Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a persistent and unrepentant refusal to acknowledge the divine source of God's work, especially as revealed through the Holy Spirit.
What Is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit?
It begins in the heart. It’s a deliberate and persistent choice to resist and oppose the Spirit’s truth and guidance. This rejection often reveals itself through words and attitudes that deny God’s work and goodness.
At its core, this sin involves an intentional hardening of the heart toward the Holy Spirit. It’s not a momentary doubt or struggle but a sustained refusal to listen to His voice, respond to His conviction, or acknowledge His presence.
The Holy Spirit’s role is to point people to Jesus, revealing who He is and His saving work. Blasphemy against the Spirit occurs when someone outright rejects this revelation, refusing to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit includes willfully calling what is good—what is clearly God’s work—evil. It’s a deliberate distortion of truth, rooted in pride or rebellion, that denies the Spirit’s role in bringing life and righteousness.
This sin is exemplified in the Gospels when religious leaders accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a grievous act of rejecting God’s truth and ascribing His miraculous work to evil.
Why Is Blasphemy the Unforgivable Sin?
Uttering blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unpardonable because only an unsaved person who is aware of who God is can do it (Romans 1:18-32). It is an act of one’s will, and those who know and believe His claims are true and still choose to attribute what He does to the devil will not be forgiven.
When a person commits his life to the Lord Jesus (realizes he is a sinner, confesses his sins, asks forgiveness, repents of his sins, and makes Jesus Lord of his life), he is immediately indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who has sealed us in Him and has been given as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:19-22).
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can only be committed by an unsaved person because no one who knows and loves Jesus would attribute His works to the devil or his demons. If your heart is so resistant to the point of attributing His works to the devil, it will remain impermeable. It’s the Spirit who convicts of sin and if you are so hardened to it that you can say it’s of the devil and not of God, there’s no hope of coming to a saving knowledge of the truth of who God is.
This warning from Scripture is serious, but it’s important to remember that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not a one-time mistake or fleeting doubt. It’s a persistent, hardened state of heart that resists God’s truth. If you’re concerned about committing this sin, it’s a sign that your heart is still sensitive to the Spirit’s work—evidence of His grace still at work in you.
What Did Jesus Say about Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit?
As we read in Matthew 12, The Pharisees were supposed to be masters of Old Testament law, and Jesus called them out regarding their misunderstanding of the Sabbath. The Pharisees (which means, “separate ones”) were strict adherents to the law and had great influence over its role in the lives of the Jewish people at that time.
After the confrontation in the grain field, Jesus went into the synagogue and was again accosted by the Pharisees, who asked if a man could be healed on the Sabbath. Jesus once more demonstrated His authority and healed a man who had a withered hand. “Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him” (Matthew 12:14, Mark 3:6, Luke 6:11).
That they wished to destroy Him is evident also in John 10:33, which takes place later in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus tells the Pharisees they do not believe (in Him) because they are not of His sheep. He also tells them “I and My Father are one” (John 10:25-30). The Jews then took up stones to stone Him and when Jesus asked them why, they replied, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (John 10:33).
In John 11, we read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Because of that, many of the Jews believed in Him (John 11:45). The Pharisees, however, took exception and sought the counsel of Caiaphas, the high priest that year, who said, “…one man should die for the people…” John 11:53 says, “Then from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.”
Their hypocrisy is manifested in their reaction to Jesus healing the demon-possessed man as recorded in Matthew 12:22-24. The people were amazed and asked if he could be the “Son of David.”
The Pharisees, seeking to maintain their status and lord their authority over the people (Matthew 20:25) perpetrated blasphemy of the Holy Spirit when they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matthew 12:24). Jesus “knew their thoughts” (Matthew 12:25) and challenged them with the truth of their hypocrisy. He said, “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” He goes on to underscore their separateness, yet not as leaders, but as separate from the kingdom of God, “He who is not with Me is against Me…” (Matthew 12:30).
The stinger comes in verses 31-32, when Jesus says, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or the age to come” (cf. Mark 3:28-30, Luke 12:10).
Therefore, the Pharisees committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because they knew the work was that of the Spirit, yet willfully rejected it.
Examples of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
It’s important to approach this topic with clarity and humility, recognizing that it’s not about momentary doubt or an accidental misstep but a persistent and willful rejection of God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit works to convict hearts, reveal truth, and draw people to Jesus, and to blaspheme the Spirit is to resist and deny that work entirely. Below, we’ll explore some examples that help us better understand what this sin entails and why it is so serious.
Intent and Awareness: Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit involves deliberate intent and full awareness of one’s actions. It’s not a careless statement or an unintentional mistake. Instead, it’s a conscious and willful rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work, even when the person knows it to be true. For example, when someone attributes the clear and undeniable work of God to evil or refuses to acknowledge the Spirit’s role, they are acting out of deliberate defiance rather than ignorance.
Heart Condition: This sin starts with a deep, intentional hardness toward God—a refusal to allow the Spirit to convict, guide, or transform. A hardened heart resists truth and grace, choosing rebellion and pride instead. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not just about words or actions; it stems from a deeply rooted rejection of God’s authority and presence. It reflects an unwillingness to open the heart to repentance or surrender.
Persistent Unbelief: This sin is marked by ongoing, willful unbelief. It’s not a moment of doubt or wrestling with faith but a continuous rejection of the truth of Jesus Christ and the Spirit’s testimony about Him. Persistent unbelief resists the Spirit’s efforts to bring someone to salvation, ultimately leading to a point where their heart is so hardened that they are unwilling and unable to turn back to God.
Lack of Repentance: A refusal to repent is a defining characteristic of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Repentance is the Spirit’s work in softening hearts, convicting people of sin, and leading them toward forgiveness in Christ. Those who commit this sin reject that work entirely, refusing to acknowledge their need for grace and turning away from the offer of salvation. This ongoing lack of repentance leaves no room for God’s forgiveness because it shuts the door on the very means of receiving it.
Why Is it So Important to Be Aware?
Some Christians struggle with their assurance of salvation and wonder if they have committed an unforgivable sin. Knowing the nature of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit ministers to the body of Christ—the church—to encourage and strengthen them regarding assurance of salvation.
As we evangelize—as we share our faith with others—the realization that our unsaved friend, family member, or an acquaintance may be condemned to hell, should drive us with love and compassion to share the truth of Jesus. Just as He testified to the truth (John 18:37), we too are to do the same. It may impact how one interacts with a non-believer because maybe an unbeliever thinks they have spoken against God and equates it with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Removing that stumbling block can give them hope to come to Christ.
For further reading:
What Is Blasphemy? - Biblical Meaning, Definition and Examples
Does God See All Sins as Equal to One Another?
Why Did Jesus Cast Out Demons?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/iweta0077
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
No Rest for the Wicked
Fight the Good Fight
Wait on the Lord
With Contrite Heart and Spirit
Faith Can Move Mountains
