Matthew 12:43-45 43And when the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest and does not fine it. 44Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds the house empty, having been swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and in the end, that person is worse than in the beginning. So also will it be with this evil generation.
Jesus gives insight into unclean spirits. Some of what he says in these verses is difficult to understand and picture in our minds. What helps us understand these verses is that they are mean for the specific application to this evil generation. We often do not think about evil spirits or demons. Unclean (akarthoton) refers to something impure or unholy, opposite of the purity God desires for people. Waterless places brings to mind deserts that are lifeless. The unclean spirit that left a person becomes a nomad with no place to dwell, so it returns to check on the place it left. The Middle East has always had nomads who wander the desert, seeking the places with water to sustain life. When the spirit returns to its earlier home, it finds the house all ready for it. There is even a welcome mat out front. So, it invites its friends to come in with it; the more the merrier.
The basic point of this short parable is that the person (the house) did nothing to protect him or her self from the unclean spirit. There is more to purity than simply rejecting evil. Something must replace the evil. This passage is still in the shadow of Jesus’ mention of the Holy Spirit (verse 32). Purity comes through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The problem with first-century Judaism, represented in the scribes and Pharisees, was that they thought they were clean when actually they were not. They thought that doing certain religious acts would make them righteous, but their actions, especially in regard to Jesus, showed that they were actually still unclean. The unclean spirit goes out of a person through the miracle of God’s power and grace. Jesus casted out many demons in his ministry. Many people still doubted his power and authority. This passage is another warning to those who would not listen to Jesus or accept his authority.
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