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Today we continue our study of the tongue. We have begun noticing various sins of the tongue, focusing on categories of sin. Today, we want to examine another very serious sin – Blasphemy. In this lesson we will notice what it is according to God’s word, its seriousness and consequences, as well as noting how to avoid it.

a. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word as, “a: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. b: the act of claiming the attributes of deity . 2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable”^{^[1]}

b. In the Bible it is derived from a Greek word meaning, “to injure the reputation of another” (Harper’s Bible Dictionary)
“Profane or contemptuous speech or writing (or action toward) God. In a general sense, (it) can refer to any slander, including any word or action that insults or devalues another being.” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary).

c. Usually the term is used against God. While the term can be used to describe such actions against one another, the word almost always has reference to one who blasphemes God. In fact, every use of the term in both the Old Testament and New Testament, when specified was directed against God. There are other passages that describe the term generally which could include men as well (cf. Colossians 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:2, etc.). NOTE: When man is maligned in this manner, usually another word is used – such as slander, speaking evil, etc. We will address these in a later lesson.

d. God takes this sin very seriously.
The 3^rd commandment said, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Ex. 20:7).
Under the Old Law it carried the death penalty – Leviticus 24:15, 16 – an example is given in the text of a woman’s son of blasphemed the name of God (vs. 10-11).
It was their belief that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy that provoked the Jews to turn against Him - Matthew 9:3, 26:65, John 10:33. Had Jesus been a false teacher they would have been justified in God’s eyes in rejecting Him as they did.

e. When one blasphemes God, he is truly being frivolous and disrespectful with His name and that which belongs to Him.
Why is the penalty so severe for this sin? Because blasphemy shows disrespect toward the one maligned. And where there is NO respect there will be NO compliance. Respect for God was the FOUNDATION of their law.

f. Matthew 15:19 – It is one of those evil things that can proceed out of the heart

g. The beast of Revelation 13:1, 5-6; 16:11 – those who refused to repent blasphemed

a. In addition to outright slanderous speech against God, blasphemy can take place in various forms:

                             i.      Our actions can be blasphemous –
When we act in utter contempt toward Him and His will, we are being blasphemous.
When we follow after idols - Isaiah 65:7.
When we profess attributes of God that do not belong to us we are guilty of blasphemy –
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
For example: Many modern day “faith healers” and prophets. Understand, if you call yourself a prophet of God – you are blaspheming Him (because the days of prophecies are over – 1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Let me site a current example of this: Pat Robertson has just recently said that during his annual personal prayer retreat in January that, “"If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms," Robertson said May 8. He added specifics in Wednesday's show.
"There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest," he said. (AP Press Release, May 18^th)   NOTE the vagueness in his “prophecy.” WHILE I believe the idea of one claiming God spoke to him to be blasphemous within itself, consider that in this article he said, “IF I heard the Lord right…” Would God be that vague?
ALSO, He said, “There MAY WELL BE” leaving room incase it doesn’t come to pass.

Hear what 2 Peter 2:1-2 says about false teachers. They will bring in “destructive heresies” and that many will follow after them, “because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”

Another good example of blasphemy in actions is the just released movie, The DaVinci Code, based on the book by author Dan Brown. It is a movie filled with inaccuracies that contradict the life of Jesus and Christianity. Some of these include the fact that Jesus was married, and NOT divine. In addition to this, it purports that the Catholic church along with the Emperor Constantine “voted in” Jesus as deity and then voted on what to include and what to leave out of the Bible. It also accused “Christians” (lumping in all Christians with the Catholic Church) of belittling women, etc.   While the author admits it is fiction, he states on page one of his book, “all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” Many of them too are inaccurate and false. The point is that this movie shows a blatant disregard for God and His word. (NOTE: Lord willing, next Sunday Night, I intend to present a lesson addressing this movie.) (Details on this taken from, Abundant Life, May-June 2006, Special Issue, edited by Mark Roberts)

ii. Our actions can cause others to blaspheme - Romans 2:24 – God’s name can be blasphemed simply by our improper conduct toward others
1 Timothy 6:1, by acting honorably, God’s name is not blasphemed.
The example of David is a prime example – 2 Samuel 12:14
Also, Paul in Acts 26:11 compelled Christians to blaspheme. Later Paul realized that actually he was the one guilty of blasphemy (1 Timothy 1:13).

i. When we curse God. There are some today who make no apology as they curse God.
Job’s wife encouraged him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9).
While we may not directly curse God, do we ever with bitterness blame Him when we disaster strikes? Do we ever find ourselves bitter toward Him? Such things, at best, are bordering on blasphemy.
What about when we become angry? Do we curse God in our anger. That is USUALLY a factor of the context behind cursing God.

ii. When we flippantly use God’s Name or His word we are being blasphemous.
Today, there are many who invoke the name of God or Jesus in just about every sentence they utter. Some say, “O my God” all the time. Others use euphemisms such as “golly” or “gosh” or “Jeez” which are all slaughtered forms God and Jesus. Do such words show proper reverence for our creator?
How about the false teacher who knowingly twists God’s words for His personal gain?

iii. Some swear “by the name of God” without intending to follow through with either the truth or the promise. When we invoke the name of God we BETTER mean what we say.
Consider James 5:12 which tells us to not swear, but rather, “let your yes be ‘yes’ and your no be ‘no’ lest you fall into judgment.”
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day because of their false oaths – Matthew 23:16-22

iv. Profanity - The word profanity by definition means you are uttering words about something sacred that are irreverent or contemptible.

v. When we curse others – there are many today who with the profane language they use, they are calling upon God to condemn or curse them.
James 3:10 says that such things “ought not to be so.”

vi. When we maliciously contradict and defame those who are telling the truth. Two examples:
1. Because Paul was willing to teach Gentiles, some of the Jewish brethren became envious and “contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.” (Acts 13:44-45)
Acts 18:6, Again Paul, now in Corinth, taught Jews about Jesus Christ, but “they opposed him blasphemed.”
2. The example of Jesus. As already mentioned, Jesus was accused of blasphemy more than once. NOTE: Often times when one is unable to answer a truth that exposes them, rather than repent, they proceed to accuse their accuser with false charges. Jesus was accused of blasphemy (and that became their cause to put Him to death).
But in reality, this very charge made them guilty of the blasphemy they accused Jesus of. It was such an occasion that prompted Jesus to speak of the unpardonable sin – which was the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10).
NOTE: There is much debate as to exactly what “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” involves. While at a later date we will examine that, in this lesson I simply want us to let the seriousness of blasphemy sink in!

vii. Blasphemy can also involve slander. A powerful word that means, “the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation.” When one lies about God to others, he is guilt of both slander AND blasphemy. More on this in another lesson.

a. Realize the seriousness of what you are doing. You are cursing God OR one created in His image (cf. James 3:11). You are calling upon Him to curse your neighbor or brother.

c. Learn to praise and honor God and all that belongs to Him. Develop reverence for Him. Love Him with your all.
I am convinced anyone who rails against God does not truly appreciate His greatness. If we will take the time to learn to praise Him, blaspheming God will be out of the question.

d. Learn to control your anger. As already stated, blasphemy is often a product of anger. Note again what James 1:19 says, “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Also, Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.”

It is my hope that this lesson doesn’t apply to any of us because we know better. But you can rest assured it is alive and well within society. But if it does to you, do EVERYTHING you can to stop. Your eternal destiny depends on it.

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^{^[1]}Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.