Whether judged in this world or the next, our judgement is based upon our own decisions. The standard is Jesus.

20 From the fruit of his mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit [whether good or bad].

Yesterday, we watched Jesus patiently explain the error in the Pharisees’ thinking. Today, we see Jesus explain the danger in their way of thinking.

³¹ And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but 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. Matthew 12:31-32

If you’ve ever heard of the Unpardonable Sin, this is it. Refusing the Holy Spirit when He comes to a person asking entrance into his heart and life is unforgivable because He is the One who saves us. He is our seal of salvation, our guarantee, the Agent of Transformation, the power of the Resurrection–He is Jesus! The Pharisees were speaking against Jesus as a man and they were unaware–or refused to accept–the Holy Spirit’s role concerning Jesus. Here was their warning.

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. Matthew 12:33

Our actions always reveal our motives. Jesus was pointing out that righteous deeds follow a righteous heart. Again, it was a warning to the Pharisees that their deeds revealed their heart.

Next is a scathing condemnation of their current deeds. What we must realize is that Jesus was calling their actions to their attention so that they might repent. There was no judgement here concerning punishment; He was simply calling it like He saw it. Here we go:

³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word [concerning what they say about the Lord Jesus-see verse 32] they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37

Can you see what Jesus is doing? He is trying to make them aware that they need a heart change. The sad part is that they weren’t having it. People are stubborn, especially if they are enjoying the fruit of their sin. They wielded their power like a sword over the people and they didn’t want to give it up. We are the same way, though. It isn’t until we see our sin as sin that we are willing to change, and that revelation comes from the Holy Spirit.

Let’s put ourselves before the Holy Spirit today and ask Him to reveal anything that is keeping us from hearing Him, seeing Him, and loving Him.

Abba, thank You for the Gift of Your Holy Spirit. His presence and participation in our lives gives us peace, protection, and power to live righteously. He even gives us the want-to to want to! May we learn to give ourselves to His guidance and direction daily–constantly. Amen.