Questions asked during India visit

Question No. 1

If according to Matthew 12:31-32 it is possible to blaspheme the “Holy Ghost” but not the “Father”, isn’t that evidence of the Trinity in the Bible?

Before answering this question I should first point out a serious error in the question: Matthew 12:31-32 does not state anything about blaspheming the “Father”; it mentions “Son of Man”, not “Father”! Secondly, even if Matthew 12:31-32 had used Father or Son of Man, that would actually contradict the Trinity doctrine which assumes that the three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are equal and the same and hence a sin against any of them would logically attract the same penalty! But putting that aside let’s clear the misconception.

This is what Matthew 12:31-32 says:

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the 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.”

We find these similar words in Luke 12:10, but here is how Mark recorded the same speech of the Lord:

“Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit” (Mar.3:28-30).

Notice how Mark generalizes his phrase: instead of “the Son of man” as stated by Matthew and Luke, he sates  “wherewith soever they shall blaspheme“. The difference in the phrases, and also what the Lord was clearly emphasizing, is this: Although as men (human beings) we may disagree on things we do or believe, and although others may even go as far as insulting another man or his works,  cursed is a person who over-steps his boundary to insult God! Such a person has spoken an unholy thing about the Holy Spirit.  Please note that throughout the Scripture, “Holy Spirit” is not another God apart from Yahweh.  “God is Spirit” (Joh. 4:24) and “He is…holy” (1 Pet.1:15) and is thus the Holy Spirit [If you believe in the Trinity consider this question: Whose child or son was Jesus: was he a child of the Father or the Holy Ghost? Read Mat. 1:18].

When the Lord Jesus used the term “Son of Man”, as recorded by Matthew and Luke, He in no way was referring to himself as another God who is more tolerant to insults  than ‘God the Holy Spirit’! The Lord was referring to himself as a human being. So, to put it another way : You may sin against men and may be forgiven, but to insult the Holy Spirit is putting yourself in danger of eternal damnation. That’s exactly what the pharisees had done: the Lord had delivered a man possessed by an evil spirit and they accused him of using an unclean spirit to perform the wonder. They blasphemed!