Morning Moments

Matthew 12:31 (KJV)
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Context is critical for correction comprehension!

Such is particularly the case with the subject of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. One may know Hebrew and Greek as well as his native tongue, but if context is not carefully considered, proper interpretation is lost, or at least unclear.
There is another principle of interpretation that is essential – Silence often speaks volumes.

There are some basic questions we must ask if we are to arrive at a clear understanding of our text:
1. Who is speaking? JESUS.
2. To whom is He speaking? Pharisees.
3. In what time period? The Old Covenant.
4. With what circumstances? Exorcising demons.

These are critical questions for a clear understanding of the subject. So let’s begin by laying some groundwork.

The Pharisees were always seeking to entrap Jesus. A demonized man was brought to Jesus and he was blind and mute as a result of this demonic activity. The text says JESUS healed him, and the man saw and spoke.

The people were amazed and the Pharisees were enraged. The people began to acknowledge that Jesus was indeed Messiah, the Son of David, who was come to restore to Israel the kingdom. It is important to understand that the question was not regarding one of His disciples, but what Jesus Himself had done.

The New Testament Church had not yet been born and the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to this body that had not yet been born. BUT unto Jesus the Holy Spirit was given WITHOUT MEASURE. Whatever Jesus did was in submission to the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Although the disciples had been GIVEN power or authority over demons, THEY are not the issue here.

The issue is JESUS doing it, so the Pharisees said that He was doing this by the authority and power of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. Then Jesus spoke of the only two kingdoms that have ever existed: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Every earthly kingdom that has ever existed has been dominated by the spiritual kingdom of one of the two.

It is important to understand that the Pharisees taught and practiced exorcism. Jesus makes this clear by His comment, “By whom do your children (disciples) cast out demons?”

So the question is regarding Jesus doing this by the spirit of the devil and not the Spirit of God. To which He responded, “All manner of blasphemy of sin and blasmephy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Spirit) shall not be forgiven unto men.” BUT here is the key: “…neither in THIS AGE, nor in the AGE to COME.”

The age to come was the KINGDOM AGE, not the CHURCH AGE! That is why there is absolutely NO mentioning whatsoever as to this being done in the CHURCH AGE in ANY of the epistles, nor ACTS. Now don’t you find the silence interesting? THINK ABOUT IT!

If it were possible in the CHURCH AGE, don’t you think there would be SOME warning in the writing of Paul?

It is regarding JESUS doing this either in the “aion” of age of the period in which He was in at that time and in the “aion” age of the earthly kingdom to come – THE MILLENNIUM – Messiah’s earthly reign.

THINK ABOUT THIS AND ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU INSIGHT INTO THE TRUTH AND NOT MERELY ACCEPT WHAT HAS BEEN TAUGHT YOU.

Peace be unto you. I will say more tomorrow, God willing.