Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven

Matthew 12:31-37 (New International Version)
31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned."
12:31 所以，我告訴你們，人所犯一切的罪和所說一切褻瀆的話都可得到赦免；但是褻瀆聖靈的人不能得到赦免。12:32 那說話冒犯人子的，可以得到赦免；但是褻瀆聖靈的，無論今世來世，都不能得到赦免。」 12:33 「果樹好，果子就好；果樹壞，果子也壞。從果子可以認出果樹的好壞。12:34 你們這些毒蛇，你們原是邪惡的，怎能說出好話來呢？因為心裏所充滿的，口就說了出來。12:35 好人從他積存的善發出善來；壞人從他積存的惡發出惡來。12:36 「我告訴你們，在審判的日子，每人所說的閒話句句都要交帳。12:37 因為，上帝要用你自己的話來宣告你有罪，也要用你自己的話來宣告你無罪。」 一、中心內容： 內容： 1>主耶穌指出：褻瀆聖靈的罪，無論今生、來世永不得赦免。（V31-32）
In verses 31-32, Jesus pointed out that whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven of the sin, either in this age or in the age to come. 2>主耶穌以「從果子可以認出果樹的好壞」作為比喻，來形容「可以從一個人口中所出的話語，得知這個人內心的善惡」。（v33-35）
Jesus used a metaphor of a tree being recognized by its fruit to describe that a man is recognized by his words. (v33-35) 3>主耶穌提醒話語當謹慎，因為當審判的日子，每個人所說的閒話，句句都要交帳。上帝甚至藉著我們自己的言語，作為審判的依據。（V36-37） Jesus reminds us that we need to be prudent in our speech, because God will judge us by the words of our mouth. Everyone will be taken in account for their careless words on Judgment Day. (v36-37)

主題：

1>褻瀆聖靈，不得赦免。Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven

2>從果子分辨樹的好壞。A tree is recognized by its fruit.

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

01>不容褻瀆的聖靈。（v31-32）The Holy Spirit does not tolerate blasphemy. (v31-32)

02>施行審判的上帝。（v36-37）God who judges. (v36-37)

