Dictionary Article

Attributing to Satan what is actually the work of the Holy Spirit as demonstrated through Jesus Christ. This sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

The unpardonable sin must be defined by its context, which is found in Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30. In these passages, Jesus had just cast a demon from a man who was blind and mute. Incontrovertible evidence of the power of God had just occurred. But the Pharisees, with stubborn unbelief, credited this display of God’s power to Beelzebul, the devil (Mt 12:24). Several Scriptures reveal that many Jews had expressed the same kind of fallacious opinion, namely, that Jesus was performing miracles by the power of the devil (Mt 9:34; 11:18; Lk 7:33; 11:14-20; Jn 7:20; 8:48, 52 OET JHN 8:48 · OET JHN 8:52; 10:20). A group of Jews, mostly Pharisees, were guilty of attributing to the devil what was the work of the Spirit demonstrated through the Lord Jesus. They committed the unpardonable sin when they said that Jesus’ actions, performed by the power of the Holy Spirit, originated from Beelzebul, the devil. Put simply, they sinned grievously by boldly characterizing Jesus’ work as coming from the devil. Interestingly, many Jews perpetuated this false characterization about Jesus long after his death. They did not deny that he did miracles; they said he did miracles by the power of the devil.

Show passage in OET: MAT 12:31–32

OET-RV MAT 12:31

31 That’s why I’m telling you that people can be forgiven for all kinds of sin and slander, except that slandering God’s spirit won’t be forgiven.

OET-RV MAT 12:32

32 Anyone who speaks out against the son of humanity can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks out against the holy spirit won’t be forgiven either in this age or in the coming one.

OET-LV MAT 12:31

31 Because _of this I _am _saying to _you _all, every sin and slander will _be _being _forgiven to _the people, but the slander of _the spirit ˓will˒_ not _be _being _forgiven.

OET-LV MAT 12:32

32 And if whoever may _speak a_message against the son of_ the _Man, it _will _be _being _forgiven to _him, but whoever wishfully may _speak against the the holy spirit, it_˓will˒_ not _be _being _forgiven to _him, neither in this the age nor in the one coming.

Show passage in OET: MRK 3:28–30

OET-RV MRK 3:28

28 Honestly, I assure you that any sins of a person can be forgiven, no matter how much they curse God.

OET-RV MRK 3:29

29 But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven, but is eternally responsible for their sin.”

OET-RV MRK 3:30

30 (He said that because they were saying that he was demon-possessed.)

OET-LV MRK 3:28

28 Truly, I _am _saying to _you _all that all the sins will _be _being _forgiven to _the sons of_ the _men, and as _many _as the slander if they _may _slander.

OET-LV MRK 3:29

29 But wishfully whoever may _slander against the the holy spirit, is_ not _having forgiveness to the eternity, but is liable of _eternal sin,

OET-LV MRK 3:30

30 because they _were _saying:
He _is _having an_ unclean _spirit.

Show passage in OET: MAT 12:24

OET-RV MAT 12:24

24 When the Farisaios’ party heard about that, they said, “That man’s only driving out demons by the authority of Beelzeboul, the demons’ leader.”

OET-LV MAT 12:24

24 And the Farisaios_party having _heard said:
This man is_ not _casting _out the demons, except not/lest by the Beʼelzeboul, ruler of _the demons.

Show passage in OET: MAT 9:34

OET-RV MAT 9:34

34 But the Farisaios said, “He casts out demons with the help of the demons’ ruler.”

OET-LV MAT 9:34

34 But the Farisaios_party were _saying:
He _is _casting _out the demons by the ruler of _the demons.

Show passage in OET: MAT 11:18

OET-RV MAT 11:18

18 After all, when Yohan came, he wasn’t eating or drinking, and they said, ‘He’s possessed by a demon!’

OET-LV MAT 11:18

18 For/Because Yōannaʸs came neither eating nor drinking, and they _are _saying:
He _is _having a_demon.

Show passage in OET: LUK 7:33

OET-RV LUK 7:33

33 Because Yohan-the-immerser came and he didn’t eat bread or drink wine, so you all said that he has a demon.

OET-LV LUK 7:33

33 For/Because Yōannaʸs the immerser has _come, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you _all _are _saying:
He _is _having a_demon.

