Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26). God had yet to create mankind and He was already giving to us. That is God being God. God created what mankind would need and gave it to us before He created mankind. Even the payment for our sins was preordained and given before mankind was created; then at a preordained time Jesus fulfilled that payment. Before the acts of mankind there was the presence of God. Before God created mankind God was love.
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28-29). All sin will be forgiven except blasphemies against the Holy Spirit, but what about unforgiveness? But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:15). Both of those scriptures were written as quotes from Jesus. What is the context? In Matthew 6 Jesus is speaking of charitable deeds, praying, and fasting in comparison to how the hypocrites do charitable deeds, praying, and fasting. He goes on to speak of heavenly and earthy treasure – the lamp of the body – serving riches or serving God – God provisions. The theme seems to be on how we deal with the gifts God gave us before He created us.
In Mark 3 Jesus had been accused of healing on the Sabbath. And He was guilty as charged. First He healed one man who had a withered hand; then he proceeded to heal multitudes. Next He appointed the twelve apostles. A greater multitude gathered. The scribes from Jerusalem accused Jesus of healing by the power of the ruler of demons. To the scribes Jesus spoke of a house divided, and said that it would fall. In that context Jesus spoke of the unforgivable sin of blasphemies against the Holy Spirit. Verse 30 concludes, “because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” Jesus was telling the scribes that their blasphemies against Him would be forgiven, but was cautioning them against going further with their blasphemy.
In Matthew 6 the main theme seems to be distribution of earthly riches or gifts – food, drink, clothes, and money. Even fasting is a withholding of earthly things from the physical body. While Mark 3 is dealing with matters of the spirit – the accusation was that Jesus had an unclean spirit – the unforgivable blasphemies against the Holy Spirit – the spirit of the law of the Sabbath. In Matthew 6 verse 13 the word “debt” was used and in verse 15 the word “trespasses” was used to point to what was/is being forgiven. In Mark 3:28 and 29 the words used are “sin” and “blasphemies.” A trespass is an unintentional error (Forgive them Father for they know not what they do (see Luke 23:34)). In Mark Jesus was speaking of a forgiveness of sin, that only God can do – that leads to eternal life. In Matthew He is speaking of debt that causes one to be uncomfortable in this life, and forgiveness that leads to a better life in this life (Heaven to earth).
If God said both, then both are true. There is forgiveness that Jesus bought for us on the cross, and we receive when we repent (turn back to God) – the gift of salvation – our presence in the body of Christ – our seat in the heavenly places. There is also a forgiveness that we receive when we forgive others their debts to us. No one owes me their eternal life; that debt is between God and them, and only God can and has forgiven that debt. The trespass or debt we own one another is released to bring Heaven to earth – it frees the place in us to bring God’s presence to dwell within us. The debt we own one another is to love one another, and the forgiveness is to another that has not always walked in that love towards us. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8). Give expecting nothing in return.
© 2009, Tim D. Coulter Sr.