Matthew 12:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, it is essential to recognize that those who speak ill of the Son of Man, noting His behavior among sinners and calling Him a companion of lowly men, a deceiver, and one who indulges excessively in drink, will stand without justification unless they repent. Such individuals merit forgiveness because they did not comprehend the divinity present in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit or malign the divine acts of Christ, labeling them as demonic, cannot expect forgiveness unless they turn from their wrongdoing, as they lack valid cause for their accusations—unlike those who disparaged Christ based on His associations. Thus, they will face no pardon either in this life or the next, suffering consequences both here and in the afterlife. Many endure earthly punishment but not in the hereafter, akin to poor Lazarus; others face torment in both realms, such as the inhabitants of Sodom and those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit; while yet others experience neither here nor there, like the Apostles and John the Baptist. They endured the trials of persecution, yet these were not punishments for sin but rather tests that led to the crowns of glory.

After having said the same of all manner of blasphemy, He would in a more particular way speak of that blasphemy which is against the Son of Man, and which in the Gospel according to John He shews to be very heavy, where He says concerning the Holy Ghost, He shall convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on me. That then which here follows, He who shall speak a word against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come, is not said because the Holy Spirit is in the Trinity greater than the Son, which no heretic ever affirmed.

Why is it stated that one who insults his brother as ‘Fool’ will be in danger of hellfire? The Apostle Paul warns that the unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God. If all these assertions hold true, why do we insist that every sin and blasphemy is forgivable? Moreover, if this last point is accurate, why is Origen criticized for teaching that suffering would come to an end, and that all sins would be forgiven to both humans and demons? If blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is indeed unforgivable, how can the Church reproach Novatus for rejecting repentance? The situation becomes even more perplexing: one who speaks a word against the Son will be forgiven, yet speaking against the Spirit is unforgivable, implying a hierarchy that diminishes the Son in comparison to the Spirit and the Father. Therefore, why do we condemn the Arians, who diminish the Son in relation to the Spirit? Wherefore does the Son state, I and the Father are one, and affirm that disregarding the Son equates to dishonoring the Father? Thus, let us ask, will blasphemy against the Son be forgiven to the Arians, Simonians, Sabellians, Photinians, and all those who denounce the incarnation of the Son? Such a suggestion must be rejected entirely! If uttering a derogatory term toward one’s brother results in condemnation, what fate awaits one who denigrates his God by labeling Him as a mere creature, a servant, or a lesser being? If speaking against the Son leads to forgiveness, why did the Son say, Whoever does not eat My flesh and drink My blood has no life in him? How can anyone disrespect the Son and not also blaspheme the Holy Trinity? To blaspheme the Holy Trinity is to renounce sacred baptism, and one who denies baptism effectively repudiates the Holy Spirit. As with speaking ill of the essence or ray of the physical sun, such disrespect would taint the entire nature of the sun; similarly, dishonoring one aspect of the Triune God is to dishonor the full manifestation of the Godhead. The statement made to the Jews declares that every sin and blasphemy may be forgiven by man, but to speak against the Holy Spirit shall not receive forgiveness, neither in this age nor in the age to come. We must listen with discernment and not deceive ourselves. The Scriptures reveal that Christ embodies twofold natures in a mysterious unity: that of divinity and humanity, for the Word became flesh. Christ identifies the Godly nature of the Word with the Holy Spirit while referring to His human side as the Son of man, as He proclaims, Now is the Son of man glorified. The Jews, who consistently insulted God, ultimately blasphemed against Christ. Some, tempted by His humanity, viewed Him merely as a prophet and labeled Him as a deceiver, yet to these He extended forgiveness, for preaching had only begun, and it was essential for the world to embrace a God who became man. Hence, Christ states, If anyone speaks against the Son of man, meaning His human form, it shall be forgiven. I assert that even the blessed disciples did not fully grasp His divine nature until the Holy Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost; even after the Resurrection, some worshiped while others expressed doubt but did not face condemnation. In contrast, those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit, denying the divinity of Christ and accusing Beelzebub of casting out demons, will find no release in this age or the next. It should be noted that Christ did not specify that those who repent after blasphemy will be condemned; rather, it is those who remain in blasphemy who are condemned. For true repentance can bring the forgiveness of all sins. Some scholars discuss the idea that there are four means by which forgiveness is granted—two applicable in this life and two in the age to come. Because our memories cannot recall every sin throughout a lifetime for proper repentance, our merciful Lord, as some believe, has arranged two means of repentance for the unrepentant in the afterlife. When someone performs good deeds, motivated by mercy and compassion for others, this will be considered during the time of judgment. If deemed sufficient, they may be granted forgiveness. This is the first means. The second arises when a person, burdened by sin, internalizes the saying, Judge not, that they may not condemn others for their actions, thus, as an upholder of this command, they will not be judged unfavorably by the All-Holy One. The other two paths to forgiveness occur in this life. When an individual grapples with sin and faces hardships or adversities under Divine Providence—through which God purifies them in ways known only to Him—and the afflicted expresses gratitude, they will be rewarded. Conversely, failing to express gratitude results in judgment for both the sins being punished and for ingratitude itself. Consequently, anyone who sins against another has numerous opportunities to attain forgiveness. Whoever sins against one person can be justified by doing good to another. However, blasphemy against the Spirit constitutes unbelief, and the only path to obtaining forgiveness is through faith; the sin of ungodliness and disbelief will not be forgiven in this life or the next.