Show passage in OET: LUK 11:14–20

OET-RV LUK 11:14

14 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) drove out a demon that caused muteness, and after the demon departed, the man was able to speak. The crowds were amazed,

OET-RV LUK 11:15

15 but yet some of them said, “He’s driving out demons because he’s Beelzeboul the leader of the demons.”

OET-RV LUK 11:16

16 Others who wanted to test who he was, asked Yeshua to send a sign from heaven,

OET-RV LUK 11:17

17 but he knew their thoughts and told them, “Any kingdom that’s divided against itself is doomed, and any household that’s divided will self-destruct.

OET-RV LUK 11:18

18 So if Satan was fighting against himself, how could his kingdom even remain? Yes, I know that you’re all saying that I must be Beelzeboul in order to drive out demons,

OET-RV LUK 11:19

19 but if I have Beelzeboul’s power over demons, then whose power do your apprentices use to drive out demons?

OET-RV LUK 11:20

20 However if I’m driving out demons with power that comes from God, then that means that God’s kingdom is right in the middle of you all.

OET-LV LUK 11:14

14 And he _was casting _out a_ mute _demon.
And it _became the demon having _come _out, the mute man spoke.
And the crowds marvelled.

OET-LV LUK 11:15

15 But some of them said:
He _is _casting _out the demons by Beʼelzeboul the ruler of _the demons.

OET-LV LUK 11:16

16 And others testing, were _seeking a_sign from the_sky from him.

OET-LV LUK 11:17

17 But he having _known the thoughts of _them said to _them:
Every kingdom having _been _divided against itself is _being _desolated, and a_house against a_house is _falling.

OET-LV LUK 11:18

18 And if the Satan/(Sāţān) also was _divided against himself, how ˓will˒_ the kingdom of _him _be _being _stood?
Because you _all _are _saying, by Beʼelzeboul me to _be _casting _out the demons.

OET-LV LUK 11:19

19 And if I am _casting _out the demons by Beʼelzeboul, by whom are_ the sons of _you _all _casting _out?
Because _of this, they will _be judges of _you _all.

OET-LV LUK 11:20

20 But if I am _casting _out the demons by the_finger of_god, consequently the kingdom of_ the _god came on you _all.

Show passage in OET: JHN 7:20

OET-RV JHN 7:20

20 “You must be demon-possessed,” said some in the crowd, “Who would be wanting to execute you.”

OET-LV JHN 7:20

20 The crowd answered:
You _are _having a_demon, who is _seeking to _kill_ you _off?

Show passage in OET: JHN 8:48; JHN 8:52

OET-RV JHN 8:48

48 The Jewish leaders asked, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re from Shomron (Samaria) and that you have a demon?”

OET-RV JHN 8:52

52 “Now we know that you have a demon!” the Yehudim (Jews) said. “Avraham and the prophets all died, but you’re saying that those who follow your teaching can be certain to avoid death in this age.

OET-LV JHN 8:48

48 The Youdaiōns answered and said to _him, are_ we not rightly _saying that you are a_from _Samareia/(Shomrōn), and you _are _having a_demon?

OET-LV JHN 8:52

52 The Youdaiōns said to _him:
Now we _have _known that you _are _having a_demon.
Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām) died _off and the prophets, and you are _saying:
If anyone may _keep the message of _me, by _no _means he _may_ not _taste of _death to the age.

Show passage in OET: JHN 10:20

OET-RV JHN 10:20

20 with many of them saying, “He’s got a demon,” and, “He’s stark raving mad—why are you all even listening to him!”

OET-LV JHN 10:20

20 and many of them were _saying:
He _is _having a_demon, and he _is _raving _mad, why are _you _all _hearing from _him?