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？ 1>褻瀆聖靈不得赦 Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven 法利賽人目睹主耶穌教導與事奉的權柄，以及受群眾擁護的程度，由於心生嫉妒，蓄意抵擋，以致於故意將聖靈的工作，扭曲為撒旦的工作，這是睜眼說瞎話，也是蓄意污衊。如此言行，非常明顯，已經觸犯了「褻瀆聖靈」的罪。
The Pharisees resolutely resisted Jesus out of jealousy, because they saw the authority in Jesus’ teaching and ministry and the popularity He received from the crowd. Therefore, they deliberately distorted the Holy Spirit’s work into Satan’s. They lied to the people and maliciously defamed Jesus on purpose. They committed a sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit with their words and deeds. 談到「褻瀆聖靈」的罪，我們都知道，上帝之所以赦免人的罪，是基於人的悔改。因此，假如沒有悔改，罪就不得赦免，就要承擔罪的後果。然而，人之所以能夠悔改，在上帝面前徹底認罪，並不是出自他人的勸誡，或出自自己深省的功夫，乃是來自聖靈的光照。 因此，若有人褻瀆聖靈，這人當然抗拒聖靈的工作；既然抗拒聖靈的工作，當然無法因聖靈的感動而認罪悔改；既然無法因聖靈的感動而認罪悔改，那麼他的罪就永不得赦免。
We all know that God does forgive men’s sins if men do repent. It means that without repentance there will be no forgiveness of sins, thus men will bear the consequences of their own sins. It is not out of personal introspection or the exhortation from someone else, rather, it is the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that a man comes to the repentance of his own sins. If a man blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, eventually, he would resist the work of the Holy Spirit. If he resists the Holy Spirit’s work in him, he would not repent. If he resists the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, he will never be forgiven of his sins. 反省：我是否曾經消滅聖靈的感動？是否曾經抗拒聖靈的引導？我是否曾經褻瀆聖靈？ Reflection: Have I ever quenched the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment? Have I ever resisted the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Have I ever blasphemed against the Holy Spirit? 2>從果子認出果樹 Recognizing a tree by its fruit 主耶穌以「從樹的果子，可以判斷這棵樹的品質」為例子，來說明「從人口中所出的話語，就可以知道這人內心的善惡」。
Jesus used the metaphor “a tree is recognized by its fruit” to describe that a man is recognized by the words that come from his mouth. 當時的法利賽人，非常善於運用宗教當作幌子，來欺矇自己的同胞。因為法利賽人熟悉舊約律法，加上注重形式、儀文，尤其擅長表面功夫，甚至偽裝表演，讓猶太人誤以為他們是敬畏上帝的一群人。
然而，主耶穌因為洞察他們的動機，知道他們是假冒為善的一群。所以提醒當時的群眾，不要輕易遭矇騙，應該具有分辨的智慧。所以就引用「根據所結的果子，來判斷樹的好壞」為例，提醒他們應「透過口中所出的話語，來分辨內心的善惡」。 結論：根據法利賽人對主耶穌的污衊，正好反應他們內心的污穢與醜陋。
The Pharisees were good at fooling their compatriots on pretence of religion. They knew the Old Testament laws thoroughly and accentuated the formalities and rituals; they specialized in pretence and performance of religious practices. They made the Jewish think that they were pious people. However, Jesus saw their motives clearly and knew that they were hypocrites. He warned the people of His time of their hypocrisy. People should have the wisdom to discern. He used the example of a tree being recognized by its fruit to remind them to recognize a man by his words. The Pharisees’ distorted actions against Jesus reflected the uncleanness and ugliness of their hearts. 反省：從我口中所出的話語，顯示我是什麼樣的一個人呢？是污穢、醜陋、奸詐、惡毒呢？還是純潔、善良、誠實、寬容呢？ Reflection: What do my words tell about me? Am I a person that is unclean, ugly, scheming and vicious? Or am I a person that is pure, good, honest and forgiving? 3>言語受心思支配 Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks 從我們口中所出的話語，其實跟內心的意念，有著密切的關係。換句話說：心裏怎麼想，口中就會怎麼說。主耶穌說：因為心裏所充滿的，口就說了出來。好人從他積存的善發出善來；壞人從他積存的惡發出惡來。 因此，要訓練一個人，說話能夠得體，說話的技巧、豐富的知識，還是其次。最重要的是：如何陶塑一顆純潔、善良的心，也就是培養高尚的品格。
There is a close relationship between our heart and words. We speak what is in our heart. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 5The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Therefore, it is not good enough just to be knowledgeable and skillful of speech. Most importantly, it is to cultivate a noble character which is with a heart of purity and goodness. 反省：主耶穌所說「好人從他積存的善發出善來；壞人從他積存的惡發出惡來」這句話對我有什麼啟示？對我個人來說，今後有哪些可以努力的功課？ Reflection: What do Jesus words mean to me? What personal improvement do I need to work on? 4>憑話語審判己罪 We are judged by our words 主耶穌說：我告訴你們，在審判的日子，每人所說的閒話，句句都要交帳。因為，上帝要用你自己的話來宣告你有罪，也要用你自己的話來宣告你無罪。（V36-37） 主耶穌明確的指出：我們所說過的每一句話，將來都要在上帝面前交帳，尤其上帝要藉著我們所說過的話，作為審判我們的依據。這是何等嚴肅，不得不慎重的事！ 顯然，說話是不能隨便的。因此，當我們說話的時候，應三思而後言。尤其不能隨性脫口，對自己所說的話，每一句都要負起責任來。
We should take heed of Jesus’ words in verses 36 and 37. God will judge us by every word proceeding from our mouth. We should not talk carelessly. We ought to think carefully before we let loose our tongue. We are held responsible for whatever we say.
反省：我是否常說話不經大腦？是否經常在他人背後說長道短？甚至搬弄是非？是否經常說出污穢不堪的話？或是隨時說造就人的好話，讓聽見的人得益處？
Reflection: Do I always talk without thinking beforehand? Do I gossip behind people and stir up dissension? Are my words unwholesome? Do I let the words of my mouth be helpful for building others up according to their needs, that they may benefit those who listen? 四、我的禱告 / 實際應用