Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 12:10

"And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven." — Luke 12:10 (ASV)

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.

This is one of the very difficult texts of Holy Scripture. We are told, in 1 John 5:16, that "there is a sin unto death," and I would have you very wary of ever daring to trifle with the Spirit of God, since sin against him is guarded with such special warnings. The flaming sword of divine vengeance seems to hang before the very name of the Holy Ghost; so, whatever you do, never encroach upon his royal dignity, or blaspheme him in heart or by lip.

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.

What is the sin against the Holy Ghost? We do not know, and I think it is a great mercy that we do not know. I will tell you one reason why I think it is a great mercy: it is because the devil is continually tempting poor, distracted souls to commit that sin.

I have, within the past week, seen several persons who have been frequently tempted to commit it. But, happily, they did not know what the sin against the Holy Ghost was, and therefore, they could not convince themselves that they had committed it. I have seen many people who have told me that they have committed the unpardonable sin, and I have asked them to sit down and tell me what that sin was, because if they could do so, I would find out something I did not know.

In every instance, I have very soon been able to say to them, "Though I do not know what the unpardonable sin is, I am quite certain that what you mention is not that sin, because sin like yours has frequently been forgiven." It is a blessing that we are left in the dark concerning that matter. But, as I have often said to you, do not presume upon your ignorance. This warning is something like the notice you see posted on certain great men's estates: "Man-traps and spring guns set here." If you go around the mansion and say to the owner, "Sir, if you please, will you tell me where the man-traps and spring guns are?" he will say, "No. Why should you want to know where they are? You keep from trespassing, and then it will not matter to you where they are."

That very indistinctness about the warning is a part of the preventive power which surrounds it. You have no right to go trespassing there at all, so keep away from the place. And you are not told what the unpardonable sin is, though there is a sin which is unto death, and there is a blasphemy against the Holy Ghost which shall not be forgiven.