The phrase, "neither here nor there shall it be forgiven him," must be interpreted in this context. The Lord generously forgives many sins, and His baptism freely cleanses believers from punishment. However, the sins of individuals who blaspheme on this earth cannot be pardoned by the Lord, nor through His baptism, nor even by God’s mercy, which transforms evil into good deeds and ultimately obliterates it. The Lord did not claim that there is no recompense for such a blasphemer, but rather that it is not freely granted to him. Even if he performs all that is good and acts in truth, it remains that he will not receive forgiveness freely, but will be recompensed in Gehenna. After all, David renounced his righteousness due to the murder he had committed (2 Sam. 11:14-15).

Openly, I say that no sins can exclude a person from repentance except for this sin of blasphemy, as other transgressions do not prevent an individual from being sanctified through righteous endeavors. Thus, when the Lord rewards those who commit such sins in Gehenna, He rewards the others in the kingdom of heaven. Paul blasphemed, yet he did not forfeit the possibility of repentance, for many blaspheme and persecute, but not to such an extent. By stating, “he shall be guilty of sins forever” (cf. Mark 3:29), he indicated that those sins are not forgiven. The subsequent explanation, “but he shall be guilty,” emphasizes that the individual will receive due punishment, while simultaneously denying him absolution.

The Lord makes a distinction between recompense and forgiveness, which may not be immediately apparent. He did not declare, "he shall be a sinner or unrighteous,” but instead said, “he shall be guilty and... condemned.” You can polish silver without fire, but cannot ignite it without flames. Similarly, it was said, “it shall not be released to him here or there.” This refers to his existence on earth, not to what is to come. They witnessed Him clothed in flesh, leading many to doubt His divinity, yet they held no prejudice against the Holy Spirit. Therefore, He states, “Whosoever shall speak a word concerning the Son of Man, let him go; but whosoever...” Likewise, whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in this world nor the next. These words highlight a twofold punishment: a person will suffer here and be broken there. Not all wrongdoers face retribution in this life, but those who blaspheme do; vengeance is exacted both here and there, as seen in the case of Judas Iscariot, whose insides were laid bare.

Notice how Peter demonstrated through his anger that Ananias had sinned against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-5). Such was the case with the blasphemers of that time; however, in our days, they often blaspheme out of ignorance. Hence, all who are born can attain repentance; thus, for one who cannot repent, it would be better not to have been born. All may find forgiveness through repentance, regardless of whether their sins were committed knowingly or unknowingly. The Lord did not say, “Such a one will not find mercy and grace,” but rather, “he will not be absolved.” It may be that if the Lord disciplines him in this life, he might find mercy in the world to come. Therefore, if he does not relent, the Judge reveals the gravity of the offender’s wrongs; yet, if he does relent, the Merciful One demonstrates the vastness of God's blessings, in whom fullness dwells (Col. 2:9).

