By James Riley Strange, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of New Testament, Samford University
God Won’t Forgive This Sin
Matthew 12:22–32
Today we begin a seven-week series on some of the difficult sayings of Jesus. Most lessons will focus on difficult things Jesus told His disciples to do and most of those have to do with emotions and intentions. The first two lessons, however, look at difficult things to believe.
These lessons examine the cost of discipleship. We face no famine of messages that God intends to prosper Christians. If understood to mean wealth, health and ease such ideas leave us with no help during difficulties. A diet of lessons that emphasize the struggles of obedience will remind us that Jesus calls us to follow Him despite great cost.
The work of Christ points to the power of God. (22–23)
This episode occurs in a series of disputes with religious leaders and Jesus’ own family. Demons (also “unclean spirits”) often cause people to harm themselves. This one causes blindness and muteness.
In the Gospels these often stand for ignorance and refusal to proclaim the truth — or for proclaiming what is false. The demoniac is a foil for the Pharisees of verse 24.
The crowds who witness the miracle express doubt that Jesus is the “son of David,” the Messiah (see Matt. 1:1). The Greek can be translated, “Surely this isn’t the son of David, is it?” The Pharisees will go further than doubt.
The work of Christ points to the presence of God’s Spirit. (24–29)
Beelzebul or “Ba’al-zebul” (“lord of the lofty abode”) was the name of a Canaanite god who was ridiculed as “Beelzebub” or “Ba’al-zebub” (“lord of the flies”) in 2 Kings 1:2–3:16. The Pharisees pick up the idea in some Jewish writings that Beelzebul is the arch demon.
Notice that they do not accuse Jesus of deception. They express no doubt He can cast out demons probably because their own followers can do the same (v. 27). Jesus points out that if the head demon is casting out his own slaves, then Satan’s kingdom is about to fall. This statement oozes irony for Satan’s kingdom is indeed falling because of the source of Jesus’ power: the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Messiah who, with the power of the Spirit, has tied up the strong man to plunder his house.
Willful and persistent unbelief leaves no room for repentance, and forgiveness is absent when repentance is absent. (30–32)
It is one thing to “speak a word against the Son of Man.” In context this probably refers to engaging in disputes with Jesus, a valued religious practice. One showed respect to another teacher by arguing about the correct interpretation of Scripture, especially when how to live it out was at stake.
Disputation showed that both parties agreed about the goal: living as God wants His people to live. It is something else to call God’s work the devil’s toil.
Like the crowds we may experience doubts. However, to witness God at work in our lives and in the world and to see instead the work of Satan reveals a relationship with God demolished by our choice.
Taking into account what Jesus says elsewhere about the breadth and depth of God’s mercy and our forgiveness of others (Matt. 5:7 and 6:12; Luke 6:36 and 23:34), here Jesus suggests such a person refuses to seek forgiveness. C.S. Lewis said something similar in a number of writings (see “The Great Divorce” and “The Silver Chair”). If God takes human will seriously then there must be some who, even if they were to meet God face to face, would reject Him.
Let us be those who see clearly and proclaim.
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