by or against the Spirit (Mt 12:22-32)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Psalm 109: Matthew 12:22-32


It seems that Matthew's references to the Holy Spirit are mostly about his role working in and through Jesus, as compared to much more in John especially about his role in our lives.

"If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you... (v. 28)
the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven... (v. 31)
whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (v. 32)

Here, very specifically, he attributes his kingdom activity to the power and work of the Holy Spirit (v. 28). And then it sounds to me as if he is intentionally honoring the Holy Spirit (vs. 31-32), to the point of lowering his own significance. Is this an exaggerated statement in order to honor the "quietest" member of the Trinity (whose gentle work we heard described in Isaiah 42 yesterday)? Is it really true that every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, even speaking against the Son of Man, but blasphemy against the Spirit / speaking against the Holy Spirit will not ever be forgiven?

In this passage, the Pharisees were attributing the power of healing in Jesus to the prince of demons. They were saying the work of the Spirit was the work of the devil. They were giving themselves over to a determination against Jesus and the work of God's Spirit through him. "Whoever is not with me is against me..." (v. 30). They were persisting in being against him, out to destroy him (v. 14), and deny that God was at work in him by the Spirit. Perhaps we encounter here that divine principle that eventually God will give you (over to) what you really, really want. It seems there can come a point when hardness to the Spirit becomes petrified and unable to be softened.

Certainly we can say this much - it was by the power and work of the Spirit that the kingdom of God was breaking in upon them, and continues to expand in the world. One must acknowledge in some way Jesus' divine origin and approval and empowerment and vindication to call out to him and trust him in a saving way. One must acknowledge that it was God, not the devil, at work in his life and ministry. One might come to some wrong conclusions about the Son of Man, one might do some terrible things, but these can all be forgiven if we can look to Jesus and trust in him saying at least say something like, "This much I know, God was with him" (cf. Acts 10:38). These Pharisees couldn't even acknowledge that.

Let us honor, and as well as yield to, the work of the Holy Spirit in us. And let us be the continuing presence of Jesus' body doing his good works in the world.

Glory and praise and honor and blessing to you, Holy Spirit, for your great and beautiful work in Jesus of Nazareth, and your continuing work of restoration in me, and through me and all your people. May the kingdom come in greater and greater measure. Amen.