Do not believe that God does not forgive if a sinner truly repents. However, such blasphemy is employed by Satan to hinder repentance. "In ignorance," he claims, “I did it” (cf. 1 Tim. 1:13). As for those who persist in sin, the words ring true: “it shall not be put away unto them.” This is evidenced by Judas Iscariot, whose sincere remorse and repentance were rejected. To those who made Christ an ally of demons (Matt. 12:24), He assigned a fate akin to that of the demons, who find no hope of atonement in this world or the next. While the demon proclaimed Him, “Thou Holy One of God” (Lk. 4:34), they accused Him of being possessed by an unclean spirit (cf. Mk. 3:30), thus they are deemed more deserving of condemnation than the demon itself.

Blasphemy is inherently present in all sin, yet in this blasphemy lies a willful shamelessness, as they recognized that the Lord had pronounced judgment upon those who knowingly sinned and would not be pardoned. Indeed, the Jewish authorities declared that one who accused Him of being demoniacal should be cast out and excommunicated from the synagogue (John 9:22), illustrating that this was blasphemy without justification—therefore, it remains unforgiven.

This line of reasoning leads to the conclusion that the blasphemers the Lord references do not receive complete forgiveness of sins through grace, but will instead face recompense in Gehenna. David, despite his serious transgressions, was able to reclaim his righteousness through repentance. Likewise, other sinners can be cleansed through repentance, but blasphemers alone are barred from repentance and the gracious absolution of sins.

Acknowledging human limitation in recalling all sins throughout one's life for repentance, our merciful Creator has established avenues for repentance, even in cases of neglect. In the age to come, as previously mentioned, the first way entails that if a person has committed sins without understanding but has also performed acts of kindness driven by compassion or another human motive, both will be evaluated at the Judgement. Should these good deeds outweigh the sins, forgiveness will be granted. The second way emerges when an individual, burdened with transgressions, hears the Lord's words, “Do not judge, lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1) and feels apprehension without passing judgment on others; in this instance, during the evaluation of his actions, he will not face condemnation, for the Faithful One remembers His commandments.

The other two means of obtaining forgiveness occur in this life. Should Divine Providence bring trials, hardships, or illnesses upon someone living in sin, and this person remains unaware of God's purifying process, gratitude during these trials yields the reward of thankfulness. Conversely, if he fails to express gratitude, he is cleansed of the sins for which he faced punishment but bears the consequence of his ungratefulness. Thus, if a man wrongs others, as the Word illustrates, he has ample chances to receive forgiveness; if he sins against one individual while doing good to another, he can be justified before the same human nature that he offended. However, to blaspheme against the Spirit represents the essence of disbelief, and the only path to forgiveness is through coming to faith. This sin of disbelief and ungodliness will assuredly remain unforgiven for someone who has lived a life devoid of faith, in this age or the next.

Some individuals face punishment in this life and the next, much like the Sodomites and the Jews. We have mentioned the Sodomites in the eleventh chapter, and the Jews faced consequences when they were tragically besieged by the Romans, suffering even greater punishment afterward. Others experience punishment only in this life, such as the well-known incestuous man from Corinth who was led astray by Satan. Some suffer in the afterlife, like the notorious rich man tormented in flames. Lastly, some endure trials neither in this life nor the next, such as the apostles, prophets, and Job; their experiences were not due to divine discipline but rather were acts of valor and struggle. Thus, this serves as a warning to those who choose not to repent, while to those who do seek forgiveness, grace is available both now and in the thereafter. Moreover, many who sinned similarly in that era yet later believed found forgiveness for all their transgressions.

Those who utter blasphemy against the Son of Man, as declared by the Lord, will not face condemnation because those with a troubled heart find it difficult to grasp the inexpressibly united essence of God with the limited visibility of human flesh, until the concealed divinity is revealed. However, for those with a pure heart, where the incarnate divinity has been fully recognized, there is no trace of disbelief, and they are not warned of judgment by the Lord. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit remains unforgivable, as the deeds themselves, when revealed, hold those who blaspheme accountable, showing them to be blind and ungrateful. For when suffering was alleviated and demons were expelled by the power of divine majesty, the Jewish dissenters accused this action as being performed by Beelzebub (Matt. 11:27). Concerning this blasphemy, which directly speaks against God's essence, the Lord declared it inexcusable.

