“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”
Luke 12:8–10, ESV
What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? There are many questions and interpretations of this, and it is a struggle. Tying it to the previous words of our Lord does give us some context. We are called to be set apart and different from others. Our faith is to be centered on God, and we are not to be concerned with what others think and what others believe is good and true. Our faith is to be first centered in the Word. The Word is Scripture and Christ, and neither contradicts the other. So, if it is not clearly stated in the Word of God, we are not to be bound by it, even if it sounds good. For example, practices of faith that are done in piety, however, are not expressly called for within the Word, though they may be beneficial, do nothing to bring salvation, and are not conditional on being within the faith of Jesus Christ. Our eyes and our hearts are to be centered in Christ and Christ alone, and all we proclaim is to be pointing to Him. To deny Christ as presented by Christians is not necessarily blaspheming, but a denial of Christ as presented by the Holy Spirit as represented in the Word puts one in eternal jeopardy. So, this means that not all who say they represent Christ necessarily do, and a denial of what they teach may not be blaspheming of the Holy Spirit, but a denial of the Word as has been given to us and a denial of God with our last breath bring upon us the true blaspheme because it denies that Christ is fully God and our Lord. To deny the salvation promise as presented to us by Christ Himself in the Word is a denial of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us not fall into this pit and be lifted in Christ alone!
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.