What is Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit? Unforgivable Sin

There is often an intense feeling of fear associated with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Believers who worry about this sin often find it difficult to discern if their salvation is secure through faith in Christ alone, or if they have crossed a line of no return.

The source of this anxiety is clear: according to Christ, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the "Unforgivable Sin." If one commits this sin, scripture states they cannot receive forgiveness for it.

That is a disturbing thought. However, before panic sets in, we must answer the most important question: What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

In this message, we will examine the biblical definition of blasphemy, Jesus’ specific statements regarding the Holy Spirit, and the theological reasoning behind why this specific sin is deemed unforgivable.

Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit

I want to be honest with you. I am not here to offer empty comfort; I am here to offer truth. While you may have committed sins of the tongue or had fleeting doubts, have you committed the unforgivable blasphemy? To understand this, we must distinguish between general sin and the specific, hardened condition Jesus spoke of.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:31 (WEB):

“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.”

Did you notice the phrase "every sin"? This implies that there are two categories present here: general blasphemy (which is forgivable) and the specific blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. To understand the latter, we must first understand the former.

What Is Blasphemy in General?

The Greek word for blasphemy is blasphēmı́a. It translates to evil-speaking, defamation, or slander. To blaspheme is to speak evil of or defame someone, especially God or something holy.

Blasphemy is a display of willful disobedience and open disrespect toward divine authority. It is an expression of irreverence or reproach toward God in both words and deeds.

In the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament), the word is ne‘âtsâh (rejection or spurning). Under the Old Covenant, this was a grave offense.

Leviticus 24:15–16 (WEB) states:

“You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. He who blasphemes Yahweh’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him...”

 

A Biblical Example: The Tragedy of Naboth

We see an example of "blasphemy" being used as a charge, albeit falsely, in the story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21.

Naboth refused to sell his ancestral vineyard to King Ahab. Ahab's wife, Jezebel, conspired to kill Naboth to seize the land. She wrote letters commanding the elders to set up false witnesses against him.

"She wrote in the letters, saying, 'Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

'Set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death.'”

(1 Kings 21:9-10 WEB)

 

Naboth was executed for a crime he did not commit. This context is vital because it shows that blasphemy was viewed as a capital offense; a total rejection of God's authority.

The New Testament Contrast: Acts 18

​In the New Testament, we see blasphemy taking a different form; not just cursing, but active opposition to the Truth.

​In Acts 18, Paul was staying with Aquila and Priscilla, reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath.

​“But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

​When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!’” (Acts 18:5–6 WEB)

 

​This is a crucial insight. When the Jews "blasphemed," they were rejecting the testimony of the Spirit that Jesus was the Christ. Paul’s reaction, shaking off the dust, symbolizes the terrifying reality of the unforgivable sin: God leaving a person to their own stubbornness.

What Is Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit?

There are three common views on what Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit actually means:

1. Attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to demons (and vice versa).
2. Refusing to repent and rejecting Christ’s offer of salvation.
3. Total Apostasy (falling away from the faith).

While many people worry about saying the wrong word, the context of Jesus' warning suggests something deeper than a slip of the tongue.

In Matthew 12, Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The crowds were amazed, asking if Jesus was the Son of David. The Pharisees, however, had a different reaction.

According to Matthew 12:24 (WEB):

“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.’”

 

They attributed the clear, liberating work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Jesus responds by explaining that a house divided cannot stand, and then delivers the warning:

“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men... whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.” (Matthew 12:31–32 WEB)

 

The Distinction: The Son vs. The Spirit

Jesus makes a fascinating distinction: "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him."

He was addressing people who opposed Him personally, perhaps doubting His humble human origins or His teachings. These sins could be forgiven upon repentance. 

However, those who looked at the undeniable power of God (the Spirit) liberating a human being and called it "Satan" were displaying a different heart condition.

They were not just confused; they were spiritually blind by choice. They stood against the Spirit of Truth, by whom God delivers and saves.

