True Forgiveness
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“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” That is the moral of the story of one of the most well-known tales of lie and deception of history.
In the Trojan Wars, around 1200 BC, Homer and Virgil both recount the story of the Trojan Horse.
In the story, the Greek army, led by Odysseus, had held the city of Troy in siege for 10 years but had not successfully breached it.
The Greeks then feigned a cease of war, and constructed a large wooden horse on wheels, leaving it as a gift to the city of Troy, and then the armies sailed away. Well, you know how the story goes. Within the horse were hiding some of the key Greek troops, and under the cover of night they snuck out of the horse and opened the city gates for the rest of the army that had turned around and sailed back in the darkness.
This is one of the greatest examples of a “Big Lie.” The idea of a “Big Lie,” which probably became most well known due to the schemes of Nazi Germany, is when a lie so incredibly bold and large in scale that it would be hard to imagine its false is told, and told, and repeated, until the majority of people come to accept it.
Sometimes this happens on smaller scales. Sometimes we even tell ourselves “big lies.” Lies that we know are untrue, but we repeat them often enough and convincingly enough that even we come to believe them.
In the passage today, the Pharisees are after Jesus again, and this time they are caught up in an enormous lie, and one that has eternal significance.
Read Matthew 12:22-24
Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
This is not the first time that we have seen this accusation in Matthew’s Gospel, is it?
As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Much like the Sabbath controversies that we began to see last week, it seems that the Pharisees refused to believe and allow that Jesus was working these miracles by the Power of God. The implications of that were too much for them.
In chapter 9, Matthew acknowledges this attitude in the Pharisees. In chapter 10, Jesus acknowledges it. But here in this section, Jesus finally addresses the seriousness of it.
These verses are an interesting group of verses.
They start with a miracle, a display of the goodness and mercy of Jesus that we have seen expressed over the last two weeks - the character of God to bless and redeem and restore.
Then, because of the response of the Pharisees, Jesus begins to teach in a way that is almost like parables - in fact Mark calls these teachings parable in the parallel account in Mark 3.
Finally, the paragraph closes with one of the hardest sayings of Jesus that is recorded. There are many of these sayings - sayings like, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Or, unless a man hates his father and mother he cannot be my disciple. But perhaps this saying, right here in the middle of Matthew 12, is the hardest.
And, perhaps this saying, out of any other teaching or saying of Jesus, has sparked the most anxiety and worry and fear of any other saying. Because here we have Jesus, merciful and kind, compassionate and forgiving, teaching about this one sin that simply will not be forgiven, either now or in eternity.
Being the first Sunday of the month, in which we observe the Lord’s Supper, the idea of sin and forgiveness is on our minds. Remembering the sacrifice, the atonement, the washing of our sins, we should pause and think about forgiveness.
We will take this passage in order, and address that elephant in the room of “what is the unforgivable sin,” but let me say at the forefront, that if you are in the least concerned before God that you have commited it, then you almost assuredly have not.
The big idea of the passage really comes from verse 30, where Jesus calls the whole thing to question. Are you with me, or are you against me?
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
In knowing and following the true Christ, there is true forgiveness. But apart from the true Christ, there is no forgiveness.
In knowing and following the true Christ, there is true forgiveness. But apart from the true Christ, there is no forgiveness.
The Miracle - Vs. 22-24
The Miracle - Vs. 22-24
In several cases in Matthew, specifically in chapters 8-9, we have seen accounts of miracles - and even some similar to this one - and we have seen how Matthew, as he is writing this record, uses the miracles as teaching points. And that is not him “robbing” or co-opting the miracles for making a point, but like this story shows us, that really is exactly what Jesus is doing by the miracles.
Jesus, in his miracle working, is showing purpose. He is showing what they are for. The miracles were signs, but not signs unto themselves. They were signs to show a greater occuring, a greater vision, a greater appeal.
In this case, the problems were threefold - the man was demon-oppressed, and seemingly because of that, he was both blind and mute.
