“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 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 12:30-32)
What does 'gather with me' mean?
“Gather with me” - from the Greek phrase, συνάγων μετ’ ἐμοῦ - indicates Jesus’ mission is to bring people back home to the Supreme Being.The word συνάγων - translated to "gather" - means to "draw together, collect" and "to bring together, assemble." It is often used by fishermen - when they fish with nets.
This was Jesus' primary mission because God wants us back. God wants to 'gather' us and bring us back to Him.
The Supreme Being wants us to all return to Him. We were each created with an inherent loving relationship with the Supreme Being. But we were also given the choice to assume it or reject it. This is because love requires freedom.
Those who live within the physical world are exercising that freedom by rejecting that relationship. We are trying to enjoy ourselves separately from Him.
Yet because the Supreme Being loves us unconditionally, He still offers us a path to return to Him: by taking guidance from the teachings of His messengers.
Is this also about those who offend Jesus?
Here also Jesus explains the law of offensiveness. He explains that those who speak against him will be forgiven by him. But those who speak against the Supreme Being will not.This is a statement coming from the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Supreme Being. The servant of God is ready to forgive us for offenses against him, but will not tolerate offenses made against the Supreme Being.
As for God, the situation is reciprocal. The Supreme Being will forgive us for offenses against Him. But He will not tolerate offenses made against His loving messenger. Those that blaspheme or ridicule the humble servant of God - one whose life is dedicated to pleasing the Supreme Being - will face God’s wrath.
This loving wrath is specific to the Supreme Being's anger against those in early Israel who went against the instructions and offended His representatives such as Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. Those who offended God's representatives faced God's anger due to His love for His loving servants.
The safe approach is therefore to avoid blaspheming or otherwise offending the Supreme Being or His messengers.
