ACC ~ Matthew 12 v31

EVERY BLASPHEMY WILL BE FORGIVEN—EXCEPT

HILARY: He condemns in no uncertain terms the thinking of the Pharisees and their intellectual bedfellows. He promises forgiveness of all sins and denies pardon for blasphemy against the Spirit. For although other words and deeds may be treated with liberal forgiveness, there is no mercy if God is denied in Christ. For whatever sins one may commit, he extends the benevolence of his repeated admonition. All kinds of sins are to be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. For what is so beyond the pale of forgiveness as to deny Christ since he is of God? To forsake Christ is to forsake the nature of the Spirit of the Father residing in him. For Jesus fulfills every work in the Spirit of God, is himself the kingdom of heaven, and in him God is reconciling the world to himself. Therefore any blasphemy aimed at Christ is aimed at God, because God is in Christ and Christ is in God. ON MATTHEW 12.17. [1]

[1] SC 254:282-84.

BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

CHRYSOSTOM: What is Jesus saying at this point? He is saying, “You have spoken many things against me. You have called me a deceiver and an adversary of God. These things I forgive you upon your repentance. There will be no penalty exacted. But blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven, not even to those who repent.” But how could this be right? For even this was forgiven upon repentance. Many at least of those who said these words believed afterward, and all was forgiven them. What is it then that Christ was implying? That this sin is above all things inexcusable. Why so? Because they might have been ignorant of Jesus and who he might be, but of the Spirit they could not be ignorant due to their own previous experience. For the prophets had spoken by the Spirit. The Old Testament as a whole had an exalted understanding of the Holy Spirit. What he says, then, is this: “So be it—you may be offended at me, because of the humanity I have assumed. But you cannot say the same of the Holy Spirit. [1] You cannot claim not to know the Spirit. Therefore your blasphemy has no excuse, and you will suffer the consequences both here and hereafter.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 41.3. [2]

[1] The words of Jesus regarding sins against the Son of Man and against the Holy Spirit (the former remissible and the latter irremissible) posed a great challenge to the ancient exegetes. The most common interpretation holds the Son of God to be the humanity of Christ and the Holy Spirit his divine nature or the divine nature in general.

[2] PG 57: 449; NPNF 1 10:266-67**.

IT WILL BE FORGIVEN

SEVERUS: Therefore, no matter what they say in blasphemy—even against the Son of Man when they were scandalized under the economy of law according to the flesh, as I pointed out—our Lord makes it clear they will be forgiven on the excuse of their ignorance of the mystery, his self-abasement and humility shown as a man. That is why Jesus said, “It will be forgiven humans” [1] and did not say “you.” What he was saying in effect was “It is to those who do not know the depth of my dispensation that I offer forgiveness.” But in their blasphemy they heaped insults against the divine signs he manifested and the many miracles he worked through the Spirit who was in him and who is of the same essence (ousia). They exclaimed, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” [2] Those insults—since they smack of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and (because of the facts themselves) what is proper of God, with no room for excuse—Christ says they shall not be forgiven. They could not use ignorance as a pretext for their defense. CATHEDRAL SERMONS, HOMILY 98. [3]

[1] Mt 12:31.

[2] Mt 9:34.

[3] PO 25:154-55*.