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Mark 3:20 – 30
Repentance Versus Curiosity

Matthew, Mark, and Luke, differ slightly regarding the encounter Jesus had with scribes from Jerusalem. Both Matthew and Luke contain an account of a blind and mute demoniac whom Jesus delivered just before the encounter with the scribes. Mark doesn't mention the deliverance, but it was that remarkable deliverance that made the crowd, as we see them here, wonder who Jesus really was. 

According to Matthew, when they saw that the blind and dumb man both saw and spoke clearly, the crowd buzzed with excitement and they were asking one another whether this might indeed be the Son of David (in other words the Messiah)!  That just means that some people were actually becoming convinced that Jesus' claim to have come from God might be true!

But that, of course, set off alarm bells in the minds of the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem. It's exactly what they were afraid would happen. They could just see all the people believing in Jesus while they themselves were losing their position of esteem and authority.

So they decided to do something about it.  They began to spread a rumor that it was by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, that Jesus was casting out demons. Jesus heard about what they were saying, though, and His response was quite unusual - He graciously called the scribes to Himself and reasoned with them about the extreme foolishness of their accusation.

Jesus didn't usually call His accusers to a private conference. He usually rebuked them publicly so that the multitude would be protected from their opinions. Why He didn't do that in this instance we can only guess, but it may be that some of these scribes were themselves not far from the Kingdom.

Isaiah wrote about this gracious and gentle approach by God's Messiah. He says, "Behold, My Servant, Whom I uphold; My chosen One in Whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice..." (Is. 42:1-3). We should thank Him for so graciously dealing with even the dimly burning wicks – because sometimes that's exactly what we are!

One of the arguments used by our Lord to convince these scribes is mentioned by Matthew and Luke. They quote Him as saying, "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges!" (Matt. 12:27) As it turns out, there were in those days Jewish exorcists who were somewhat successful in casting out evil spirits. Because God has not changed we can assume that they did so by the mercy and power of the Covenant God of israel.  Jesus takes this into account when He asks them the ultimate question: would these scribes attribute the same wonderful result to the prince of demons on the one hand and to God on the other?!

It's a powerful argument.  He points out that houses or kingdoms that are divided and warring amongst themselves can't stand, but will ultimately come to ruin. Therefore, if Satan's host of demons is divided against itself, then neither can they stand, but will be destroyed in confusion!  He's essentially saying, "Hey guys – is Satan's power casting out Satan?"  The conclusion is obvious!

But, just to make sure, Jesus draws that conclusion for them.  He says, "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!" (Matt. 12:28) It's an overwhelming argument. Paraphrased, He's saying, "Satan's host isn't divided; he doesn't cast out his own spirits! So the only remaining conclusion is that God is casting them out! So, if I am casting out demons, I must be doing it by the power of God, and you need to realize that the Kingdom of God is therefore here - in Me! – It's happening NOW!" How could anyone reasonably resist such an argument?  Yet some did.

Having presented these arguments, Jesus then illustrated  the conclusion for them.  He said, "how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house."

Jesus wants to focus these men's attention on the wonderful result of what He was doing in casting out evil spirits. The "strong man" in His illustration is Satan. Satan's property - demoniacs - are being taken away from him. Therefore Satan must have been bound by the one who does the plundering! Jesus is not in league with Satan - He has overcome him, and that's why He can rescue men who have been in bondage to him. (Rev. 12:9-10) It should be obvious to these Pharisees that such results are good, not evil!

Jesus makes it abundantly clear that their accusation that He was casting out demons by means of the Devil was foolish. He points out that good results can't be brought about by evil means. Whoever foolishly insists that such good works can be performed by Satan is actually insisting that the Holy Spirit is Satan!

But to say such a thing is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  In fact, it's a clear indication that the heart from which it comes is hardened beyond repair. Such a heart will be forever allowed to remain in its own desired state of darkness. Let's pray never to be found in that state!

According to Matthew's account, Jesus at this point issues an extreme warning to those who have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit in their hearts. His words are powerful and they are ominous.  He says, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come. Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgement, for by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned!"

Even if these men spoke carelessly, even if they didn't realize what they were saying, still they have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, and what they've done could be an indication that they are beyond forgiveness!

Many have tried to explain the "unpardonable sin," the sin that supposedly pushes the sinner over the brink into a classification from which even God cannot or will not - ever - rescue him.

What we see here, though, is that the danger is not from one "super-sin," but from an habitual state of heart that makes all good into evil and all evil into good.  It's a heart that actually considers the works of the Holy Spirit as evil.

But dearly beloved - that's actually the natural state of all our hearts: we naturally hate everything that's really righteous.  We're all in outright rebellion against God from our birth. We naturally want our own way, not His, and we're naturally hostile against anyone who would call us to repentance and faith. We're all naturally involved in "unpardonable sin!"

But the question as to who is finally unpardonable can only be answered definitively by God – not by any of us. We're all in danger of it until and unless we repent and trust in Jesus Christ. That's why the prophet said, "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Is. 55:6, 7)

So, instead of being caught in a web of curiosity about the unpardonable sin, we would be wise to repent and seek the Lord's forgiveness!  The one thing we need to remember is this: Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to me, and he who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." (Jn. 6:37). If you really want to come to Him, then you haven't committed the unpardonable sin, because He promises that He won't keep you from coming to Him. But if you don't want to come to Him, then you're in real danger.

Jesus' mother and brothers were not unimportant to Him.  He knew that the Father had given them to Him as His special responsibilities in this world. He would surely act toward them in ways calculated to bless them, to improve them, and to promote their welfare. He would love them in a very active way. He would commune with them, spend time with them, and always show His concern for them.

But Jesus' promise here is that He will treat you and I that way if we do the will of the Father. Not that we can ever earn His favor, but it is pleasing to Him to see the results of His own Spirit's work in our hearts! The blessed results of the Spirit's work are rewarded just as if they were our own works, even though our Lord Himself has done them!  You are beloved to Him – even more than brother, sister, or mother!

Amen, "now is the acceptible time, harden not your heart."
Because if you keep resisting and refusing God's offer, one  day you will find that your heart has become so hard and immune to His offer, that you can no longer repent of your sins.

Actually, we're all hardened until He softens our hearts.  Oh praise Him for His saving work - it's the only complete and perfect work for the good of our souls.