What is The Unforgivable Sin?

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

According to Mark

The Unforgivable Sin

Mark 3:20-35 (28-30) 

(To view the entire message on Fellowship's Vimeo page, click here.)

This section of Mark is described by many commentators as a “Markan Sandwich.” Mark sometimes sandwiches a specific teaching or truth inside another story or context. That’s what he’s done in this passage. Here, verses 20-21 form one side and verses 31-35 form the other. Verses 22-30 form the center of the sandwich and this week’s sermon focused on verses 28-30, the central truth of this passage. 

Remember: One of the themes in Mark is what it looks like to be a disciple.

Discipleship depends on: 

• Being with Jesus

and 

• Doing His will

• A Serious Statement

²⁸ “Truly, I say to you,

Here in Mark - this is the first time we see it.

• It always introduces something very important.

This is an AMEN! Truth.

Typically, this would come after a statement of importance, much like when a preacher says something you like and you say “AMEN!” in response. Here, Jesus turns it around and introduces what He’s about to say this way. This happens 75 times in the Gospel. 13 in Mark. It’s only found in the Gospels, it’s only seen on the lips of Jesus, and this is the first time we see this in the Gospel of Mark.

He’s going to tell them two things. And that’s the core of this passage. These two things.

The second thing, while it’s certainly the primary point of this passage, shouldn’t eclipse the first point.

The first point is simply that God forgives. 

This is not universal salvation - 

That God is willing to forgive us at all is truly amazing.

• What is Forgiveness?

all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter

The root word is “to send away” - it’s intensified here the way it’s used.

• Forgiveness is the complete cancellation of the punishment that you rightfully deserve from a holy God whom you have sinned against. 

This is the heart of the gospel. Don’t miss this.

• There is no record in Scripture of anyone asking forgiveness and being denied it.

• The Unforgivable Sin

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

• It is the Spirit’s task to convict men of sin and reveal to them the gospel. To reveal Christ

In the midst of this beautiful forgiveness - there is an exception.

There’s an irony here that it was those who were so focused on defining what sin is - and who debated what sins are forgivable and which are not - they themselves were the ones guilty of the unpardonable sin. 

The scribes were rejecting God.

1.What the Unforgivable Sin Is Not

• It’s not just a “Time of Jesus” thing

If the forgiveness of Verse 28 broadly applies across time, then Verse 29 does too. 

• It’s not generic unbelief.

In this day, there was much unbelief. This addresses some within the crowd who have had a full disclosure of gospel truths and rejected it in a specific way. This is a specific sin.

• It’s not committed by a true Believer

Hebrews 6:4-6 is about someone not truly saved. A true Believer will not lose His salvation and will not “fall away.”

• It’s not a specific “huge” sin

We see many “huge” sins in Scripture (murder, adultery, etc.) - and they’re forgiven.

• It’s not denying you know Him

Peter did this and he was forgiven

• It’s not casual or unknowing

Blasphemy by its definition isn’t casual. Blasphemy is intentional. You’ll know you’re doing it.

2. What the Unforgivable Sin is

• It’s intentional rejection

Hebrews 6:4-8 – Turn to this passage and read it.

This is just a quick overview (Thanks to Steve Lawson for this helpful overview)

1. Enlightened

The HS brings clear understanding. The details are clear. You understand what the Gospel is.

2. Tasted (the gift and the Word)

There’s a huge difference between tasting and swallowing. 

3. Shared (in the Holy Spirit)

It’s not “in dwelt.” Just that you’ve come under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word is living and active and powerful and convicting.

You’ve shared in this, but His Spirit hasn’t in dwelt you. You’re not a Christian.

4. Fallen Away

You heard it clearly. It was proclaimed faithfully. 

Gospel Truth was shared with power and clarity. 

Yet - it was not swallowed. It was not believed as described in Romans 10:9-10

5. Crucified Again?

Your conclusion - Jesus should have been crucified. They were right to do this.

In your heart - right now you would - “crucify Him” all over again

6. Land

A reference to the heart

7. Rain

God’s Word (see Isaiah 55:10-11)

8. Thorns and Thistles

Close to being cursed - a step away from hell. It will end up being burned

This is someone who has heard the Gospel.

They have  been there. They know it’s true.

But they don’t want it.

It’s a serious thing to hear the truth of the Word of God.

Even more serious to hear it then reject it.

• It’s a Reversal of the Truth

It looks back to the charge in v. 22

They called the work of the Spirit of God a work of Satan This is a serious thing.

His Word isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s a serious thing.  We should take it seriously. 

This Unforgivable Sin is a serious thing. In fact - all sin is serious.

• It’s a pattern

It’s not a single act, a single statement, or a single thought.

Their hearts were being hardened.

Those who knew the Scriptures the best. Those who should have been the first to get it.
 They didn't get it at all. Those who should have been least likely to respond, came to Jesus for forgiveness. 

The Scribes had hardening hearts

The Sinners sought forgiveness

You’ve may have heard this:

• The same sun that melts the snow hardens the clay...

J.C. Ryle calls it:

• The sin of deliberately rejecting God’s truth with the heart while that truth is clearly known in the head.

It’s putting yourself far above God. It’s blatant, ongoing, all encompassing idolatry of self.

3. The Results

See: John 12:37-40, Romans 11:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Romans 9:17-18, Romans 18:1-218

Again - J.C. Ryle says: Let us pray that we may be delivered from this.

Here are my Questions for You:

• Do you understand the seriousness of God’s Word?

Read Hebrews 4:12 

When God speaks - it’s serious. It should never be taken lightly.

Think twice before you say God “told you” to do something other than what you read in Scripture.

When you read God’s Word - you will find what He has told you to do. Now do it!

• Do you “Get” forgiveness?
Do you really understand what it means to be forgiven? Believers should study this. 

• Are you comforted, or afflicted?

John MacArthur says that this passage should “Afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.”

Those that are the most entrenched in the “church” culture are the ones that should look at their lives the most closely. 

Every true believer in Christ will say “Jesus is Lord”

And they will say it not only their lips, but with their whole lives.

If you are worried that you have committed the Unforgivable Sin, you probably haven’t.

Remember: Mark wants us to see what it looks like to be a true believer.

The Bottom line of being a disciple is this:

• Be with Christ

• Obey Christ