The Nugget:
Mat 12:31 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. (KJV)
The Question:
Hello brother, I am sorry for disturbing you with my question Mark 3:29 ‘…. whoever blasphemies the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness….’ How does it look like to blasphemy the Holy Spirit?
The Answer:
Matthew 12:31 is a parallel passage to Mark 3:29.
Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Mat 12:31 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.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
The following notes and cross references from my digital Bible study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, should provide the answer to your question:
Matthew 12:31
All manner of sin. *Isa 1:18; **Isa 55:7, Eze 33:11, Mar 3:28, 29, 30, Luk 24:47, **Joh 6:37, Act 13:38, 39, *1Ti 1:13, 14, 15, *Heb 6:4, 5, 6, etc. +*Heb 10:26; +*Heb 10:29, **1Jn 1:9; **1Jn 2:1; **1Jn 2:2.
and blasphemy. βλασφημια here first. Its meaning in reference to God is plain from the saying of the Pharisees (Mat 12:24), to which the term is here applied; (see the parallel place in Mar 3:28, 29, 30) and from Mat 26:65, Mar 2:7, Joh 10:33, Rev 13:5, 6, Compare βλασφημον, 1Ti 1:13, and 2Ti 3:2, and see Mat 4:3 note. It is always rendered “Blasphemy” except Eph 4:31, where “evil-speaking;” and 1Ti 6:4 and Jud 1:9, where “railing” (De Burgh). Note: Blasphemy, blasphemia, βλασφημια (S# G988) either from βλαπειν την φημην, blaptein tain phaman, to hurt or blast the reputation, or from βαλλειν ταις φημαις, ballein tais phamais, to smite with words, or reports, when applied to men denotes injurious speaking, or calumny, and when used in reference to God signifies speaking impiously of his nature, attributes, and works. Mat 15:19; Mat 26:65, Mar 2:7; Mar 3:28; *+Mar 7:22; Mar 14:64, Luk 5:21, Joh 10:33, Eph 4:31, Col 3:8, 1Ti 6:4, Jud 1:9, Rev 2:9; Rev 13:1; Rev 13:5, 6; Rev 17:3.
shall be forgiven. Isa 1:18, Mar 3:28, 29, 30, Luk 12:10, Col 2:13 note. 1Jn 1:7; 1Jn 1:9; 1Jn 2:1, 2.
but the blasphemy. What the Holy Spirit did to prove the divinity of Christ’s person and mission, the Pharisees turned into an argument to show that Christ was an impostor, and actuated by Satanic agency. Thus their sin consisted in the unreasonable and absurd rejection of the Son of God as the Saviour of men, in opposition to the plain and unanswerable testimony of the Holy Spirit. This sin against the Holy Spirit is a rejection of the truth as it is revealed in the Divine Word, especially of that truth as it respects Christ and His salvation—this in disregard of many favourable opportunities to know the truth as it is in Christ and His Word—with severe and bitter feelings of aversion and hatred, peculiarly provoked by any distinct reference to the Holy Spirit and His work in either the inspired Word, or the Divine Saviour whom it His office to honour (James Morgan, The Scripture Testimony to the Holy Spirit, pp. 144, 147). Lev 24:16, Mar 3:28, 29, 30, Luk 12:10; Luk 22:65, Joh 8:48; Joh 10:32, 33; Joh 10:36, *Act 5:3; Act 7:51, +*1Jn 5:16.
shall be. FS96C9, +Gen 2:10.
forgiven. +*Exo 34:7, Lev 6:7.
but the blasphemy against. +Lev 24:11; +Lev 24:16, Pro 19:1, Luk 11:18, Act 5:3; Act 7:51, *Heb 10:29, +1Jn 5:16.
Ghost. Gr. pneuma, +Mat 3:16.
