The parable of the "unclean spirit" seems to refer, like the previous one (the "house of the strong man"), to the healing of someone possessedA possessed person has a demon inside of them, which means that this evil, satanic spirit (demons are servants of Satan) controls the body and wreaks havoc and destruction. Sometimes,... More by a demonIn the Bible, demons are described as "unclean spirits" that are controlled by Satan (cf. Rev 16:13-14). On several occasions during His life on earth, the Lord Jesus cast out... More (Matthew 12:22ff). The introductory words suggest this idea:

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places seeking rest but finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation" (Matthew 12:43-45).

However, the Lord did not share this parable in direct reference to a miracle He had performed, as was the case with the other two parables in this chapter ("Sheep in the Pit," "House of the Strong Man"). In those instances, He explained the meanings of His miracles with the parables. Here, though, it is about the desire for a sign from an evil generation. Hadn't the Lord already performed the remarkable miracle of healing the demon-possessed man, only for the Pharisees to attribute that miracle to the devil? Instead of believing, they asked for another sign. It is astonishing that, despite all the mighty miracles the Lord performed, they dared to say, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You" (Matthew 12:38).

Two Serious Signs

Had they not seen enough signs and wonders? In this context, it is worth noting that out of the forty-six miracles reported of the Lord, no fewer than thirty-three occurred in Galilee. Thus, even one more signThe Gospel of John tells us about eight signs that the Lord Jesus performed. These signs, which are also miracles, point to something special. They aim to help us grow... More would not convince them. Therefore, the Lord gives them one or two signs that are meant to condemn them.

"But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed, a greater than Jonah is here'" (Matthew 12:39–41).

This was the first signThe Gospel of John tells us about eight signs that the Lord Jesus performed. These signs, which are also miracles, point to something special. They aim to help us grow... More. Jonah was the first and only prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More sent with a message from God to the nations. However, before he fulfilled his mission in the proper way, he had to figuratively pass through death and resurrection. Similarly, the Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More would go through death and, as the risen One, bring the message of God's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More to the nations. But if the MessiahMessiah is a Hebrew word (Maschíach) meaning “the Anointed One.” In the New Testament, the Greek form “the Christ” is used and applied to the Lord Jesus alone. The Jews,... More were to be cut off, what hope would there be for this evil and adulterous generation? The fact that the men of Nineveh listened to and heeded the message of the prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More, while the men of Israel rejected the message of someone greater than Jonah, would add to their severe judgment.

And then there was a second sign, if we may say so: the Queen of Sheba being attracted to Solomon's wisdom. "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:42). The fame of this wisdom (cf. 1 Kings 10) produced in her heart something even more profound than the repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More of the Ninevites: it brought her into the presence of the great King. As a result, every desire of her heart was more than satisfied.

But how was it for the people of Israel? A Greater than Solomon was in their midst, and they had the privilege of being in His presence. This was none other than He who had given Solomon all his wisdom, riches, and glory. Yet, they did not see in Him any beauty that they should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2).

Could this have touched the heart of our Lord? There seems to be deep sorrow resonating in the Lord's solemn words when He speaks of the future fate of this "generation," referring to the Jewish nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More.

Idolatry

First, He describes their present condition in the parable of the "unclean spirit." The unclean spirit — representing idolatry — had indeed left the "man," had left Israel, for a time.

Of all the forms of evil by which SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More has sought to draw men away from God, idolatry has proven to be one of the most successful methods. In Scripture, we hear nothing about idolatry in the days before the Flood. During that time, the devil exploited the unbridled passions of men, as is evident in the early pages of the Bible. When Noah and his sons were entrusted with the sword of justice, physical violence was avoided, but moral evil continued to thrive unchecked. Because men did not consider it good to know the true God (Romans 1:28) but still sought a deity, they created their own gods under the influence of SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More. They made these gods in the image of their wicked hearts, attributing all their sinful qualities to them. As a result, idolatry, in all its forms, permeated the entire known worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More.

