Blasphemy – What is it?

Prayer – Lord, open my eyes to understand Your word.

"I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences." He told them this because they were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit." Mark 3:28-30

 

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture.

 

Jesus was telling His disciples and the Jewish leaders with whom He was speaking that blasphemy can be forgiven—except when someone is speaking against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy in Strong’s lexicon #G987, means to speak reproachfully, with vile or evil intent, or to defame. It really is offensive to me when people take the Lord’s name in vain—I consider that blasphemy.

 

Eternal consequences to this sin. That is severe. Eternal damnation. That should be motivating for people not to blaspheme—especially against the Holy Spirit. Proverbs gives us some useful advice:

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. Proverbs 13:3

The Fruit of the Spirit...
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. Gal 5:22-23

Self-control is a virtue that is desirable for everyone. It is actually even a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) so those who believe in Jesus as their Savior are filled with the Holy Spirit and will have self-control. Restraining one’s tongue is truly displaying self-control—and if it is not your gift, then pray about it. Is the Holy Spirit part of your life? Would you ever blaspheme?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories