First let me say that I appreciate your question and your desire to know what God’s word has to say on this subject. This is a very important topic and one that has stirred up much controversy. My desire in answering your question is in pointing you to what God’s word teaches. I don’t want to give you my opinion but show you what the Bible teaches.
Your question resembles very closely a question that the Pharisee’s asked Jesus in Matthew 19:3. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?” I would like for us to consider Jesus’ answer to this question, as it parallels your question.
Notice first of all that Jesus takes the Pharisee’s back to the very beginning. “Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them both male and female, and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’? Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (vv. 4-6). Jesus here quotes from Genesis 1:27 and also 2:24.
Genesis 2:24 is God’s plan for the marriage covenant between man and woman. The two become one flesh. One man, one woman, for life. It is God who does the joining together (Matt. 19:6), man is not to separate that.
The Pharisee’s ask another question after Jesus answers their first one. “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus answered, “Because of your hardness of heart, Moses suffered you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.”
Some translations are a little misleading in that they use the word “permitted” in place of suffered. We can be left with the idea that it was OK for them to divorce their wives. Moses “suffered” them to divorce their wives because of the hardness of their hearts. Moses didn’t agree with them divorcing but suffered them to do it. What Jesus says after this has much bearing on this, “but from the beginning it has not been this way.” God’s purpose was not for people to put each other away. What he wants is what we have already mentioned; one man, one woman, for life.
Jesus goes on to explain even further. Matt 19:9, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” The only reason for divorce and remarriage that was acceptable was in the case of immorality. If you divorce someone for other reasons, it is wrong. If you divorce someone for other reasons and marry another, it is adultery. If you marry someone who divorced his/her spouse for any other reason than adultery, then you commit adultery when you marry that person. Jesus made it very clear that sexual immorality was the only acceptable reason for divorce and remarriage. There is no authority given that allows a person who has been put away (for adultery or otherwise) to remarry.
In a society that grants divorce and remarriage at the drop of a hat, this may seem unrealistic. We must remember, however, that society does not determine the truth on any subject. Truth is only found in God’s word (John 17:17).
Let’s consider the second part of your question. “If my mate divorces me and remarries can I then remarry?”
Paul said in I Corinthians 7:10-11, “But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not send his wife away.”
A woman is not to leave her husband (or vice versa). If she does (obviously for other reasons than sexual immorality), she is to remain unmarried. Otherwise, she must be reconciled to her husband.
Whether your spouse divorces you for immorality or something else and then remarries, that does not give the put away the privilege of remarriage. A person’s remarriage after a divorce cannot be used as justification for remarriage. A divorce has already taken place. The reason has already been established.
I hope I have helped in answering your question. If you are unclear on any point or have any other questions, please feel free to ask again.
--Shane Williams
First of all I would like to thank you for your question. The only way we will ever learn more about God’s Word is in studying it and asking questions.
Your question is one that has troubled many people over the years. Some have been very concerned as to whether or not they have committed this sin.
The unforgivable sin, as it is commonly referred to, is talked about by Jesus in Matthew 12:31-32. The other accounts are found in Mark 3:28-29 & Luke 12:10. As Jesus states, the unforgivable sin is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at Matthew 12 in context.
Matthew 12:22-32, “Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons." 25And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 26"And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? 27"And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. 28"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29"Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32"And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.”
I. First of all, let’s consider some things right off the top that Jesus cannot be referring too.
1. Murder. Whatever this sin is, it can not be forgiven. Murder can be forgiven. In Acts 2:22-23, the apostle Peter tells the Jews that they were guilty of putting the Messiah to death (murder). Several verses later, when these same men ask Peter what they must do (vs. 37), Peter tells them to Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Obviously they were able to have this sin forgiven.
2. Suicide. True, the individual would die without forgiveness, assuming that they were of a rational state of mind. But then so would the drug addict and the drunk driver. These also would perish without forgiveness. Suicide would be of the same class as is mentioned in II Thess 1:7-9. Those “who do not know God.”
3. Denying Christ. This is a very common interpretation of this passage but Jesus distinguishes this sin from blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in verse 32.
