Matthew 12:32

[MsSophie]

Matthew 12:32 (New American Standard Bible)


32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come


Opinions on this scripture especially noting the tense of "speaks".

[Joel]

speaketh2036 [5632]

G5632
Tense-Second Aorist See [G5780]
Voice-Active See [G5784]
Mood -Subjunctive See [G5792]


G5780
Tense-Second Aorist

The "second aorist" tense is identical in meaning and
translation to the normal or "first" aorist tense. The only
difference is in the form of spelling the words in Greek, and
there is no effect upon English translation.

See "Aorist" [G5777]





G5777
Tense-Aorist

The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar
action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without
regard for past, present, or future time. There is no
direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is
generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations.

The events described by the aorist tense are classified into a
number of categories by grammarians. The most common of these
include a view of the action as having begun from a certain
point ("inceptive aorist"), or having ended at a certain point
("cumulative aorist"), or merely existing at a certain point
("punctiliar aorist"). The categorization of other cases can
be found in Greek reference grammars.

The English reader need not concern himself with most of these
finer points concerning the aorist tense, since in most cases
they cannot be rendered accurately in English translation,
being fine points of Greek exegesis only. The common practice
of rendering an aorist by a simple English past tense should
suffice in most cases.

[Sing4Him]

but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him

Once the gospel message has been presented, the Holy Spirit convicts the heart of the individual.
Should that person, during his lifetime, REJECT the prodding of the Holy Spirit unto salvation, that person is doomed to hell.

It is rejection of Jesus Christ who shed His blood on the cross for the sinner (all)

[MsSophie]

Once the gospel message has been presented, the Holy Spirit convicts the heart of the individual.
Should that person, during his lifetime, REJECT the prodding of the Holy Spirit unto salvation, that person is doomed to hell.

It is rejection of Jesus Christ who shed His blood on the cross for the sinner (all)

Thanks, Sing4Him. That is my understanding of that verse too but is the rejection a one time rejection that has the person being doomed to hell or is it considered an ongoing rejection which dooms the person to hell? If the latter is the case that the Holy Spirit will convict many times giving a person many chances for salvation then eventually is there a point where the Holy Spirit quits convicting and a person is doomed in this lifetime - no chance for salvation even if he turned to God during this lifetime(see bold below). Would that conflict with the thought by some that as long as a person has breath they still have a chance of salvation?

Matthew 12:32

32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come

[Sing4Him]

during his lifetime:thumb


I don't think the Holy Spirit gives up..
It is the person that does..

I think our understanding of why "good people" are in hell will be made so clear once the "glass darkly" is removed!
1 Cor. 13:12

[HeIsEnough]

Would that conflict with the thought by some that as long as a person has breath they still have a chance of salvation?


I don't think the Holy Spirit gives up..
It is the person that does..


:thumb

Some truly vile men have gone to the edge of death, then walked through the gate. We have no way to discern. To think that we can discern, even many years before they reach the edge of death, is a terrible presumption. The Lord always leaves space for repentance, even if He knows the outcome. I have always viewed the scripture in question as a statement of fact, not something we can actually act upon towards our fellow neighbor.

[MsSophie]

:thumb

Some truly vile men have gone to the edge of death, then walked through the gate. We have no way to discern. To think that we can discern, even many years before they reach the edge of death, is a terrible presumption. The Lord always leaves space for repentance, even if He knows the outcome. I have always viewed the scripture in question as a statement of fact, not something we can actually act upon towards our fellow neighbor.

Thanks for the reply. I don't look at this scripture as a judgement on anyone's neighbor. That would be an implication that we are judging someone's salvation for rejecting the Holy Spirit. If it were a judgement to someone's salvation it would be God's judgement, certainly not ours.

I would like the verse discussed as over the ages it has been a fearful scripture for many. Does the "in this age" refer to the church age? When Jesus spoke these words we were not in the church age yet and the comforter had not been sent. Or, when he spoke "in this age" was he speaking of the age of the Law and "age to come" would have been the church age? That's what it sounds like to me. If that is the case the Holy Spirit was convicting men in the age of the Law also.

[HeIsEnough]

Matthew 12:32 (New American Standard Bible)

32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come


Thanks for the reply. I don't look at this scripture as a judgement on anyone's neighbor. That would be an implication that we are judging someone's salvation for rejecting the Holy Spirit. If it were a judgement to someone's salvation it would be God's judgement, certainly not ours.

Ya sorry, I suppose I read a few too many threads around here where people walk so close to that line, it makes me wonder, and it bled over to this thread. Not that you were, my apologies.


I would like the verse discussed as over the ages it has been a fearful scripture for many. Does the "in this age" refer to the church age? When Jesus spoke these words we were not in the church age yet and the comforter had not been sent. Or, when he spoke "in this age" was he speaking of the age of the Law and "age to come" would have been the church age? That's what it sounds like to me. If that is the case the Holy Spirit was convicting men in the age of the Law also.

Using a companion scripture, I think its clear that the tense doesn't matter in this case.


Mark 3

28"(A)Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;

29but (B)whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--

There is, to me anyway, a quantifiable difference between the work of the Spirit in our age, and the previous ages. What is 'offered' today to men, is far superior to in the ages prior. That Jesus spoke these things, and they were far less obvious to them, makes the timing point future, to me. IOW, those in the old testament did not have the 'offer' that we have, and the command for rejection came right at the end of that particular age.

The truth of Christ is revealed, so any future age will not only bear this responsibility of God's clear message, they will have even more truth. Thereby making the rejection all the more damning, imo. Therefore, I would consider the words written in Mark to be additive. Matthew speaks of several ages, but Mark gives the full meaning of 'eternal', as in an ageless truth from then forward.

[Sing4Him]

Thereby making the rejection all the more damning, imo--agree

[MsSophie]

:)Thanks to you both.