What Is The Unforgivable Sin?

It’s ironic – but some of the most brilliant, gifted, able people are often misunderstood -- never fully appreciated -- in their own time.   

One such person was Franz Schubert.  Growing up in Vienna, the music capital of the world – Schubert was well acquainted with the reputations of Hayden – Mozart – and Beethoven – and other musical greats who performed in Vienna.  For Schubert too was an accomplished musician.  But unlike Hayden – Mozart – and Beethoven – Schubert was never recognized in his own time as an accomplished musician.  Why even though he was a pallbearer at Beethoven’s funeral and the composer of eight symphonies and six hundred German art songs – Schubert was largely side-lined within the Vienna musical community.  

Oh he had a faithful following of close friends who believed in his genius – but for all practical purposes Schubert was maligned and misunderstood.  Why at his death when Schubert’s musical manuscripts were put up for auction, his manuscripts drew very little money.  But ironically, today Schubert’s musical manuscripts are considered priceless museum pieces, and Schubert’s music unmatched for its gift of melody. (T.S. Denison and Company. Let’s Meet Famous Composers, pp. 67-68).

As we enter Mark 3:20-30 we encounter the Jesus who we know today as priceless and unmatched.  But like Schubert – Jesus during his own time -- was often maligned and misunderstood.    Why in these verses Jesus is misunderstood repeatedly – first by his own family.   Fearing Jesus was going crazy because of pressing crowds and a rigorous schedule – Jesus’ family enters the house of Peter and Andrew in Capernaum, and tries to remove him physically, to take Him back to Nazareth, His hometown.  But they totally miss that Jesus’ intensity is not from overwork – but a zeal for God.  

   

And then Jesus is misunderstood by the teachers of the law.  Why they too think Jesus is crazy -- in fact they think Jesus is possessed by a demon; to be specific the prince of demons, Beelzebub!   But they too ‘don’t get it.’  I mean ‘go figure’ Jesus notes:  “how can Satan drive out Satan?” (Mark 3:23).  Only God can drive out Satan, Jesus infers; to be precise: God’s Holy Spirit. 

And while we’re ‘on’ the Holy Spirit, let me just clarify:  you’ve just insulted the Spirit; you’ve just blasphemed the Spirit.  Why you’re suggesting something other than the Spirit, the living Christ, liberates – saves -- and forgives!   What an arrogant boost!  Why go ahead and believe that and you’ll never be forgiven, Jesus infers.  For arrogance, pride never saves – pride only condemns!

It's my conviction that pride does condemn.  For pride does insult the only entity that can save: the Holy Spirit, the living Savior.  Thus, it’s my conviction that if we insult the Holy Spirit, not surrendering to Him – we’ve committed the unforgivable sin, for forgiveness can come from no other source!   

But please understand, Walter Wessel notes:  “…it is not so much that God refuses to forgive as it is the sinner who refuses to allow him [to forgive]…”  (Walter W. Wessel, Mark, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1984, pp.645-646)      

And so expand your ‘allowance’ for God.  Distance yourself further, from any prideful, arrogant sentiment!