II. What is Blasphemy?
Christ does a very good job in defining the word for the Pharisees and for us in vss. 31-32. It literally means “to speak against.” The word is generally used in reference to deity, to speak against deity. In this sense, you cannot "blaspheme" a person - the word describes belittling or mocking deity.
III. The Context.
Jesus was casting out demons and the Pharisees charged Him with acting by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus replies with three illustrations:
1. Vs. 25-26 - A kingdom, city, or house divided against itself cannot stand. Division from within leads to destruction. Satan would not harm or be opposed to himself.
2. Vs. 27 – “You are inconsistent because you accept that your sons cast out demons.” This most likely indicates that some of their own children had become disciples and were given the power to cast out demons (Luke 10:17). It could possibly mean that they had sons who claimed to cast out demons (false exorcists) but the former is the most probable. Vs. 28 –They should have accepted what the signs demonstrated about the kingdom and should have repented.
3. Vs. 29 – One must bind the strong man first before plundering his house. By casting out demons, Jesus had bound the strong man. Jesus was showing His power over Satan and by it declaring who He really was. Vs. 30 - Applying this to them, they were either with Christ or Satan. There is no middle ground.
Jesus now shows the result of their hatred toward Him in Vs. 31-32.
IV. What is Blasphemy against the Spirit?
The Pharisees attributed to Satan the power by which Jesus worked miracles. If one blasphemed or spoke against the Son, it may have been temporary. The testimony of the Holy Spirit may later convict him. However, to speak against the Holy Spirit was permanent because there was no other source to convict him.
V. Can one commit this sin today?
In one sense, "No". We cannot literally see the miracles that were performed and attribute the power to Satan. However, in another sense, "Yes". If one turns his back on (or blasphemes) the only source which will convict him, there is no other source of conviction.
VI. Hebrews 6:4-6
You ask about Hebrews 6 and 10. Look at verses 4-6: “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.”
It is impossible to bring to repentance those Christians who have personally experienced salvation, and who then, by their actions, continually re-crucify Christ and put him to an open shame.
When and if they stop these things, they can be brought back. The problem is if they do not want to repent. In that condition it is impossible to renew them. Their sins will not be remitted because the blood of Christ which alone can remove sins, is profaned and trampled on by them, making their final destruction unavoidable. The Hebrew writer gives a good illustration in verses 7-8.
VII. Hebrews 10:26-31
The writer of Hebrews goes on to make some other good points in Hebrews 10:26-31. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
If we fall back into sin after we are Christians, there is no other sacrifice that can be made. Christ has already come into the world and died for the sins of mankind (I John 2:2). What else can be done if we toss that aside? That individual has “trampled under foot the Son of God.” He has “insulted the Spirit of grace.” Verses 30-31 should be a strong reminder and offer us encouragement to stay faithful.
VIII. I John 5:16-17
Consider this passage of scripture. “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
The "death" here refers to the second death, eternal punishment. If a brother sins and manifests repentance, pray for him (James 5:16). If a brother sins and manifests stubborn impenitence, don't pray for him.
Sin is failure to keep God's commandments - either doing what's wrong or failing to do what's right. "There is a sin not leading to death" - The person who has a repentant heart, though a sinner, will not have the same fatal outcome as other sinners.
The Lord will forgive every sin that a brother confesses (1 John 1:9). There is, however, a sin that is unto death, that is, without forgiveness (1 John 5:16). Therefore, the sin unto death is any sin a brother will not confess.
Conclusion:
Blasphemy against the Spirit is not some mysterious sin that one has secretly or ignorantly done. They attributed the power by which Jesus worked miracles (the Holy Spirit) to Satan. They spoke out of malice, desiring to destroy Jesus.
The same type of sin flows from those who have completely fallen away (Hebrews 6:4-6). Impenitence and hardness of heart comprises it, and it is sin which leads to death (1 John 5:16-17).
I hope this helps to answer your question. If you have any questions about any of the above or any other topic, please don’t hesitate to ask.
--Shane Williams