Unforgivable Sin vs the Parable of the Prodigal Son

by sabastious 32 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  sabastious

  Matt 12: 31, 32: 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

  ^ Speaking against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.

  Luke 15: 20-24: 20 So he got up and went to his father.
  "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

  21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. [ b ] '

  22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

  ^ The father was not concerned with his son's past deeds and welcomed him unconditionally.

  This seems like a glaring logical contradiction here.

  The Prodigal Son teaches unconditional forgiveness, while Matthew 12:32 teaches that is a single sin that will not be forgiven. Why did the father take the son back unconditionally when his son very well could have committed an unforgiveable atrocity?

  -Sab
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  serenitynow!

  What no one has ever been able to answer, at least in a way I could understand is- what is the unforgiveable sin? What does speaking against the holy spirit mean? That was another source of fear when I was a JW, that I had somehow committed the unforgiveable sin. I remember being told once that if you question yourself about having committed it, then you haven't.
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  asilentone

  good question.
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  sabastious

  What does speaking against the holy spirit mean?

  Well if you take the scripture literally it would mean simply speaking ill of the Holy Spirit.

  I think many people feel that merely speaking against it is a minor infraction and try to explain what it means in more "philisophical" terms.

  JWs often refer to "working against the holy spirit", which means actively working against God or his organization. Full fledged apostasy is supposed to constitute sinning against the Holy Spirit in JW language.

  -Sab
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  serenitynow!

  Well if you take the scripture literally it would mean simply speaking ill of the Holy Spirit.

  It seems like that can't be literal- like there's got to be more to it than that. This is one of the problems I have with the bible, why couldn't it have been written with the common person in mind, easily understandable?
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  sabastious

  It seems like that can't be literal- like there's got to be more to it than that. This is one of the problems I have with the bible, why couldn't it have been written with the common person in mind, easily understandable?

  Why shouldn't it be taken literal?

  -Sab
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  serenitynow!

  I don't know, I guess I have a difficult time with the notion that speaking against the HS is some grievious sin. First of all, what would constitute speaking ill of the HS? Also why is it unforgiveable? When I personally think of unforgiveable things, I think more about murderers, child molestors, etc.
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  sabastious

  When I personally think of unforgiveable things, I think more about murderers, child molestors, etc.

  All forgivable. Speaking against the Holy Spirit is not.

  The fact that it's hard for you to accept shows that you are in control of your own mental faculties: you know where your morals stand and you refuse to accept such an absurd premise for an unforgivable sin :)

  That's a good thing!

  -Sab
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  asilentone

  sn, you raised some good questions.
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  sabastious

  you raised some qood questions.

  I'm going to go out on a limb and try to answer them.

  I think that Matthew 12: 31,32 is not harmonious with most of the Gospel's message. It is an "odd man out" scripture since pretzel logic is required for it to stand side by side with other messages in the Gospel.

  I think this verse had a purpose. I think the writer put it in with an agenda. This agenda revolves around control over the religious community.

  What better way to instill fear into your religious members than to create the concept of an "unforgivable sin" and then not give a clear definition?

  -Sab