Mark 3:22-30 NRSVue
22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
28“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin”—30for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
The unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit here means what the scribes have
just done: attributing the work of the Holy Spirit (i.e. Jesus’ healing
miracles) to the power of Satan. It was a blasphemy in bad faith. The other
half of Jesus’ sentence is remarkable: /All sins will be forgiven, all
blasphemies./ Even when our hearts condemn us, when we feel deep-dyed in
guilt for actions that shame us, God does not condemn us. He always sees us
as his children.
Reflection
Jesus is scathing of those who cannot recognise goodness and who see only
evil. If I wish to listen for the voice of God, I need to take care not to
heed any voice that speaks only negatively or in condemnation.
Reflection
The image of the house with its strong occupant is a picture of integrity and
wholeness. I take some time to tidy the house that is my heart, to allow it
to be a home for the spirit of Jesus.
Reflection
Jesus opens us up here to a global mission, the fight against evil, which
does not always wear a uniform, yet is recognised by the human mind, whether
in the form of hatred, sickness or injustice, or the sort of barbarisms that
we hear of daily. Those who struggle against such evil are on the side of
Jesus, whatever they call themselves.
Reflection
When Jesus talks of the sin against the Spirit (in the Old Testament sense,
the spirit of God which enables us to recognise truth when it enters our
lives), he seems to refer to those who defend themselves against the truth by
claiming it is diabolical. They look at good and call it evil, perverting
their moral perception, stifling their own conscience
Reflection
Jesus is scathing of those who cannot recognise goodness and who see only evil. If I wish to listen for the voice of God, I need to take care not to heed any voice that speaks only negatively or in condemnation.