BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Reading from Matthew ch 12 vs 22-31

There are attitudes and beliefs we form about people that we often reinforce based on their lack of conformity to the way we do things. This in turn makes us paint them as evil or their deeds as bad because they oppose what we think or believe to be true. This kind of relationship is what I observe from the Pharisees and how they perceived or interacted with Jesus. Good was happening where Jesus was, people knew that he could heal and things could be changed when one encountered him. And I like how they brought the difficult issues to him, like the man in this passage.

He was demon-oppressed, blind and mute, that combination sounds painful. He must have been having a terrible time within and outside himself. Here comes our lovely Jesus and he heals the man and he can see and speak and he is probably filled with joy and everyone else with wonder. Like this man is blessed, he should be the promised son of David and they probably said more good but the Pharisees? All they saw was evil, so much so that they concluded that its probably by some other demon that these things are happening. It’s sad to read for you’d think men who were well vested in the scriptures and issues of God would know about the prophecies that Jesus was fulfilling and just how there’s no time when an evil spirit brought about good.

  Id be frustrated with how things were happening, but Jesus? He addressed things. I think God is more interested in us coming to the truth or like being corrected and understanding his ways rather than just leaving us to stay with terrible mentalities or think how we go about things is okay. He lays things out simply for what they were insinuating of him was contrary to even just the basic set up of a united house or kingdom. If you are of one body/house or come from the same company/kingdom, if you are quarrelling with each other or attacking one another would your house or kingdom flourish or succeed? Probable not. So then how would it be that all the good that Christ did would come from the same house that caused all the problems in the first place? It was a very backward thought, for logically its contrary. He questioned them for there were other people similar to the Pharisees doing the same so was that to say they too were casting out the demons by the power of a demon?

 It’s easy to accuse someone you dislike without thinking that the very people you encourage or support may be doing the same things, for then how do you go about it? For you should use the same measure right? The bias is often exposed. It was obvious that they had a problem with Jesus but one thing God really highlighted to me, is how you can think you’re doing the right thing or that you’re good or obedient to him and it’s simply because you have missed the whole point or misunderstood what he asked/says. It is easy to get in way over your head especially in their society where they were the leaders and no one really questioned what they said and taught for they were the ones with the access, studying scripture and the way of God as their life path. But even that is not a justifier for choosing to hold on to faulty interpretations.

They might have felt like they were doing the lords work but they were in the wrong before him. They were fighting against what he was trying to do and Jesus was trying to communicate this in the best way possible. They couldn’t look passed their own hate to actually see the good happening around them, all they could do is find a problem with it and it just makes me think to pray for myself. For its so easy to get bitter cause things aren’t happening how you like or someone you dislike is doing better or flourishing or walking in a way you never have or maybe secretly want to. Often we avoid humbling ourselves and asking for help, we’d rather be proud and it doesn’t do us any good.

The worst part of everything is that they just thought they were attacking a random man but it was God. They didn’t think their remarks or words were bad or evil but Jesus highlighted the magnitude of what they did without even knowing. It is easy to get forgiveness when we sin against one another but when we blaspheme against the Holy Spirit or attribute the work of the spirit to the enemy? Jesus says there’s no forgiveness for that. Our words and thoughts have an impact, not everything goes unnoticed or without consequence. It is good to be informed and Jesus was informing them of what their words actually meant. Its not him they were harming or bringing down but rather themselves. It’s the same problem of sin and all it involves, we harm ourselves not God.

 We lead ourselves to terrible things and places and God is only trying to help us out of these things. Jesus rebuked, corrected and educated out love for them and the people, he didn’t want them to lose their souls and their ways. He does the same today whether we see it or not. We need to remind ourselves that everything God does or allows is for our benefit and to save us. His love for us makes him not just leave us to our terrible ways of thinking and doing things. He wants us to live in true freedom and in truth and that’s why his spirit convicts us or stops us in our path. You must know it is always your choice to make, whether to remain or change but know God loves you.