Scripture
31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. (Mat 12:31)
The Story of Ananias and Sapphira
1 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. (Acts 5:1-11)
Observation
As Christians, this passage can be very disconcerting. Why would God, who is merciful and loving, strike these two people dead without even an opportunity to ask for forgiveness? What was their sin? Did they die because they didn’t give everything to God? No, they died because they LIED to the Holy Spirit. They knowingly conspired to lie. It was not an accident. “With his wife’s consent” leads us to believe that they had discussed this prior to taking the money to the Apostles.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all spoke of the unpardonable sin in such a way that indicates they knew what it was. They didn’t need to elaborate or explain; they just simply stated it as fact. I believe Ananias and Sapphira knew exactly what they were doing and went ahead and gambled on their lives. Their sin was in trying to take for themselves the glory that was due to the Holy Spirit. This is blasphemy.
Application
How does this apply to our lives today? Let’s say a coworker performed some heroic action and I took credit for it. I did not specifically say anything negative or demeaning about my coworker, and I continued to be her friend; but in taking credit for her actions, I got the glory for what she did. What if that action led to a promotion? Did I deserve that promotion? No, the other nurse did. I injured her good name and her future purposefully and knowingly. This is a form of blasphemy. This is what Ananias and Sapphira did to the Holy Spirit; they tried to take credit for themselves.
Blasphemy is still a sin, no matter who it is against. To take credit for someone else’ work is punishable by law in most parts of the world. It is a big deal. I don’t believe you can do it without knowing it. You can not take credit for something on accident. In my example above, I either did or didn’t perform a heroic act. Peter’s question to Sapphira “was this the price of the land” is a yes or no question. There is no wondering “did I just blaspheme the Holy Spirit?” This is black or white; yes or no; there is no gray. If you find yourself afraid of committing the unpardonable sin, then you haven’t done it. You will know.
Prayer
Lord God, I don’t even pretend to know all about You. You are so far above my thoughts. But thank-you for speaking to me through Your word. Thank-you for giving me the assurance that through Jesus I am assured of forgiveness for all the sins I am capable of doing. If I should ever be tempted to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, I am confident that because You live in me, I will know exactly what is at stake. I can never accidentally hurt You. Help me to also overcome any temptation I my have to hurt those around me by taking credit for their actions.
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