Luke 12 10

Luke 12:10 kjv

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Luke 12:10 nkjv

"And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

Luke 12:10 niv

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Luke 12:10 esv

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Luke 12:10 nlt

Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 10 Meaning

Luke 12:10 declares that while speaking a word against the Son of Man can be forgiven, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin. This distinction emphasizes the severity of rejecting the Spirit's divine witness and convicting power, especially after the Spirit's full revelation and work. The 'blasphemy' against the Holy Spirit refers not to an accidental or momentary thought, but a final, deliberate, and malicious rejection of God's redemptive work, specifically attributing the work of God through the Holy Spirit to demonic power, leading to a hardened and unrepentant heart that actively resists all further invitations to salvation.

Luke 12 10 Context

Luke 12:10 is spoken by Jesus during a discourse about fear, confessing Christ, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Immediately preceding it, Jesus reassures His disciples not to fear earthly opposition but to fear God alone, who has power over both body and soul. He contrasts acknowledging Him before men with denying Him, linking eternal destiny to this choice. The verse itself then follows up on this by introducing the concept of sin against the Holy Spirit.

This particular saying (also found in Matthew and Mark) arises in a context where Jesus is actively performing miracles by the Spirit of God, yet some, particularly the Pharisees (as seen in Luke 11:15-16, and explicitly in parallel passages like Mt 12:24, Mk 3:22), accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This accusation represents a deliberate and malicious misattribution of divine work to satanic power, directly assailing the manifest presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Historically, the audience understood that prophetic signs and works of power came from God. To claim that God's work was demonic was an extreme form of spiritual blindness and defiance. Jesus’ statement serves as a stark warning against this particular kind of opposition, signifying a point of no return for those who harden their hearts so thoroughly against the undeniable evidence of God's Spirit.

Luke 12 10 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding teachings, highlighting a continuity in the discourse about confession, denial, and the consequences thereof.
• whosoever (πᾶς ὃς - pas hos): "Every one who." Indicates a universal truth, applying to anyone who fits the described condition, emphasizing individual accountability.
• speaketh a word (ἐρεῖ λόγον - erei logon): "Will speak a word."
  • ἐρεῖ (erei): Future tense of "say" or "speak," implying not just an isolated utterance but a posture or active declaration.
  • λόγον (logon): "Word" or "speech." It's not about any single random word but carries the weight of a statement or declaration, encompassing intent.
• against (εἰς - eis): "Into" or "unto," conveying a direct target or opposition.
• the Son of Man (τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ton Huios tou anthrōpou): A common self-designation of Jesus.
  • Highlights Jesus' human identification and earthly ministry. Before His death, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit in full power, many did not fully grasp His divine identity or redemptive mission. Their opposition to Him then might stem from ignorance or misunderstanding of His person (as "man") rather than a complete rejection of God's final revelation.
• it shall be forgiven him (ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ - aphethēsetai autō): "It will be remitted to him" or "it will be allowed for him." This is a divine passive, implying God is the forgiver. This contrasts sharply with the latter part of the verse, indicating God's grace for ignorance.
• but (πλην - plēn): A strong adversative conjunction, "nevertheless," "except," signaling a definitive exception or contrast. It sets a distinct boundary.
• unto him that blasphemeth (τῷ βλασφημήσαντι - tō blasphēmisanti): "To the one who has blasphemed."
  • βλασφημήσαντι (blasphēmisanti): Aorist active participle, signifying a completed action or one that is characteristic of the person.
  • βλασφημέω (blasphēmeō): To slander, revile, utter impious words, specifically to treat the divine with contempt, to deliberately discredit or attribute evil to sacred things. It signifies a profound, malicious, and willful opposition to known truth.
• against (εἰς - eis): Again, "into" or "unto," denoting direct opposition.
• the Holy Ghost (τὸ Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα - to Hagion Pneuma): The Third Person of the Trinity, the Spirit of God.
  • After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit's role in conviction, revealing Christ, and empowering believers becomes fully manifest. To blaspheme against Him is to deliberately reject the final, clear, and powerful testimony of God concerning Christ and His salvific work. This includes resisting the Spirit's internal call to repentance and light.
• it shall not be forgiven him (οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται - ouk aphethēsetai): "It will not be remitted."
  • οὐκ (ouk): Absolute negation.
  • Emphasizes the permanent, unforgivable nature of this specific sin. This indicates an unalterable state of heart that no longer desires or is capable of repentance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "speaketh a word against the Son of Man" vs. "blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost":
  • The former implies a sin committed during Jesus' earthly ministry, often rooted in misunderstanding, ignorance, or opposition to Him as a man. While serious, it does not close off the path to repentance and forgiveness, especially given that many were yet to fully comprehend who Jesus was before the full revelation through the Spirit after Pentecost. Peter's denial is a strong example of sin against the Son of Man that was forgiven.
  • The latter, "blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost," indicates a sin against the divine, full, and final manifestation of God's saving power and truth. This is a deliberate, informed, and sustained act of rejecting the very means by which God draws people to Himself, thereby shutting oneself off from the possibility of repentance. It's not a sin of ignorance but of willful, malicious, and persistent rejection of divine truth, attributing what is undeniably good and of God to evil.
• "it shall be forgiven him" vs. "it shall not be forgiven him":
  • This stark contrast highlights the unique gravity of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness for sins against the Son of Man is possible through repentance and faith. However, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit points to a state where genuine repentance is no longer possible because the individual has irrevocably set themselves against God's Spirit, rejecting His conviction, truth, and grace, thus making forgiveness unobtainable. It is not that God refuses to forgive, but that the person has placed themselves beyond the Spirit's convicting power which leads to repentance.

