The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW 12:31

MATTHEW 12:43

1511

account thereof in the 7 DAY OF JUDG- MENT . P 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be 8 condemned. Jonah - A type of CHRIST’S resurrection 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, 9 we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the 10 SIGN of the prophet Jonas: P 40 For as 11 Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the 10 SON OF MAN be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. P 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: 12 because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a 13 greater than Jonas is here. 42 The 14 queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a 13 greater than Solomon is here. Moral reform is folly 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

The unpardonable sin (S/A - Mk 3:28-30)

1. Lk 12:10 2. I Tim 1:12-13 3. or, “age” 4. Fulfilled - Rev 21:1 (New World) 5. or, “doctrine” - Mt 3:8-9 & 7:16-20 & Lk 6:43-45 6. Prov 23:7 & Isa 32:6 7. Fulfilled - Rev 20:11-15 (Christ’s White Throne Judgment) 8. Jn 3:18 9. Mt 16:1 & I Cor 1:22 10. Fulfilled - Mt 27:50-28:6 (Christ’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection) 11. Jonah 1:17 12. Jonah 3:5-9 13. that is “ greater because He represents the Kingdom of God ” 14. I Ki 10:1-13 & II Chro 9:1-12

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All man- ner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiv- en unto men: 1 but the blasphemy against the HOLY GHOST shall not be forgiven unto men. The promise of a new world to come in eternity (Fulfilled - Rev 21:1) 32 And whosoever 2 speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this 3 world, neither in the 4 world to come . P A person (tree) is known by his doctrine (fruit) 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his 5 fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? 6 for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. The promise of a JUDGMENT DAY to come (Fulfilled - Rev 20:11-15) 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give

12:31-32 There is only one sin beyond forgiveness, beyond the point of possible repentance. Jesus called it “ blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ” (sinning against great light – I Jn 5:16a ). This sin is different than all other sins in that a person may cross the line of God’s mercy and be lost forever while “still alive” in this world (vs 32) ( I Pet 1:12 ). Therefore, this sin has nothing to do with the sin of suicide. Although there are those who believe that a person who takes his/her life is committing a sin beyond forgiveness, the Bible states emphatically that only “ blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ” is unpardonable. Meaning: There is forgiveness for every other sin. NOTE – Shame on us if we try and add to the pain of someone who has just lost a loved one through the heartbreak of suicide by making a conclusion about his eternal destiny. Only the sin of “ blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ” remains unpardonable. Because the Pharisees and rulers constantly feared that they might lose their hold on the people, they attributed the miracle that Jesus wrought to demonic influence, hoping to turn the people from Him. In so doing these Pharisees, deeply moved, enlightened,and convicted in their hearts, slandered and denied the work of the Spirit, which according to Jesus’ interpretation (vs 28), meant that they were rejecting the Kingdom of God and thus Jesus Himself. There is little hope left for anyone who persistently rejects the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. He who continues to reject every proposal of the Spirit to become saved soon removes himself from the only Person that can lead him to forgiveness (Jn 3:18,36 and Num 15:29-30). Thus, the unpardonable sin is that of deliberate rejection of the Spirit’s call to be saved (Acts 7:51-52&18:5-6). Saved people, therefore, cannot commit the unpardonable sin (Jn 3:18-20)... Really now, how can one who is “pardoned” (Jn 10:27-29 and II Cor 5:21) commit the “unpardonable” sin? 12:38 Sadly, people are always looking for a sign from God (proof that God does exist and that He has a will for their life). However, God’s will is based on His Word ( Jonah 1:5 ), not signs. God has already given mankind four different signs to prove that His person exists ( Heb 1:2 ). 12:42 According to the context, the Queen of Sheba ( queen of the south ) was not a believer, just an admirer of King Solomon. Not everybody who is impressed with what God can do is a believer in God (Lk 23:8). Just because you believe in God doesn’t mean you “believe” God (take His Word over your own – Gen 4:7 and Mt 7:21-23).