David Bahn – Reflections

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I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Matthew 12:22-50; 2 Chronicles 9; 1 Kings 10; Jonah 1; 2.

Matthew 11:22-32

Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³ And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶ And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

1 Kings 10:1-3

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. ² She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. ³ And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.

A stunning comment: “The man who has done this will never be forgiven – in this time or in eternity.” Spoken by the leader of the Mormon Church, it referred to a man who had abducted and killed a 3 year-old girl. A horrific crime to be sure. But it is even more horrific to decree that someone cannot be forgiven. For Jesus’ promise is that whoever repents and calls on him will be forgiven.

That’s what he says here in Matthew 22. “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people,” he says. Every one except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. People worry about this sin. And well they should on the one hand, for without the forgiveness of God we are eternally lost and condemned. On the other hand, those who worry about it mark themselves as those who have not committed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. For their concern over their right relationship with God is testimony to the Holy Spirit’s presence and influence in their lives.

I thought of that as I read 1 Kings 10 today. Solomon was able to answer all of the questions that the Queen of Sheba posed to him. His wealth, wisdom, and works were unparalleled. He had it all. He could noodle out the most complex puzzles. I wonder, however, if his wit and wisdom led him to deny the Holy Spirit’s work. I wonder whether his pride got the better of him and he failed to rely fully on God, blaspheming in effect, the Holy Spirit. Only God knows for sure. And he will be the judge. But the evidence of Solomon’s ending does not offer much hope for a good end.

But let’s end on a far more comforting note: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people,” says Jesus. So my sins of commission – they are many – and my sins of omission – they are no fewer – my actual sins and my inherited sinful nature are not beyond the reach of Jesus’ grace. Blasphemous words. Sin of the most offensive kind. Failures of epic proportion. Jesus died for them all.

Such is the hope of all who believe in Jesus, who acknowledge their sin. To them Jesus promises, “Whoever comes to me, I will in no way cast out” (John 6:37).