, a reference to their rash words against the Holy Spirit. Jesus warns them: by your words you will be condemned.
Today in prayer turn to God’s Spirit and pray that God’s Spirit will fill your heart and soul, and heal you, and fill you with the love of God. The Holy Spirit is God himself alive in you in His Spirit. Ask the Lord each day to send his Spirit into your heart to guide you and to keep you faithful to the Creator and Savior of the world. Always remember that the Spirit of God is God alive and present in you 24-6-365. So talk to and lean on the Holy Spirit even day of your life.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” John 14:26.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”
Romans 8:26.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23.
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