From the very words of the Lord, where it is stated that whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not find forgiveness, it is clear what constitutes blasphemy against Him and that it is indeed punishable. You inquire if Scripture can clarify that the Holy Spirit embodies God's essence. The answer is found in the Lord's own words; with a little reflection and contemplation, you can uncover it. The Lord states: If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Matthew 11:27-28). Furthermore, another Gospel provides a clearer insight: if I drive out demons by the finger of God; here the Holy Spirit is referred to as the finger of God (Luke 11:20). In this analogy, just as a finger is of the same essence as the body, the Evangelist made it evident that the person of the Holy Spirit is inseparable from and similar to the essence of God.

Similarly, those who allege that individuals empowered by the Holy Spirit, living as children of God and obeying His commands, are under the influence of the devil also express blasphemy against the workings of the Holy Spirit within them. This parallels the actions of the Jews who insulted the Son of God; when they witnessed Christ casting out demons, they blasphemously asserted that He did so by the power of Beelzebub, the lord of demons.

Furthermore, there are those who, despite witnessing the Divine acts, remain willfully blind, dismissing the testimonies of Scripture that affirm these occurrences are from the Holy Spirit. They reject the knowledge provided by the Scriptures and fearlessly assert that such divine acts arise from drunkenness and demonic influence. Like unfaithful and profoundly ignorant individuals who have not grasped the mysteries of God, they react with disdain when hearing about divine enlightenment or the illumination of the soul, contemplation, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they do so in a manner that darkens their understanding further. In their obstinacy, they declare that such gifts are non-existent in the faithful today, demonstrating a level of impiety even greater than heresy itself.

However, if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, who, without ignorance, blasphemes against Me—having witnessed firsthand the marvels of My Divine Power and My ability to expel demons—no longer perceives Me merely as the Son of Man but transgresses against My Deity, then such a blasphemer actively insults the Holy Spirit, who is united with Me and of the same essence. Therefore, this blasphemy will not be forgiven, neither in this life nor in the age to come; he faces certain retribution both now and later.

He will remain unpardoned for this grave sin because he becomes incapable of embracing the renewing and saving grace of the Holy Spirit. If he resists the Spirit of God and speaks ill of Him, can he truly accept His life-giving grace into his sinful heart? This heart is filled with animosity and wickedness towards God; will it allow itself to be affected by God's love? The soul of such an individual closes itself off from the light of God and willfully embraces the darkness of evil and deceit, leading him to a dreadful state of unrepentance. Such a person drives away the grace of the Holy Spirit, making repentance unattainable for him, as God does not force salvation upon anyone. “I warn you,” says the Lord to the Pharisees.

Following repentance, this sin will then be absolved. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that I perform miracles. However, it will not be forgiven: anyone who denies the Holy Spirit in Christ and maliciously affronts Him will face no forgiveness; the reason lies in the spiritual condition of such an individual. As St. Chrysostom notes, they did not yet comprehend Christ and His true identity, even though they had received sufficient understanding of the Holy Spirit. ‘The Holy Spirit is known to you, and you are unashamed in denying the obvious truth. For if you claim ignorance of Me, you recognize that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to expel demons and perform miracles. Hence, your punishment here and in the afterlife is unavoidable’ (Zlat., cf. Theophilus). St. Athanasius the Great further explains this statement: ‘The sacred scriptures reveal that Christ, in the depth of His unity, is both divine and human, for the Word became flesh (John 1:14). Christ Himself identifies the divinity of the Word with the Holy Spirit, as He expressed to the Samaritan woman: God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24), while the humanity of the Word is the Son of Man, as He states, “Now is the Son of Man glorified’ (Jn. 13:31). Therefore, why does He say that whoever speaks against the Son of Man, which refers to His physical form, shall be forgiven? I venture to state that even His most blessed disciples lacked a full understanding of His divinity until the Holy Spirit descended upon them on Pentecost. However, those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit—denying the divinity of Christ and claim that He expels demons by the power of Beelzebub will not find forgiveness. It is essential to note that Christ did not say, ‘It shall not be forgiven to him who blasphemes and repents,’ but rather to him who blasphemes, meaning one who remains in blasphemy. For genuine repentance leads to the forgiveness of all sins. This applies during this age: the period leading to the second coming of Christ and the inevitable universal judgment. In the future: after the second coming and judgment—eternity.