How Do You Commit Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit?

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an accidental thought. It is a determined position of opposition against the workings of the Spirit.

One commits this sin by willfully and permanently rejecting the testimony of the Spirit regarding Jesus Christ.

John 14:17 calls Him the "Spirit of truth." When a person looks at the truth of God and deliberately calls it a lie or evil, they sever the bridge to salvation.

• The group of Pharisees: They saw the miracles. They knew the prophecies. Yet, to maintain their power, they attributed God’s work to the Devil.
• The Warning: Jesus explains in Matthew 12:33-35 that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Their words were evidence of a corrupted heart that had fully rejected God.

Therefore, the unforgivable sin is a continuous, unrepentant opposition to the Holy Spirit. It is the final refusal to accept the convicting power of the Spirit that leads a person to repentance.

Why Is Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit Unforgivable?

This is the question that haunts many. Why is this specific sin unforgivable when God is so gracious?

​The answer lies in the role of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the agent of regeneration; He is the one who convicts the world of sin (John 16:8) and draws us to Jesus.

​The Chain of Salvation

​The sin is not unforgivable because God's grace is insufficient; it is unforgivable because the sinner rejects the only instrument of forgiveness.

According to the scriptures: 

• Forgiveness comes through faith in Christ.
• Faith is produced and confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
• Failure: If you blaspheme (reject, slander, and attribute to Satan) the Holy Spirit, you reject the very source of salvation.

​Think of it this way: If a man has a deadly disease and rejects the only doctor who can save him, perhaps even calling the doctor a murderer, that man cannot be healed. He is not unhealable because the medicine doesn't work; he is unhealable because he refuses to take it.

​Therefore, the one who has truly blasphemed the Holy Spirit is not someone who wants forgiveness and is denied it; it is someone who has hardened their heart so thoroughly that they no longer want the forgiveness God offers.

A Note to the Faithful

If you are worried that you have committed this sin, that worry itself is a sign that you likely have not. A heart hardened against the Spirit does not tremble at God's word; it mocks it.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the act of a heart that has permanently closed the door on God. For those who seek Him, who trust in Christ, and who desire to walk in the Spirit, there is grace, forgiveness, and assurance.

Frequently Asked Questions What is the simple definition of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the conscious, hardened, and continuous rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony regarding Jesus Christ. In Matthew 12, Jesus defined it in the context of Pharisees attributing the clear, miraculous works of God to Satan. It is not just a one-time error, but a final refusal to accept the Truth. How do I know if I have committed the unforgivable sin? The most common sign that you have not committed this sin is that you are worried about it. Those who commit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit have hearts that are completely hardened; they do not desire God's forgiveness, nor do they fear His judgment. If you feel conviction and a desire for Jesus, the Holy Spirit is still working in you. Is accidental blasphemy unforgivable? No. God judges the heart, not just a slip of the tongue. Jesus distinguished between speaking against the "Son of Man" (which can be forgiven) and the willful rejection of the Spirit. A momentary intrusive thought or an accidental statement made in ignorance (like Paul did before his conversion) is not the unforgivable sin. Can a born-again Christian commit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Theologically, a true believer cannot commit this sin. When a person is saved, they are "sealed" by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). The unforgivable sin is a rejection of that sealing power. A believer may grieve or quench the Spirit (which is sin), but they do not fully reject the Spirit who lives inside them. Is suicide the unpardonable sin? No. This is a common misconception. While suicide is a tragedy and a sin, the Bible does not list it as "unforgivable." The only sin explicitly named as unforgivable by Jesus is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31), which is a refusal to believe and accept God's grace. Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit the only unforgivable sin? It is unforgivable because it rejects the very method God uses to save us. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin and draws us to Jesus. If you permanently reject the Messenger (the Spirit), you cannot receive the Message (Salvation). It is like locking the door from the inside and throwing away the key.