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      • Matthew 5:20, ​Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:8-9, Mark 9:45-47, Mark 11:25-26, and Luke 6:37
      • Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 25:1-13, ​Luke 6:46-49, and ​Luke 13:24-28
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      • ​Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:10
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      • Revelation 3:15-16
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​Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:10

  • 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. 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. (Matthew 12:31-32)
  • Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 3:28-30)
  • And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. (Luke 12:10)
Before Matthew 12:31 is an important section of context, that many who hear these verses aren't presented with:
  • ¶ Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:22-30)
So the Pharisees were saying that Jesus was able to cast out devils by the prince of devils, Beelzebub.  What would the end effect of this belief be?  Could one believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior if they thought He was working with and empowered by the devil?  Certainly not.  I think this line of reasoning perfectly explains why it's an unforgivable sin.  If one believes this about Jesus, they can't get saved.

The clear context is also present for Mark 3:28-30:​
  • ¶ And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them [unto him], and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. (Mark 3:22-26)

I've also come across a slightly different perspective on this (I'm only guessing this may also fit the criteria of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost), which is that the Holy Ghost gives us opportunities throughout our life to realize our sinful, hellbound situation and to believe the gospel:
  • ¶ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. (John 16:7-15)
If we continually reject what He shows us, then we never will believe the gospel and will remain unforgiven.  So this is likewise an unforgivable sin.

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  • Home
  • Articles
    • Salvation >
      • Don't we have to repent to be saved?
      • ​Is the blood of Christ important for salvation?
      • Once we're saved will we always stay saved?
      • What must I do to be saved?
      • What's the difference between our flesh and our spirit?
      • ​Whose name is blotted out of the book of life?
    • False Gospels >
      • ​Is there an easy way to tell what's a false gospel?
      • ​Is water baptism involved in salvation?
      • What's wrong with Calvinism?
      • What's wrong with Seventh Day Adventism?
      • What's wrong with the "rapture ready" movement?
      • ​Works-based gospels of the world
    • Bible >
      • Why is it important for English speakers to use the King James version?
      • How to get started reading the King James version
      • Was Paul a false apostle?
    • Doctrine >
      • Is God a trinity?
      • ​Is Jesus God?
      • Should we always obey the government and other institutions?
      • Was Jesus Christ always the Son of God?
      • When will the rapture happen?
  • Difficult Verses
    • The Gospels >
      • Matthew 5:20, ​Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:8-9, Mark 9:45-47, Mark 11:25-26, and Luke 6:37
      • Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 25:1-13, ​Luke 6:46-49, and ​Luke 13:24-28
      • Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, and Mark 13:13
      • ​Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10, and ​2 Timothy 2:12
      • ​Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:10
      • Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:3-8, and Luke 8:5-8
      • Matthew 25:14-30
      • Matthew 25:31-46
    • The Epistles >
      • Romans 11:21-22
      • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5, 1 John 3:9, and 1 John 3:15
      • 1 Corinthians 9:27 and 1 Corinthians 10:12
      • Philippians 2:12
      • Colossians 1:23
      • Hebrews 3:6 and Hebrews 3:14
      • Hebrews 5:9
      • Hebrews 6:4-8
      • Hebrews 10:26-27
      • Hebrews 12:14
      • James 2:17 and James 2:21
      • James 2:19
      • 1 John 2:15
    • Revelation >
      • Revelation 3:15-16
  • My Testimony
  • Contact