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Luke 12

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

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.

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

What does Luke 12:10 mean?

Explanation

The verse in question, Luke 12:10, addresses a complex and rather severe topic in Christian theology – the notion of an unforgivable sin. Speaking against the Son of Man (a term often used by Jesus to refer to himself) is described as forgivable.

However, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is considered an unforgivable offense.

The context suggests that to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit means to ascribe the work of the Holy Spirit to an evil spirit, or to stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the evidence of God's work through the Spirit, especially when it comes to acknowledging Christ’s deity and salvific work.

Blasphemy, in general, is the act of showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.

Jesus' words seem to draw a distinction between transient words said against him, possibly in ignorance or misunderstanding, and a deep-seated, willful rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony to the identity and mission of Jesus.

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Historical Context

When Jesus spoke these words, he was in the midst of opposition from religious leaders who were attributing his miracles, which were performed through the Holy Spirit, to Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Luke 11:15).

This context is crucial as Jesus was not discussing general sins of the tongue, but a very specific denial of the work of the Holy Spirit and attributing that work to evil.

In the Jewish culture of the time, blasphemy was a serious crime, and there was a strong legal and social framework upholding this.

Thus, the gravity of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would have been seen in this light, but Jesus raises the implications beyond the temporal to the eternal.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways.

Some see the "unforgivable sin" as a continuous and conscious resistance to the truth of the Gospel, where the individual persistently rejects the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.

Another perspective suggests it refers to a state of hardness of heart that makes a person incapable of repentance.

Others have seen in this a specific reference to the situation of the Pharisees who witnessed Jesus' miracles firsthand and yet attributed them to Satan.

The verse is also associated with notions of predestination and election in some theologies, where the ability to commit such a sin might be seen as evidence of a person not being among the elect.

On the other hand, there's also an understanding that the state of committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit may necessarily be a state that cannot be maintained forever for someone truly seeking God.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 12:10 is often used to urge believers not to harden their hearts against God’s truth and promptings.

It can serve as a warning to be cautious with one’s words, not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), and to be open to receiving and recognizing the work and guidance of the Spirit.

It also encourages believers to differentiate between potentially excusable actions made in ignorance versus willful and persistent rejection of God's grace.

Cross-References

Mark 3:29: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:"
Matthew 12:31-32: "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."
Hebrews 6:4-6: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

Language Study

The key Greek term in this verse is "βλασφημία" (blasphēmia), from which we derive the English "blasphemy." It means slander, detraction, speech injurious to another's good name, and specifically, speech impious or irreverent toward God.

In the Greek, the distinction is not only in the act of blasphemy but who it is directed against – the Son of Man or the Holy Spirit.

Another important term is "ἀφηθήσεται" (aphēthēsetai), meaning "will be forgiven." This comes from the Greek word "ἀφίημι" (aphiēmi), which means to send away, to let go, to have remitted or pardoned. It signifies the action of being released from bondage or imprisonment.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural and religious context of the time, the concept of blasphemy was not unique to Judaism.

In many ancient societies, speaking against the gods was considered a grave offense, often punishable by death.

The specific Christian interpretation of sin and forgiveness, however, particularly in the context of an 'unforgivable sin,' is unique among world religions, many of which teach that all sins can potentially be atoned for through various means.

Scientific Perspectives

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a spiritual and theological concept, and as such, it is not within the realm of scientific inquiry or explanation.

Science generally does not seek to prove or disprove religious beliefs, as these beliefs operate within the framework of faith and are not testable or observable in a scientific sense.

Commentaries

Many biblical scholars and theologians have addressed Luke 12:10.

Albert Barnes noted that the sin refers to a state of the heart, an "evil speaking" that arises from malice and envy.

John Wesley suggested that the unforgivable nature of this sin lay in its willful, knowledgeable character.

Matthew Henry comments on the completeness of God’s forgiveness of the sins against Christ as the Son of Man, contrasting it with the severity of denying the Holy Spirit's operation and power.

Most commentaries converge on the idea that this is not just a momentary lapse or sin, but a continuing state of rejection of the Holy Spirit's witness to Jesus.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 12:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?