The imagery is strong here, and we shouldn’t miss it. Because of evil Spirits, the power of the evil one, this man was out of his own control, and he was unable to see or speak. That is, essentially left helpless.
No control, no vision, no communication. An emptiness of life that is shocking. We read the similar account in Matthew 9, where the demon-oppressed man was mute - he couldn’t speak. And there, when Jesus delivered him, the people marvelled and said “never has anything like this been seen in all of Israel.”
Well here, as if the stakes were raised one step, the man was mute and also blind.
This illustrates for us the bruised reed and smoldering wick that the Messiah would not crush or put out. An outcast of society, a relatively empty person with no real ability to better himself, others, or surroundings.
There is also imagery here, though, that is fitting for the idea of forgiveness and deliverance - for blindness, and being under the power of the evil-one, certainly describes the world spiritually.
Like, perhaps, the most famous hymn - Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now I’m found - was blind but now I see.
This is the power, and the greatness, and the mercy and lovingkindness of Jesus - to open the eyes of the blind, to set the prisoners free. This man was blind, mute, and a prisoner to Satan, but Jesus healed him. Have you experienced this deliverance, the deliverance of Jesus?
What comes next is the most profound response by the people that we have come across yet in Matthew.
Evidently there were a large amount of people around - matthew’s words for “all the people” is actually “all the crowds” - the idea of “crowds of crowds”
In other cases it has been, “the people were amazed.” But in this case, crowds of crowds saw what took place - and they were amazed.
Amazed is a strong word. We use it so frequently and flippantly. We eat a particularly delicious treat and we say “that was amazing!” But was it really? I mean, it was probably very tasty, but amazing?
Amazing, in this case, means to be astonished to the point of being practically overwhelmed. Speechless - awe - dumbfounded.
The response went further, though - because while many were speechless, some were able to compose their thoughts and speak - and what they spoke is a pinnacle point in Matthew.
Now notice this, I said the idea of “seeing and speaking” was important. Because here, the demon-possessed man could not see or speak, but Jesus healed him so he could.
Now, the crowds saw that, and from what they saw, they spoke.
“Can this be the Son of David?”
What a question. Do you remember Matthew 1:1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
All along, Matthew has been telling us that Jesus is the Messiah, he is the promised one, the Son of God, the Son of David - and he teased it once when the two blind men were healed, and they called Jesus the Son of David - but now, crowds of Crowds are considering this question - can this be him? Is this the Son of David? Is this the Messiah?
Of course, it is! And I want you to think - because we have been on the same journey, seeing and hearing what Jesus has done - and what do you say about Him? Perhaps you’ve claimed him for years as your Savior and King, but for those who haven’t, are you asking the same question? Could this all be true? Is Jesus really who he says he is?
Well, seeing and saying is important - because the demon-oppressed man saw and spoke - the crowds saw and spoke. But now, the Pharisees, seeing the same thing, speak something very different.
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Again, this is not the first time this has been uttered. Faced with the overwhelming amount of people who are evidently being convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, the Pharisees are feeling trapped, it seems, and they must do something about it.
We talked about the big lie - a lie so large that its hard to believe it could be a fabrication - well here the Pharisees string up their big lie - despite the evidence, despite the signs, despite the obvious implications, Jesus is not who he says he is. He is working by the power of Satan.
Beelzebub is a name borrowed from a Canaanite god, it means “lord of filth” or “lord of flies” and it is used here to describe the devil, the prince of demons.
And this statement, this position, this lie, is what comes into question for the rest of the passage today. What we see and say are very important. Like Jesus words about Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, had they received these opportunities, they would have repented. But the Pharisees saw this, yet wielded these lies.
The Parables - Vs. 25-29
The Parables - Vs. 25-29
Beginning in Chapter 13, we will start to see a number of Jesus’ parables, and I’m looking forward to that. But Jesus has teased at “parabolic” teaching a few times, and this is one of them. Mark calls these two teachings parables. A parable is simply to take a spiritual truth and cast it alongside a life experience to illustrate it, or in some cases to conceal it.
But in this case, Jesus makes two arguments as to why the Pharisees statement about him was wrong.
