8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Discussion Question
What lessons are being delivered by Jesus?
Discussion Summary
Verses 8, 9: To acknowledge Jesus means understanding that his authority and power to work miracles comes from God. The religious leaders of the day attributed his power to Beelzebul in Matthew 12:24 and in Luke 11:14-23.
To acknowledge Jesus means to see his role as The Son of Man from Daniel 7:13,14.
To acknowledge Jesus before the angels of God is also connected with Ephesians 3:8-12.
Verse 10: Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the end of a thought process that begins with hypocrisy. Only after someone has experienced the Holy Spirit can they truly blaspheme against it. Hebrews 6:4-6
The parallel scripture in Matthew 10:32 shows that this principle, that people are judged according to what knowledge they have been given, applies during God’s Kingdom. This is also illustrated in the trespass offerings the Israelites sacrificed. People sacrificed the animal they were able to afford. Leviticus 14:21.
The word “forgiveness” is from the Greek word aphiemi which means to let go of a debt absolutely.
Verses 11, 12: We have an example of how the Holy Spirit can give you the words when you are called to witness in Acts 6 & 7. In these chapters Stephen, the first martyr, is called before the religious leaders to give an account of his beliefs.
We are not to think that we should just wait for a miracle to happen when we are asked a question about our beliefs. “Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15. Also see 2 Timothy 2:15.
Leave a Reply