Luke 12 10 Bonus section

The unforgivable sin is often misunderstood. It is not grieving the Spirit, backsliding, or a single act of doubt. It refers to a persistent, final state of willful rebellion against known divine truth, manifested through the Holy Spirit's work, ultimately refusing to repent or acknowledge the Spirit's clear manifestation of God's presence and power. The Holy Spirit is God's active presence in the world, convicting of sin, leading to truth, and bearing witness to Jesus Christ. To blaspheme against the Holy Spirit means to deliberately and continually oppose and malign His work, even when confronted with undeniable evidence, to the point where the heart becomes so seared that repentance is no longer possible. It’s an act that demonstrates complete apostasy, a definitive turning away from the source of all spiritual light and conviction, leading to an absence of desire for God's forgiveness. As long as one has a desire for God, fears having committed this sin, and seeks His forgiveness, it is evidence that they have not committed it. The presence of conviction means the Spirit is still working in their life.

Luke 12 10 Commentary

Luke 12:10 is one of the most sobering warnings given by Jesus. It reveals a critical distinction in the nature of sin and its consequences. The "sin against the Son of Man" refers to insults or rejection of Jesus during His earthly ministry, perhaps due to not fully comprehending His identity or role as the Messiah prior to His resurrection and the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Such sins, if accompanied by eventual repentance, could be forgiven. Peter's denial of Jesus (Lk 22:54-62) and Paul's persecution of the church (1 Tim 1:13) before his conversion are prime biblical examples of forgiveness for acts committed against Christ, often born out of ignorance or weakness, when true repentance followed.

However, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit stands apart. This is not mere verbal abuse but a deliberate and malicious rejection of God's clearest revelation through the Spirit, often by attributing His miraculous or convicting work to Satan. It signifies a complete and unalterable hardening of the heart against divine truth, such that the individual willingly and consciously extinguishes the inner prompting toward repentance and salvation. This is not about one specific act or even a lapse of faith, but a hardened, sustained, and wilful resistance to the Spirit’s convicting work, closing off any avenue for repentance or receiving God's grace. Once the heart reaches this state of ultimate defiance against the very agent of conviction and redemption, repentance becomes impossible from within, and therefore, forgiveness is not obtained. This warning ensures that believers never underestimate the sacredness and irreplaceable role of the Holy Spirit in God's redemptive plan.