The Unclean Spirits Returns - Matthew 12:44

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none”, and in chapter twelve and verse forty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told how the “unclean spirit” says, “I will return to my house from where I came out” where we read:

Then he says, I will return into my house from where I came out;

and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.

The verse reads, “Then he says, I will return into my house from whence I came out;” Matthew began with the word, “then” which means “therefore, wherefore and at that time” “he says” or “the unclean spirit utters, declares and proclaims”, “I will return” which means “the unclean spirit will turn about and back” “into my house” or “in the unclean spirit's dwelling place, abode and habitation” “from where” or “of the place from which” “I came out” which means “the unclean spirit departed, left and forsook”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “unclean spirit” who wandered about looking for “rest” decided to go back to the place from which he departed.

The verse goes on to say, “and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.” Matthew continued with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “he is come” or “the unclean spirit arises, shows himself and appears”, “he finds” which means “the unclean spirit learns, discovers, understands and recognizes” “it empty” or “the original dwelling place ceased from labor, unoccupied and vacant”, “swept” which means “brushed off with a broom”, “and garnished” or “put in order, arranged, made ready, adorned and prepared”. Matthew shared how the “unclean spirit” returns to the place he left and discovers that it is “vacant, brushed from debris and put in order”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how an “unclean spirit” does not remain in a restless state, but rather returns to the place where he departed. When he appears again, the “unclean spirit” discovers the person to have a “vacant, brushed off and adorned” heart without the “Spirit of God” within them. God desires to fill the heart and life of every person with a relationship with Himself through His Son Jesus. When this occurs, the Holy Spirit resides within, and no “evil spirit or demon” is able to come inside. The best protection for a person when “unclean spirits” are cast out is to be certain that the Holy Spirit of God is within, otherwise, a person is open to have “unclean spirits” return to find their original places ready to be entered again.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus shares how the unclean spirit, “takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.