shall not be forgiven. The sin against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable because of its own nature: it consists in the rejection of the way of salvation by Christ, in opposition to the fullest evidence, and the only evidence that shall ever be given (Heb 2:3). The sin against the Holy Spirit consists in continued impenitence and unbelief (**Heb 10:26, 27, 29). It is not an act, but a habit. It is the calm, determined, and persevering rejection of Jesus Christ, as the Saviour of men, in opposition to all the testimony of His word and Spirit. Consequently in its nature it is incapable of forgiveness. No one who is afraid of having committed this sin has done so; for its very nature is to have no fear on that account. It is committed and continued in delightedly and knowingly, where it is committed at all. Fear is incompatible with its nature. Yet we need to be on our guard against this sin, lest we be betrayed into it. The progress of sin is rapid and dangerous. We need to be watchful against both the sins of the life and the sins of the heart. Apostasy may be nearer to any of us than we imagine (Rom 11:20, +*Heb 3:12, 1Jn 3:24). Cherish a sense of dependence on both the teaching and support of the Spirit. Through Him cleave unto Christ and ye shall be safe (See Morgan, The Scripture Testimony to the Holy Spirit, pp. 148-151). Mat 12:32, Mat 21:37, 38; Mat 27:18, Mar 4:17, %Act 3:17; *Act 7:51, Rom 11:20, Heb 2:3; Heb 3:12; Heb 6:4, 5, 6; Heb 10:26, 27, 28, 29, 1Jn 3:24; 1Jn 5:16.
Matthew 12:32
whosoever. Mat 11:19; Mat 13:55, 56, 57; Mat 26:65, 66, 67, 68; Mat 27:39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, Luk 7:34; *Luk 12:10; Luk 22:65; *Luk 23:34, *Joh 7:12; *Joh 7:52; Joh 9:24, *Act 3:14; *Act 3:15; *Act 3:19; Act 26:9, 10, 11, 1Ti 1:13; 1Ti 1:15.
the Son of man. +Mat 8:20; Mat 16:13.
it shall be forgiven. Isa 33:24, Jer 50:20, Mar 3:28, Luk 23:34, *Act 8:18; *Act 8:19; *Act 8:22, *1Ti 1:12; *1Ti 1:13.
but whosoever. Num 15:30, Joh 7:39, **Heb 6:4, 5, 6; **Heb 10:26, 27, 28, 29, Jas 3:6, +*1Jn 5:16.
speaketh against. FS73, +Zec 1:5. That the Holy Spirit can be the subject of blasphemy (by attributing his miraculous works to Satan) proves him to be as much a person as the Son; and it proves him to be divine, because it shows that he may be sinned against, and so sinned against that the blasphemer shall not be forgiven. A person he must be, or he could not be blasphemed: a divine person he must be to constitute this blasphemy a sin against him in the proper sense, and of so malignant a kind as to place it beyond the reach of mercy (Watson, Theological Institutes, vol. i. p. 629, cited in McClintock and Strong, vol. iv. p. 309, article “Holy Ghost”). “These passages (Mat 12:31, 32, Mar 3:28, 29, Luk 12:10) at least imply beyond cavil the personality of the Holy Spirit, for sin and blasphemy can only be committed against persons” (T. Rees, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 1, p. 486, article “Blasphemy”). %+Gen 1:2, +*Luk 3:22 note. Joh 14:26; Joh 16:13, 14, Act 8:29; Act 8:39; Act 13:2; Act 15:28; Act 16:7; Act 20:28; Act 28:25, Rom 8:27, 1Co 2:10, 11; 1Co 12:8; 1Co 12:11, Eph 4:30.
Holy Ghost. Gr. pneuma, +Mat 3:16. +Mat 3:16, Joh 7:39.
it shall not. FS175B, +Gen 21:16. God the Holy Spirit is immutable (+*Mat 28:19 note). +Mat 12:31, Job 36:13, Mar 3:29, +Luk 12:10; Luk 16:23, 24, 25, 26.
in this world. Gr. aion, +Mat 6:13, lit. “this age,” as in Mat 13:22, Mar 4:19; +Mar 10:30, Luk 1:70; +Luk 16:8; Luk 20:34, +**Joh 6:54 note. Joh 9:39, Rom 12:2, 1Co 1:20; 1Co 2:6; 1Co 2:8; 1Co 3:18, 2Co 4:4, Gal 1:4, Eph 1:21; Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12, 1Ti 6:17, 2Ti 4:10, Tit 2:12.
the world to come. i.e. neither in this Gospel dispensation, nor in that which is to follow, namely, the dispensation of Messiah’s reign, though so much more abounding in blessing, extending to the whole world and all nations. But, if not then, never, as stated in Mat 12:31; see the parallel place, Mar 3:28 (De Burgh). The primary reference is probably to the prophecy Isa 9:6, where for The everlasting Father, the LXX. and the Vulgate read The Father of the age to come (De Burgh). Mat 13:39, 40; Mat 13:49; Mat 24:3; Mat 19:28; Mat 28:20, Eze 33:16 note. +*Mar 10:30, Luk 18:30; Luk 20:35, +**Joh 6:54 note. *Eph 1:21, Heb 2:5; Heb 6:5; +*Heb 9:27.