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In Matt. 12: 23-25 we have the sin that can never be forgiven. After healing one who
was possessed of a demon, blind and dumb, we read the people were amazed and said,
"Is not this the Son of David?". When the Pharisees heard this they scornfully replied
"This fellow casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons". Here is a sin that
can never receive the Lord's forgiveness. Blasphemy, impious or evil speaking, even
against the Son of Man, Yes, but against the Holy Spirit, No:
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto
men: but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And
whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but
whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this
world, neither in the world to come" (Matt. 12: 31, 32).
One cannot help feeling that the reprimand of Eli was not severe enough. The
blasphemy of his sons demanded drastic action, but instead of that his mild and gentle
censure fell on unheeding ears. Instead of saying "it is no good report that I hear",
something like "It is a shameful, scandalous behaviour, and not to be tolerated" that may
have had some effect and caused a change of heart. Alas, the censure fell on deaf ears:
their unbelieving hearts were unrepentant, and so no shame was felt.
Discipline is vital in every family, community, and nation, if crime and vice are to be
kept in check. There is no doubt that discipline is necessary for each one of us if we are
to order our lives in some measure of harmony and smoothness. We see lack of
discipline all around us today and there seems little doubt that this is the cause of the
fearful conditions of which the apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away" (II Tim. 3: 1-5).
In his epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 12:, Paul speaks of the "chastening", or
disciplining, needful not only for sons from their earthly fathers, but also for believers as
sons from their heavenly Father. If our feet need to be channeled into a right path by our
earthly father, how much more is it necessary that our heavenly Father should do likewise
for us in the matter of the heavenly and eternal things. May the Lord give us grace to
accept such chastening.