This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
16And charged them that they should not make him known:
17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
18Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
19He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
First we must establish how the Holy Spirit worked through Jesus:
Jesus performs His works by the power of the Holy Spirit
Luke 4:14, 18: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee…”
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power...”
Matthew 12:28 “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
Jesus does not deny His deity, but in His earthly ministry He operates as the Spirit-anointed Messiah.
The works Jesus does by the Holy Spirit testify and prove His identity:
John 10:25, 37–38 “The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.”
John 5:36 “...for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
In Matthew 11:2–5, Jesus answers John’s question about His identity by pointing only to His works.
The miracles are God’s testimony that Jesus is the One He sent.
Therefore, this is not “taking the Holy Spirit’s name in vain” or using it as a curse word. Rather, when they said “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils,” Matt 12:24, they were attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demons.
Why this matters:
The sin is not careless speech, but willful misattribution of God’s revealed power
They were rejecting God’s testimony about Jesus while fully witnessing it
In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit has come to convict the world of sin, and this conviction centers on the world’s response to Jesus Christ. To reject this conviction is to remain in unbelief:
John 16:8–9 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;”
If blasphemy against the Holy Ghost were a separate command apart from belief, it would result in two unforgivable sins, yet Scripture consistently teaches that forgiveness is found in Christ alone and that unbelief is what leaves sin unforgiven.
1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ...”
Acts 17:30 "God...now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
Failure to believe and repent is what leaves a person in an unforgiven state; therefore, blasphemy of the Spirit cannot be a separate category of sin, but describes the settled rejection of the Spirit’s witness to Christ.
In summary, blasphemyof the Holy Ghost is the willful rejection of God’s testimony about Jesus. It is a choice to continual harden ones heart the exact thing the Israelites did and the scribes here were doing (Zechariah 7:12).
The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus’ works.
Those works testified that Jesus was sent from God.
The Pharisees rejected that testimony and called it satanic.
In doing so, they rejected the only means by which sin is forgiven
Likewise today, if a person rejects the Spirit’s conviction (blasphemy) concerning Jesus, they will never believe and therefore never be forgiven, not because forgiveness is unavailable, but because Christ Himself is rejected.
33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
12
Matthew 12 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
16And charged them that they should not make him known:
17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
18Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
19He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
First we must establish how the Holy Spirit worked through Jesus:
Jesus performs His works by the power of the Holy Spirit
Luke 4:14, 18: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee…”
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power...”
Matthew 12:28 “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
Jesus does not deny His deity, but in His earthly ministry He operates as the Spirit-anointed Messiah.
The works Jesus does by the Holy Spirit testify and prove His identity:
John 10:25, 37–38 “The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.”
John 5:36 “...for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
In Matthew 11:2–5, Jesus answers John’s question about His identity by pointing only to His works.
The miracles are God’s testimony that Jesus is the One He sent.
Therefore, this is not “taking the Holy Spirit’s name in vain” or using it as a curse word. Rather, when they said “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils,” Matt 12:24, they were attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demons.
Why this matters:
The sin is not careless speech, but willful misattribution of God’s revealed power
They were rejecting God’s testimony about Jesus while fully witnessing it
In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit has come to convict the world of sin, and this conviction centers on the world’s response to Jesus Christ. To reject this conviction is to remain in unbelief:
John 16:8–9 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;”
If blasphemy against the Holy Ghost were a separate command apart from belief, it would result in two unforgivable sins, yet Scripture consistently teaches that forgiveness is found in Christ alone and that unbelief is what leaves sin unforgiven.
1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ...”
Acts 17:30 "God...now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
Failure to believe and repent is what leaves a person in an unforgiven state; therefore, blasphemy of the Spirit cannot be a separate category of sin, but describes the settled rejection of the Spirit’s witness to Christ.
In summary, blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is the willful rejection of God’s testimony about Jesus. It is a choice to continual harden ones heart the exact thing the Israelites did and the scribes here were doing (Zechariah 7:12).
The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus’ works.
Those works testified that Jesus was sent from God.
The Pharisees rejected that testimony and called it satanic.
In doing so, they rejected the only means by which sin is forgiven
Likewise today, if a person rejects the Spirit’s conviction (blasphemy) concerning Jesus, they will never believe and therefore never be forgiven, not because forgiveness is unavailable, but because Christ Himself is rejected.
33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.