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
Deliverance from demons was not new with Jesus. Josephus, the Jewish historian of the Era, tells us that there were others who cast out demons. And we don’t have any reason to not believe it - it is certainly possible that God empowered other faithful men to do so.
But the Pharisees knew that if it were being done, it had to be by God’s power - and Jesus illustrates that in a unique way.
A kingdom divided cannot stand, and a house divided will fall. If Satan is warring against his own Kingdom, he is defeating himself.
Jesus brings it closer, and says, your sons cast out demons, are you saying they do it by the power of Satan as well?
You can’t have your cake and eat it too - either you believe that God alone can deliver people from the power of Satan, or you condemn your own sons for working under the power of the Evil One.
The second argument goes like this.
Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
If you want to break into a heavily guarded place, you must somehow disable the guard.
In this case, Satan is the “strong man” who must be bound. The binding of Satan was a key messianic fulfillment, and Jesus by his many instances of casting out demons, and moreso by his resisting the power of the Devil in the wilderness temptation, has shown that he is the one to do just that.
All of this, again, serves to teach, serves to show.
I’ve skipped over verse 28, but that is really the main point of these parables.
But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
That is the sticking point - that is what all the evidence has been pointing to. That is what John the Baptist proclaimed. That is what the miracles proclaimed. That is what Jesus’ teaching has proclaimed. But that is what the Pharisees refused to admit, refused to believe, refused to go along with.
Even from Jesus’ Baptism, the evidence has mounted. The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a Dove, and God the Father’s voice from heaven said “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
With the coming of Jesus, the Kingdom of God had come upon the people. That is why the message, repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, was so critical - but it was exactly that message that the Pharisees were rejecting.
And they went beyond simply rejecting it, they denounced it, slandered it, stuck their noses up at it, and fabricated lies about it.
Remember, at this point, they had determined to destroy him - they were dead-set against him. No matter how true, how obvious, how clear the information was. They did not, would not, could not go along with it.
The Puzzle - Vs. 30-32
The Puzzle - Vs. 30-32
And that is what Brings up what is probable Jesus’ hardest saying.
Verse 30 is clear - in fact, there is no question about verse 30 as well. Jesus is exclusive. There is no middle ground. You are with him, or you are against him. And that message goes forth to today as well. There is exclusivity in Jesus Christ. You are either with him, or you are against him. You are either a subject in his kingdom, and calling others into that kingdom, or you are outside the walls distracting others from the truth.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus is just as explicit when he says this.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Later, the Apostles would proclaim the same exclusive message.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
So Jesus, in essence, is not holding back here in his interaction with the Pharisees. They have taken the gloves off, as it were, and his come off as well. He gives it to them straight.
But what comes next has been twisted, and confused, and thrown around so much that we are afraid to talk about it.
What is the unforgivable sin?
What is the unforgivable sin?
Jesus speaks here about a sin that will not be forgiven, either now or in eternity. In Mark’s Gospel, it is called “eternal sin.”
As a pastor, and before I came here, as a youth pastor and associate pastor, I have had people ask me on more than one occasion. Is ____ the unforgivable sin?
We must remember, these words of Jesus to the Pharisees were meant as a wake-up call to their prideful, arrogant, and stiff-hearted attitude. They were not meant to frighten those with soft and sensitive hearts.
Sometimes the question is asked out of fear. I’ve been divorced - is that the unforgivable sin? I’ve commited adultery - is that the unforgivable sin? My son commited suicide - tell me, is that the unforgivable sin?
In those moments, hearing those questions, simultaneously I want to embrace the person asking the question, and slap the person who led them to believe those lies.
Because that’s what they are. Those are lies. If you have heard any of that, know that neither Jesus here, nor any other place i scripture, teaches that any other sin, no matter how heinous, fits in this category.
Jesus is very specific here, and his teaching has to do only with what the Pharisees had said.
Jesus says, the unforgivable sin, is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And these passages we have in the Gospels are the only clear places that speak in these terms, so we cannot stretch Jesus’ words beyond their meaning. To do so is presumptuous and cruel.
