The Unforgiveable Sin - Mark 3:29

Read Mark 3:28-29. Sometimes, people worry about having committed this sin because they have had times in their lives when they have drifted from the Lord and struggled with certain sins. Could they have done this “unforgivable, unpardonable” sin at some point?

Many Lutheran commentators, including Lenski, say, “Whoever fears that he has committed the unpardonable sin thereby furnishes evidence that he has not done so” (Lenski, Commentary on Matthew, p.485). If he had done so, he would not even be concerned about Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit and would not even be troubled about his sins. J.T. Mueller describes this sin as “perverse, persistent denial and rejection of the divine truth” … “malicious and persistent resistance against the converting and sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost, through which alone sinners are saved.” Some point to Hebrews 6:4-6, where such people are described as continually “crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt” (Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, p.233). This is a very strong warning to those resistant to Christ and the Word and Sacraments through which the Holy Spirit works to bring people to faith. “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

On the other hand, Lenski and others remind us that only God knows enough to give this verdict that someone has committed the unforgivable sin. “We can never say of any man, no matter how blasphemous he may be, that he has committed this sin” (Lenski, p.485). We can still keep sharing Law and Gospel with others, no matter what, showing people the reality of their sins and yet also telling of the love and forgiveness of God in Christ. The Holy Spirit can still work through that Word and bring people to faith. Think of Paul and how resistant He was to Christianity until the Lord Jesus turned his life around. Know for yourself, too, that no matter how hard you may have been struggling with sin and your beliefs, there is forgiveness and new life for you in Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit and His Word. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The Lord’s continued blessings!