Matthew 12:31
What does Matthew 12:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 12:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 12:31 means
Jesus teaches that every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. He distinguishes an exceptional, unforgivable sin: persistent, willful rejection and attribution of the Spirit’s work to evil. The statement warns about hardened resistance to God’s pleading through his Spirit—a state where repentance is no longer sought. It underscores both the breadth of God’s mercy and the seriousness of rejecting the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Wherefore 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So I say to you, Every sin and every evil word against God will have forgiveness; but for evil words against the Spirit there will be no forgiveness.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Because of this I say to you, all sin and evil speaking shall be forgiven to men, but the evil speaking of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For this reason I say unto you, Every sin and injurious speaking shall be forgiven to men, but speaking injuriously of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.
Context
This difficult saying follows the charge about alignment with Jesus. After exposing the Pharisees’ opposition, Jesus cautions that their rejection is grievous and could reach a point of no return. The chapter will expand the meaning with a comparison to speaking against the Son of man and a stern explanation of heart and speech.
v.30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
v.31This passage
v.32And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 6:4
For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
- 1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Isaiah 55:7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Acts 7:51
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
- 1 John 5:16
If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.
- Matthew 12:31
Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
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