The short parable in Matthew 12 about the "house of the strong" follows the miracle of Jesus healing a blind and mute demon-possessed man (Matthew 12:22-29). In this instance, as in John 9 and 10, Jesus adds a parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More to clarify the deeper meaning and significance of the miracle He has performed.

The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

The Pharisees committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit—a sin that, according to Jesus, would not be forgiven. This matter is significant, as some people worry that they might have committed this sin and therefore cannot be saved. Even true children of God have been tormented by the devil, leading them to believe they have sinned willfully and cannot receive forgiveness. However, David once prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (PsalmPsalm simply means "song." In the Old Testament, this word only occurs in connection with the Psalms of David and the Book of Psalms. Singers sang a psalm with instrumental... More 51:10). Some would claim that the possession of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More and the believer’s salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More are revocable, and many individuals have experienced profound distress from such troubling thoughts, and the following points are specifically intended for them.

Does Satan Cast Out Satan?

What occurred during the days of Jesus? He once again demonstrated His divine authority and power by healing a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute. This afflicted man served as a fitting, albeit sad, representation of the Jewish nation: blind to Jesus' true identity as their King and mute regarding the praise they owed to God. The crowds were astonished and questioned, "Could this be the Son of David?" (Matthew 12:23). Yet, even in asking this, there was an underlying doubt as to His true identity. In contrast, the Pharisees, filled with jealousy and envy towards Jesus, took a more drastic step. Unable to deny the miracle, they attributed it to Satan, claiming, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24).

This malicious insinuation was not new (see Matthew 9:34), and Jesus had previously ignored it. However, now He responded firmly against this terrible blasphemy. First, He highlighted the absurdity of their argument. How could a system thrive if it fought against itself? "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" (Matthew 12:26). Is such a concept even conceivable? It is utterly foolish to believe that!

Furthermore, among their own sons were so-called exorcists, as illustrated in Acts 19 (Acts 19:13 ff). What power did they use to perform their exorcisms if Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub? "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" (Acts 19:15).

What is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?

The Lord Jesus provides a crucial insight into this topic: "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Matthew 12:28). It’s important to note that Jesus did not merely cast out demons by His own power; although He is Jehovah (Yahweh), as a man He submitted to the Father in all things, allowing the Father to perform the works through Him (John 14:10-11). Here, we learn that He carried out His miraculous acts by the power of the Spirit of God, which was the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit working through Him: "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Luke 11:20).

Although the Spirit of God also dwells and works within us, the redeemed, it is easy for us to "grieve" Him or even "extinguish" His effectiveness (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Any accusations against us can hardly be considered to be against the Holy Spirit in the same way because His revelation through us is imperfect. Some criticisms we face may even have a basis in truth. However, in the Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, everything was flawless, allowing the Holy Spirit to operate without hindrance. When Christ cast out demons, He did so entirely by the Spirit of God. To claim that He performed these acts through the prince of demons is to "blaspheme against the Holy Spirit"—that is, to "speak against the Holy Spirit." The Savior stated that this sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More would not be forgiven in this age (when He was on earth) or in the age to come (referring to the Millennial Kingdom) (Matthew 12:31-32).

It is fundamentally true that people harboring such wickedness against the Lord Jesus in their hearts are beyond forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More as long as they remain in that state and do not repent. However, this concept is more an application of the passage than a direct definition of the blasphemy of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More itself. The essence of this unforgivable sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More is recognizing a divine power at work in the Lord Jesus and yet attributing it to SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More. This sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More could only have been committed while the Lord Jesus was on earth, and the PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More were guilty of it.

This point is further validated by a parallel passage in the Gospel of Mark: "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" (Mark 3:28-29). The following verse clarifies this condemnation: "Because they said, 'He has an unclean spirit'" (Mark 3:30). This indicates that the essence of blasphemy against the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is to say, in the presence of the Lord and with His miraculous work before one’s eyes, that He is possessedA possessed person has a demon inside of them, which means that this evil, satanic spirit (demons are servants of Satan) controls the body and wreaks havoc and destruction. Sometimes,... More by an unclean spirit and that it is through this spirit that He performs His miracles. They accused the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, who performed the miracles, of being a demonIn the Bible, demons are described as "unclean spirits" that are controlled by Satan (cf. Rev 16:13-14). On several occasions during His life on earth, the Lord Jesus cast out... More. There is no forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More for such an act.

A Dispensational Sin

Blasphemy against the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More was a dispensational sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More, and it cannot be committed today in the same way. Those who committed this sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More demonstrated that they had hardened their consciences and had gone beyond the point of redemptionRedemption is part of God's plan of salvation. Redemption means that someone is freed from bondage. The redemption of Israel from the power of Pharaoh is an example of this.... More.

When I refer to "dispensational sin" I mean that the Lord seems to assign the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to specific dispensations. The expression "neither in this age nor in the age to come" does not imply that forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More will be available to some people in the afterlife, as some Christian circles claim. Rather, the Lord speaks of two distinct eras: the then-ending Jewish age and the future Millennial Kingdom. However, as Christians, we find ourselves outside of these eras. The current Christian era had not yet been revealed at that time, which is why the Lord did not mention it.
Nevertheless, His words can also be applied today to those who deliberately reject the testimony of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More concerning ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More. Such individuals will find no forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More in the Jewish age, in the present age, or in any future age. This is an extremely serious matter!

