The Unpardonable Sin - Mark 3.21-30; Matt 12.22-45

　This begins a major turning point in Jesus’ ministry. His friends are concerned that Jesus is “beside himself” and they believe His zeal is bordering on insanity. They recognize something different is happening but misinterpret it. It is important to note that the scribes have come down from Jerusalem, a three day journey to make a statement. They have completed phase two, the interrogation stage, and are now ready to publicly announce their decision on His ministry--it begins with this incident of casting out a demon.

The Rejection - Matt 12.22-24
It begins with Jesus casting out a demon from a man that was blind and dumb--he could not speak. Casting out demons was not an unusual practice in that day and age--even rabbi’s and their disciple’s cast out demons. There was a specific ritual for this practice. First of all the exorcist would have to establish communication with the demon--this would be through the vocal cords of the possessed. Then he would have to find out the demon’s name. Once the demon’s name was known, the exorcist would use the demon’s name to command him to go out. These were the three basic steps of the ancient Jewish procedure. This standard approach was used by Jesus in Mark 5 in the case of the Gadarene swine.

Because of this three step approach there was one type of demon they could not approach--one in a person who could not speak! Since they would not be able to get the name of the demon the Pharisaic approach reasoned that there was no way for them to cast this type of demon out. The common understanding was, when the Messiah comes, He will even cast out demons from the dumb. This was considered a Messianic miracle--other casting out of demons they could do. Not only was the question, “By what authority does this man casts out demons?”, but now the people ask, “Could this be the Son of David?” as this was considered a Messianic miracle. Unfortunately, the people did not choose to answer these questions on their own, but looked to the Pharisaic leadership to answer for them.

The Pharisee’s have two options: They can recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but this they will not do because Jesus has rejected their Pharisaic traditions. The second option is just to reject Him. If they do this they will have to explain to the people how Jesus performs these miracles that no one has done before. They reject Jesus’ Messianic claims by saying He is possessed, not by a common demon, but by Beelzebub, the prince of demons.

The common name was Beelzebul, the lord of the royal palace, who was a god of the Philistines. The rabbi’s, however, changed the name to Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies, as a way of mocking this god. This became the official Pharisaic rejection of Jesus--on the basis of demon possession. This is reflected in the Talmud which in two passages today explains this as the reason for rejection of Jesus. This is why they could execute Him on Passover, a holiday, because, “He seduced Israel through sorcery.” This was the excuse to execute Jesus so quickly on a High Holy Day.

It also says in the Talmud that Jesus cut the name of God into his forearm. Cutting into the skin was forbidden. This they say gave him power with the demons to perform the miracles. The leaders did not deny Jesus’ miracles, but said they came from a demonic source. Keep in mind that this is the basis for the “Unpardonable Sin.”

DEFENSE OF YESHUA BY POINTING OUT FOUR THINGS:
1. This accusation cannot be true, because it would mean a division in Satan’s kingdom

2. They themselves were teaching that the gift of exorcism was a gift of God

3. The miracle actually authenticates the message, the claims of Yeshua the Messiah

4. It shows that He is stronger than Satan and not subservient to Satan

Jesus now pronounces a serious judgment on the nation, a judgment that cannot be stopped. It would come in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed.

RAMIFICATIONS OF THE UNPARDONABLE SIN - MATT 12.30-37

Definition: The national rejection by Israel of the Messiahship of Yeshua--while He was present on earth--on the basis of being demon possessed.

1. This is a national sin and not an individual sin

2. This is a sin unique to the Jewish generation of Jesus’ day and not applicable to all subsequent Jewish generations

3. This is not a sin that any other nation could commit today

4. The commitment of the unpardonable sin by this generation meant two things for this generation:

*The offer of the Messianic Kingdom is now revoked from that generation--now and in the age to come for them.

* There was now a physical judgment hanging over that generation that could not be revoked and would come in 70 AD.

This specific generation has now gone beyond the point of no return. Once a generation goes there it is too late to repent. The first time we see this is in Numbers 13 and 14, the sin of the spies when they went into the land. There was a massive rebellion and now they had to wander in the desert for 40 years until that generation died out. God withdrew the offer of the promised land to the Exodus generation--and gave it to the ones born in freedom. Now, this offer of the kingdom, will be accepted only at the end of the age at the tribulation by the nation of Israel. In Numbers 14 the people did repent--they were still saved, but would not inherit the physical promise. Note that this generation was given 40 years from Jesus death until judgment in 70 AD.

The second time this happened was in 2 Kings 23 and 2 Chronicles 34 during King Manasseh’s time. He repented of his sins at the end of his life but his sins where so great that the coming judgment of Babylonian captivity would have to come. God held it off until after Josiah’s reign--but it came. This is where Israel of Jesus’ time now finds itself--the judgment of 70 AD will be inevitable.

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum