Unforgivable Sin; WAS NP not my anti-Catholicism

[Paul Mackin]

David Morris wrote:

> >Terrance wrote:
> > > Must be lots of politics, but there must be some rules. I mean, can a
> >great sinner be made a great saint? are there certain sins that once
> >committed bar an individual from being blessed by the church or made worthy
> >of public/religious veneration, being made a saint?
>
> According to Jesus there is an unforgivable sin, but very few agree as to
> what he meant:
>
>     Mat 12:31   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.
>
>     Mat 12:32   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.

Just guessing but since it doesn't make much literal sense that the sin under
discussion is particularly unforgiveable  shouldn't we consider Jesus to be
speaking figuratively--using hyperbole. The sin under discussion seems to be  a
sin committed by the Pharasees who though they had and continued to have a
positive place in the Jewish religion tended to be adversaries toward Jesus'
radical teaching about the Last being First and  such things. The Pharisees has
just accused  Jesus of being in league with the devil with respect to one of
his cures. Jesus' exaggerated response is by way of putting emphasis on his
contention that in deed this was not the case.

Exegetically,
P.