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Steve's True Definition

Read Steve's complete email:

• Jesus mentions a sin that is unforgivable in Matthew 12:31-32 and calls it blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. But what exactly is this unforgivable sin? For that, we need to look at the context.
  Matthew 12:22-32 says, "Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. ²³And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons."
  
  ²⁵And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. ²⁶"And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? ²⁷"And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges.
  
  ²⁸"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹"Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. ³⁰"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. ³¹"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. ³²"And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come," (All Scripture quotes are from the NASB).
  

Review & Conclusion

Steve continues:

• Let me review this section briefly. In verse 22, Jesus healed a blind and dumb man. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of "Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons" (v. 24). Jesus responds by saying that a kingdom divided will fall (vv. 25-28) and how the devil must first be bound before you can plunder his house (v. 29). In verses 31-32, He states that blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come.

Steve wraps it up with this:

• By simply looking at the context it becomes apparent that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is saying that Jesus did His miracles by the power of the devil. This is unforgivable.
  Now, I do not expect you to recant your definition and change it due to what I say to you, simply because your pride of the flesh will fight you on that tooth and nail. I would ask that you pray to God for clarity on this issue.
  

Where It Stands

I only have a few comments and one question to add: Could it be that both of our explanations are correct?

Interesting to consider, The Life Application Study Bible commentary on Mark 3:28-29 has this to say, "Christians need not worry about this sin because this sin is attributing to the devil what is the work of the Holy Spirit. It reveals a heart-attitude of unbelief and unrepentance. Deliberate, ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy because it is rejection of God himself."