It is not Unintentional
It is not Unintentional
You cannot commit the unpardonable sin by accident.
Blasphemy is slander against God. Slander is speaking evil of someone when you know it is not true - which indicates the opposite - that you know what is true.
Jesus just gave this teaching to the pharisees, that in fact he was casting out demons by the power of God’s Holy Spirit - the evidence was undeniable.
It is not a number of particularly heinous sins
It is not a number of particularly heinous sins
So if the Pharisees knew that, they knew it was by the Holy Spirit, then their words were, in fact, blasphemy. Purposeful lies, choosing sides, choosing to call God’s works evil.
Now, had they commited that sin? The text actually doesn’t say. But we know they were dangerously close, and Jesus’ warning is very potent. It is almost as if he is saying, now that you know without a doubt that my works are works of God’s Holy Spirit, be careful what you say.
There is a sense in which once a person has been enlightened to the point of knowing that Jesus is who he says he is, that he is God, that it is God’s power on display, beyond a doubt, and when a person willingly chooses to identify God’s power with that of the Devil, then that person is in a place where he will not be forgiven.
What about the distinction between the Son of Man and the Holy Spirit? Well, we must take that in context. At this point, it is very possible that people could have seen Jesus and his works, and not have known that it was God in flesh. We are privileged with the rest of the New Testament which fleshes that out. But when Jesus was Speaking, at this point, it was a bit ambiguous. So someone could speak out against him, ignorant of who he truly was.
But the pharisees could not speak out ignorantly against God’s Holy Spirit - that would have been willful, malicious, and intentional. And it would reveal that their hearts were so hardened and cold that they would not be forgiven.
Think of it. The Holy Spirit of God is the one who really leads us to and grants repentance. The Holy Spirit is the one who shows us our sin and our need of forgiveness.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
If the Holy Spirit, the Helper as Jesus calls Him, has revealed to the Pharisees truly that He is at work, and has shown them their error, and in full acknowledgment and willful dispute, they say “it is the power of Satan,” then that is blasphemy, true slander, and the sin that will not be forgiven.
Can my sin be forgiven?
Can my sin be forgiven?
Jesus words, though, also give some hope. Because he says that every kind of sin and even blasphemy will be forgiven.
It is very unlikely that you have commited blasphemy against the Holy Spirit - and I would venture to say that Jesus is the only one who can truly judge whether a person has actually done that.
But, it is 100% likely that you have commited a host of other sins.
What we do matters. Our sin is offensive to a Holy God, and it does require forgiveness.
Every other sin, even the sin of unbelief in Jesus, is forgivable - but they are all forgiven the same way.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Three important things there:
1. If you say you have no sin, you deceive yourself.
1. If you say you have no sin, you deceive yourself.
We started out talking about big lies - lies that are so bold they become believable. Well, human nature tends toward telling ourselves this lie: that we have no sin.
If Jesus is who the Bible reveals Him to be, and if all this is true, you must reckon with that lie - you do have sin, and it does require forgiveness.
2. If we confess, He will forgive.
2. If we confess, He will forgive.
Confess is more than just telling God what we have done - the word literally means to say the same thing - it is to agree with God about our sin.
It is to say, God, not only are you right about sin, but I have sinned and I need forgiveness.
3. Jesus is the one who has authority to forgive sins.
3. Jesus is the one who has authority to forgive sins.
That scripture says that he is faithful and just in forgiving our sins. That means it is right, according to his character and nature, and he is just in doing so, because he has paid for that forgiveness.
This confession, repentance, and calling upon Christ for forgiveness is something you must do in coming to God, but Christians, we also must keep an attitude of repentance toward God in our daily lives, for we all fail.
Have you commited the unpardonable sin? Blasphemy against God’s Holy Spirit? I cannot truly answer that, but if you are asking these questions, if your heart is sensitive and yearning for forgiveness, if you are confessing and agreeing with God, then you are not in the place that the pharisees were. Sin is still serious, but there is true forgiveness through Jesus and Jesus alone.