Jump to OET MAT 12:31–32 section.

Jump to OET MRK 3:28–30 section.

Jump to OET MAT 12:24 section.

Jump to OET MAT 9:34 section.

Jump to OET MAT 11:18 section.

Jump to OET LUK 7:33 section.

Jump to OET LUK 11:14–20 section.

Jump to OET JHN 7:20 section.

Jump to OET JHN 8:48 section. · OET JHN 8:52 section.

Jump to OET JHN 10:20 section.

The unpardonable sin is not Israel’s rebellion against God, even though this rebellion resulted in the eternal judgment of thousands and a temporary elimination of God’s blessing. The “sin unto death” mentioned by John (1 Jn 5:16-17) is not the unpardonable sin. It would be impossible for a person who has redemption and the forgiveness of sin (Eph 1:7), cleansing for present and future sin (1 Jn 1:7), and eternal life (Jn 3:16) to commit an unpardonable sin. But those who commit the “sin unto death” are all Christians. First John 5:16 says the person who commits the “sin unto death” is a “brother” in Christ.

Show passage in OET: JN1 5:16–17

OET-RV JN1 5:16

16 If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a forgivable sin, then that person should ask God on their behalf and God will give life to that fellow believer. (But there is a sin that always results in death and I’m not suggesting that we should ask in that case.)

OET-RV JN1 5:17

17 All disobedience is sin, but there are sins that don’t necessarily lead to death.

OET-LV JN1 5:16

16 If anyone may _see the brother of _him sinning a_sin not to death, he _will _be _requesting and he _will _be _giving life to _him, to _the ones sinning not to death.
There _is a_sin to death, I _am_ not _saying that he _may _ask concerning that sin.

OET-LV JN1 5:17

17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there _is a_sin not to death.

Show passage in OET: EPH 1:7

OET-RV EPH 1:7

7 redeemed us by means of his blood and forgave our sins. It was from the riches of his grace

OET-LV EPH 1:7

7 in whom we _are _having the redemption through the blood of _him, the forgiveness of_ the _transgressions, according _to the riches of _the grace of _him,

Show passage in OET: JN1 1:7

OET-RV JN1 1:7

7 But if we’re walking in the light, just like he walks in the light, then we’ll get along well with each other, and his son Yeshua’s (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) blood is removing the consequences of all our sins.

OET-LV JN1 1:7

7 But if we _may _be _walking in the light as he is in the light, we _are _having fellowship with one _another, and the blood of_Yaʸsous the son of _him, is _cleansing us from all sin.

Show passage in OET: JHN 3:16

OET-RV JHN 3:16

16 Because in that same way, God loves the people of the world enough to cause his only son to be born, and to give him to the world, so that everyone who believes that won’t die, but will go on to live forever.

OET-LV JHN 3:16

16 For/Because thus the god loved the world, so _that he _gave the the only _begotten son, in _order _that everyone which believing in him may_ not _perish, but may _be _having eternal life.

Show passage in OET: JN1 5:16

OET-RV JN1 5:16

OET-LV JN1 5:16

Jump to OET JN1 5:16–17 section.

Jump to OET EPH 1:7 section.

Jump to OET JN1 1:7 section.

Jump to OET JHN 3:16 section.

Jump to OET JN1 5:16 section.

The unpardonable sin is not rejection of the Lord Jesus, until the rejecter dies in his unbelief. Such a sin will not be forgiven throughout eternity, but it is not the same sin as that which Jesus condemned with these words: “Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come” (Mt 12:32, NLT). Numerous passages repeat the warning that unbelief in the Savior results in eternal death (Jn 3:18, 36 OET JHN 3:18 · OET JHN 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12; Rv 20:15; 21:8), but these Scriptures do not directly speak of the unpardonable sin. Jesus asserted that a person could be an unbeliever in him, even to the degree of speaking against him, yet not be guilty of the unpardonable sin.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary