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Question 182

Christ mentioned that anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. What does this mean exactly?  

 

Answer to Question 182

 

 The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not referring to offensive words that we usually refer to as blasphemy. It is to deny the power of God when it is manifest before your eye. The Scribes and Pharisees had been witnesses to the holy, divine and supernatural powers which were made manifest with the many miracles Christ performed. They could not deny that these miracles took place, but they chose to harden themselves against what they witnessed and dared to attribute the works of divine goodness to satanic power. When Christ said this he had just performed a miracle. A demon-possessed man was brought to him, and the Lord cast the demon out, healing the man of blindness and muteness. The Pharisees accused Christ of being possessed with a demon and told the people present: “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons,” (Matthew 12:24).