A Line in the Sand--Matthew 12:22-37

A Serious Allegation (22-24) 

We have therefore moved beyond "academic" debate on the validity of Jesus’ teaching and practice to the realm of personal abuse and character assassination. The accusation of complicity with the devil is not only extremely offensive, but it is intended to destroy Jesus’ credibility in the eyes of the God-fearing public. It is also potentially extremely serious, since sorcery was, according to the Mishnah, a capital offense.

--R.T. France

A Sound Argument (25-29)

Matthew 12:18-21 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

Jesus’ first recorded victory over the devil happened in his Temptations (4:11), in which his cross and resurrection were already germinally present. Then Jesus’ actual cross and resurrection sealed the devil’s devastation. These great victories over the devil mean two things for believers: (1) the devil whom we encounter in our daily struggles is a defeated devil, and our faith in Jesus (which grants the presence of Jesus) gives us continuing victories over him; and (2) the world that does not yet know the Victor is, though it does not realize it, in a prisoner-of-war situation. The world apart from faith in Christ is not only subjectively lost; it is in the tyrannical clutches of “the strong man.” 

--Dale Bruner 

A Sober Admonishment (30-37) 

In the cosmic war against Satan no one can be neutral—there are no Switzerlands!

--Grant Osborne

Augustine’s view that the unforgivable sin is a state of unrepentant enmity toward God isn’t wrong, but it doesn’t deal with the specificity to which the Gospel texts speak. It’s certainly a truism and a valid reading/application of these texts to argue that a state of unbelieving enmity toward Christ results in no forgiveness. But the first reading of the blasphemy of the Spirit in the Gospel texts is much more specific: it’s a hardened evaluation of Jesus’ work as being demonic in origin.

--Jonathan Pennington

Rather than being a general statement indicating all of us will be faced at the pearly gates with an embarrassing video recording of all the stupid things we said in life, these verses directly address and complete the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit argument. Jesus is warning his opponents that these careless words (that Jesus’ work is demonic in origin) will result in their condemnation—another way of saying they won’t be forgiven for this hardened position of opposition to him.

--Jonathan Pennington