What Is the Unpardonable Sin? (Matthew 12)

This article is part of the Tough Passages series.

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³¹Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²And 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.

Blasphemy against the Spirit

This passage functions as a warning about blasphemy. Jesus begins, “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven” (Matt. 12:31a), but adds that “blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matt. 12:31b). Jesus does not define this ominous act, traditionally called the unpardonable sin, which cannot merely be a heinous sin (such as murder), since “every sin” can be forgiven. Blasphemy against the Spirit must have a unique feature that leads Jesus to warn the Pharisees that when they blaspheme him, they almost reach blasphemy against the Spirit (Matt. 12:32).

The difference hinges on the distinct work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin and testifies to Jesus’ person and work (John 16:7–14). To reject Jesus is not terminal, but to reject the Spirit’s testimony to him is. Sins of ignorance are pardonable. The case of Paul, blasphemer, persecutor, and apostle proves this (1 Tim. 1:12–17; Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–4). This implies that blasphemy against the Spirit must be a deliberate act. Hebrews 6:4–6 and 1 John 2:18–24 suggest it is a sober, measured rejection of Jesus against all the evidence, which the blasphemer has both heard and felt.197 Both passages describe people with extensive knowledge of the truth. They have once “been enlightened, . . . have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away” (Heb. 6:4–6). They heard the facts and tasted the goodness of the truth, then spurned it. Similarly, 1 John 2:18–24 concerns people who have abandoned a community that has profound knowledge of Christ. The Pharisees sin heinously when they see Jesus’ works and judge him evil, but they do not yet blaspheme the Spirit. It is rejection of the evidence for Christ, clearly attested by the Spirit, that is unpardonable (cf. John 14:17, 26). It is impossible to repent after experiencing all the evidence for Christ, feeling its weight, then spurning it (Heb. 6:4–6).

ESV Expository Commentary

Three New Testament scholars offer passage-by-passage commentary through the narratives of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, explaining difficult doctrines, shedding light on overlooked sections, and making applications to life and ministry today. Part of the ESV Expository Commentary.

An alternative, “soft” concept of the unpardonable sin argues that unbelief is, in itself, the unpardonable sin because while one does not believe, one does not seek pardon. But this makes the unpardonable sin pardonable as soon as one repents. This view does no justice to Matthew. The Pharisees do not believe, yet have not committed this sin. They are in danger of this great sin because one cannot trust Jesus while judging him an agent of Satan. Blasphemy is toxic but not unpardonable. These Pharisees have insufficient knowledge for that. The resurrection, for example, lies ahead, so their guilt is limited.

It is good news that every sin but one can be and has been forgiven.

The warning about the unforgivable sin may inspire dread, yet it contains hope. Disciples, kept by God’s power (1 Pet. 1:1–5), cannot commit it, and rare is the unbeliever who has committed it. The Pharisees have not (yet) done it, despite their dreadful resistance to Jesus. The hope of repentance and forgiveness remains. Indeed, Acts records that certain priests and Pharisees do repent (Acts 6:7; 15:5).

Pastorally, let everyone learn from the teaching on the unpardonable sin. It is good news that every sin but one can be and has been forgiven. This implies that anyone who worries about committing this sin is probably far from it. Indeed, concern about the unpardonable sin may be a token of the Spirit’s work. Those who are guilty of the sin are probably so settled that this teaching will not alarm them. Therefore let every listener, every sinner, find mercy through Christ.

This article is by Dan Doriani and is adapted from the ESV Expository Commentary: Matthew–Luke (Volume 8) edited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar.

Dan Doriani (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) serves as the vice president of strategic academic projects and professor of theology at Covenant Seminary. He previously served as the senior pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Clayton, Missouri, and has been involved in several planning and study committees at the presbytery level in both the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). Dan lives with his wife, Debbie, in Chesterfield, Missouri, and has three grown daughters.

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