Sometimes, we hear concerns expressed—especially by frightened, weak believers—that they may have committed the sin against the Holy Spirit and are therefore lost despite everything. However, their imprecise language reveals how unfounded their concerns are. They often refer, perhaps unconsciously, to "sin against the Holy Spirit," but the Lord specifically used the term "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit." To sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More against God is one thing; to blaspheme against the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is another. Confusing these concepts can lead to disastrous and false conclusions.

The Prayer of David

When David prayed after his serious sin, saying, "Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11), this was entirely appropriate at that time. At that moment, the work of redemption had not yet been accomplished. However, it pleased the Spirit of God to come upon certain individuals at specific times—sometimes even unbelievers—to reveal Himself in various forms. For example, when the Spirit of God came upon Saul, he prophesied, leading to the question, "Is Saul among the prophets?" (1 Samuel 10:11).

Today, because of the completed work of redemptionRedemption is part of God's plan of salvation. Redemption means that someone is freed from bondage. The redemption of Israel from the power of Pharaoh is an example of this.... More, the Spirit of God dwells within the believer, and their body serves as the templeThe house and dwelling place of God in Jerusalem in the OT. The forerunner was the tabernacle.  It consisted of two main rooms, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies,... More of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Lord Jesus also instructed His disciples that this other AdvocateAn advocate is a person who helps and comforts someone. Advocates in the Bible: • The glorified man Jesus Christ is active in heaven for the children of God in... More would remain with them forever; He would be in them and not leave them as He had (John 14:16-17). Therefore, David's request would be entirely inappropriate for us today, and there is no indication in the New Testament that we should pray in such a manner. It is certainly pleasing to God when we ask Him to fill us more with the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More or to help us not grieve Him. However, to pray that the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More not be taken from us would demonstrate a lack of appreciation for the work of our Lord. After all, the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is the sealA seal confirms the valid conclusion of a transaction or the authenticity of a document. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30). This means... More of our salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More and the pledge of our future inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14).

The example of our Lord further illustrates that we will possess the Holy Spirit even after resurrection. Although He experienced death, as the Risen One, He gave the apostles "commandments through the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:2)—He had not lost the Spirit. Neither will we ever lose Him.

The Stronger

This brings us to the words of our Lord in Matthew 12, where He casts out a demonIn the Bible, demons are described as "unclean spirits" that are controlled by Satan (cf. Rev 16:13-14). On several occasions during His life on earth, the Lord Jesus cast out... More that had possessedA possessed person has a demon inside of them, which means that this evil, satanic spirit (demons are servants of Satan) controls the body and wreaks havoc and destruction. Sometimes,... More a blind and mute man. The devil had dwelt in this person, making it a terrible situation that stands in stark contrast to that of a believing Christian. As we established, the body of the believer is the templeThe house and dwelling place of God in Jerusalem in the OT. The forerunner was the tabernacle.  It consisted of two main rooms, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies,... More of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, whereas the devil had taken possession of this individual.

It took the power of a stronger one to free this man from Satan's grasp, which is illustrated in the following parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More:

"Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house" (Matthew 12:29).

Before we examine the meaning of this parable, let’s note an interesting connection to the third parable in Matthew 12 regarding the "unclean spirit." In both parables, a person is depicted as the dwelling place of SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More. In one, the adversary is overpowered by the stronger one and robbed of his possessions. In the other, the unclean spirit is expelled only temporarily, and it returns with seven others, even worse than before.

This presents a striking contrast: stronger versus worse! Additionally, the first parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More focuses on an individual, while the second illustrates a collective aspect of Satan's dwelling. The first parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More concludes with the victory of the stronger one, while the second ends with the judgment of an evil generation.

The Lord Jesus is the stronger One who entered the house of the strong man, the devil, and overcame him, as demonstrated by the healing of the demon-possessed man. However, the Lord goes beyond this actual event with His parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More, describing something of fundamental importance.

When the Savior came into the world, He entered, in a certain sense, into the "house"—that is, into the realm of Satan's power. But when did He "bind" him? Many believe this occurred on the cross at Calvary, yet that does not seem to be the meaning of the Lord's words here. Instead, they appear to reference His temptations in the wilderness by the devil. After His baptismRefers to the immersion of a person (in a body of water) and has a symbolic meaning: someone who is baptized acknowledges that they deserve to die. By being baptized,... More in the Jordan, when the Spirit of God descended upon Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16-17), the Father recognized Jesus as His beloved Son. Following this, He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days.

It is noteworthy that this period of temptation came before the beginning of His public ministry. The adversary's purpose was to draw the "Son"—if indeed He was such—away from the position of a servant that He had voluntarily assumed. However, all of the devil's temptations to lure Him away from a position of obedience and dependence upon His Father were in vain. By resisting these temptations, Christ bound Satan, enabling Him to free those who were oppressed during His ministry on earth. He "went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38).

On the cross at Calvary, the Lord did not merely bind the strong man; He defeated him—he who has the power of death—in order to liberate all those who, through fear of death, were subject to lifelong bondage (Hebrews 2:14). In a broader sense, He continues to rob the house of the strong even today. He will also do so in the future when His kingdom of peace arrives and SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More is cast into the abyss.

What a blessing it is, beloved, to no longer belong to the "household" of Satan but to belong to the One who, as the Stronger, has bound and conquered the "strong." Even though the work necessary for this is not elaborated on here, we still acknowledge and praise Him for what He has accomplished for us.