What are the consequences for blaspheming God?

Answer

The term blasphemy, which means “the act of showing contempt or disrespect to God,” originates from the Greek word blasphemia, which is found multiple times in the New Testament (e.g., John 10:36; Romans 2:24). The Scriptures also use phrases like “cursing God” (e.g., Revelation 16:11) and “speaking against” Him (e.g., Malachi 3:13) to depict this sin. The broad biblical definition of this offense encompasses belittling God, which includes desecrating His name, defaming His character, and slandering His works. Blasphemy can manifest through speech, actions, and attitudes. The repercussions for blaspheming God are severe.

The Scriptures unveil the nature of those who are culpable of the sin of blasphemy, exposing the spiritual and moral decay within their darkened hearts and minds. They are characterized by pride “Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes on high? Even against the Holy One of Israel.”, (2 Kings 19:22), lacking in faith “And they say, ‘How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'”, (Psalm 73:11), steeped in foolishness “Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, And that the foolish people have blasphemed Your name.”, (Psalm 74:18), consumed by anger “They will pass through it, hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.”, (Isaiah 8:21), devoted to idolatry.

Latry (Daniel 11:36-37), filled with lies “Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.”, (Hosea 7:13), and immersed in heresy “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: He hideth his face; he will never see it.”, (Psalm 10:11). Rather than reflect God’s image and likeness, blasphemers choose to mirror Satan’s adversarial and antagonistic nature (Genesis 1:26-28;cf: Revelation 13:1,6).

Regarding the expression of corruption, blaspheming God can occur in numerous ways. Some disparage Him with words e.g., Psalm 139:20, while others do so through actions (e.g., Proverbs 30:8-9). The Bible also documents instances where individuals incited others to blaspheme. For example, Job’s wife urged Job to curse God “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”, (Job 2:9), and Paul—before his conversion to Christianity—tried to compel Christians to blaspheme God “And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”, (Acts 26:11).

The consequences for blaspheming God match the seriousness of the offense. The book of Leviticus recounts the story of a man who cursed and “blasphemed the Name” of YaHweh «and the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) », (Leviticus 24:11). In response to this sin, God instructed Moses to remove the offender from the community and “have all the congregation stone him” to death «Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. », (Leviticus 24:14). This incident established a precedent for future blasphemers under the law God gave Moses «And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death. », (Leviticus 24:16).

Paul’s first letter to Timothy reveals a shift away from the death penalty as the punishment for blasphemy under the New Covenant that Jesus Christ established (Jeremiah 31:31-34;Luke 22:20). However, the consequences for unrepentant blasphemy remain severe. The apostle mentions the excommunication of two men, Hymenaeus and Alexander, from the Christian community, describing their punishment as their being “handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme” «of whom is Hymenæus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.», (1 Timothy 1:20, ESV). Thus, in contrast to the executed blasphemer in Leviticus, Hymenaeus and Alexander are subject to a different form of disciplinary action.Underlived. As a reformed blasphemer himself (1 Timothy 1:12-14), Paul likely hoped that these men would experience a transformative conversion like he did (cf: 2 Timothy 2:25-26). Nevertheless, Hymenaeus and Alexander’s consequence for blaspheming God wasn’t irrevocably final but potentially redemptive.

Beyond the nature, expressions, and consequences for blaspheming God, one of the Bible’s most striking passages on the topic concerns the unforgivable sin. After Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, the Pharisees accused Him of using demonic powers to perform the miracle (Matthew 12:22-24). Jesus replied that it’s illogical to argue that Satan is responsible for thwarting the activity of demons. He reasoned, “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself” «and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? », (Matthew 12:26, ESV).

Jesus went on to explain that “every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” « 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. », (Matthew 12:31). He elaborated, “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” «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. », (Matthew 12:32).

Rejecting the Son of Man, which is forgivable, is not repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus for salvation cf: Mark 1:15. Indeed, not everyone immediately decides to follow Jesus upon hearing the gospel for the first time. Yet such initial ignorance, confusion, and doubting are pardonable if the person eventually repents and believes.

In contrast, the Pharisees committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in that they accused Jesus of being demon-possessed instead of Spirit-filled. The Pharisees had the Law and the Prophets, they had the Holy Spirit stirring their hearts, they had the Son of God Himself standing in their presence, and they saw with their own eyes the miracles He did. Yet they chose defiance. They purposely attributed the work of the Spirit to the devil, even though they knew the truth and had the proof. Jesus declared their willful blindness to be unpardonable. We do not believe this particular type of blasphemy can be duplicated today.

Blaspheming God is a grave sin. Yet for those who have responded to the gospel in faith, this offense, like all others, is forgivable because of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross that washes away sin «but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. », (1 John 1:7,9) «If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. », (1 John 1:7,9). The consequences for blasphemy were paid by Jesus on the cross for all those who are born again through faith in Christ. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s thorough and ongoing sanctifying work «And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray

May your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. », (1 Thessalonians 5:23) transforms a believer’s speech, behavior, and mindset, empowering them to live in a way that honors God’s sacred name cf: Matthew 6:9.