In His mercy, God chose Abraham and led him away from idolatry, appointing him to become the father of the faithful. However, the unclean spirit did not cease its malicious activities even among the chosen people. Scripture indicates that idolatry was tolerated even in the house of Jacob. It persisted during the people’s wandering in the wilderness and even under the reign of the wisest king, Solomon. Manasseh, the king of Judah and son of the God-fearing Hezekiah, committed worse atrocities than all his predecessors. Just read the account of his sins in 2 Kings 21! Ultimately, God pronounced judgment on Jerusalem, and it wasn't long before the city was destroyed, "as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down" (2 Kings 21:13). The children of Judah were rejected as Jehovah's inheritance, handed over to their enemies, and taken into captivity in Babylon.

From that time until now, no idolatry has been found among the Jews. This is what the Lord means when He says that the unclean spirit has left the man. They had "swept and decorated" their house. This does not mean that other forms of evil were absent from their lives; however, regarding the idolatry of earlier days, they had cleansed their house of it. They had also richly endowed it with religious forms of external piety – they had “decorated” it, as the Lord describes. The Jews were certainly quite satisfied with their own piety, as religious people often are when they rely on empty forms. They just didn't realize that God was no longer present among them. When He came to them again in the person of His Son, Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, they rejected Him. Consequently, a break between them and God was now imminent. Did they understand what that meant for the present, the near future, and the more distant future?

The Lord partially unveils the truth here, allowing them and us to see things that make us shudder. The unclean spirit would wander through desolate places, seeking rest but finding none. He needed a place to dwell; yes, he needed a "house" like the Jewish people represented: swept and garnished, with a confession to God and much outward piety, yet in reality, without God. This was the ideal "breeding ground," the suitable "house" where he could thrive. Therefore, he would return to his house – the Lord Jesus predicts this and illustrates that this evil spirit had never truly abandoned his "house." He would take with him seven other spirits even worse than he, and together they would inhabit the house. "The last state of that man is worse than the first" (Matthew 12:45).

With this, the Lord refers to the end times and the fate of that "wicked and adulterous generation." Not only will idolatry return to the guilty Jewish people, but even worse forms of evil will find their resting place there. If they do not accept Him who comes in the name of His Father, they will accept another who comes in his own name – the Antichrist, the man of sin (John 5:43). In his guise, he will sit in the temple of God and allow himself to be worshiped as a god; he will "show himself as God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Both the Antichrist and the "image of the first beast," the Roman prince, will be worshiped (Revelation 13:11-18) by a nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More known for its intelligence! Thus, it is particularly the Jews who will once again become idolaters, and it is from their midst that the AntichristThe Antichrist is a person of the end times who takes the place of Christ and is also his great adversary. He (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7)... More will arise, through whom SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More will exert his power in unprecedented and terrible ways.

Practical Conclusions

Suppose man is left under the control of Satan and the desires of his own corrupt heart. In that case, there is indeed no form of evil into which even the most intelligent person, or even the entirety of a highly civilized world, will not fall. How fortunate we are, then, that today is still a time of grace and that God is actively working through His Spirit and His Word, spreading the bright light of the gospel! However, this serves as the Lord's admonition to us all: the "unclean spirit" will return, along with a time when no one will be able to work. Then, deep moral darkness will prevail in the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More, and everything will lie under the direct power of SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More. How much better it is, therefore, dear friends, to have God and His Word as our guide rather than to rely on SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More and our own desires!

Thus, we learn anew that even parables that prophetically and clearly refer to Israel contain warnings and teachings applicable to both believers and non-believers today, for individuals as well as for society as a whole. Have we, for example, fully grasped how utterly futile it is to want to rid ourselves of any evil purely through external means, how pointless external reforms are? If we don't achieve this with God, if we don't overcome with God, nothing is genuinely accomplished. The Jewish people had indeed reformed and "swept" their house, yet this was only a preliminary stage that led to something even worse.

This text can also illustrate someone who breaks free from an evil habit temporarily, yet does not invite ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More into their heart. Instead of experiencing true change, they only create space for an evil spirit, which will return with renewed strength. Rather than improving, their situation may worsen. Unless a genuine transformation occurs in the heart, it will ultimately harden, giving SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More even greater power over the individual.

Isn't the decorated house of Israel a true reflection of professing Christianity? Many external forms and reforms are present here as well, often without recognizing that the Lord Jesus is outside of this man-made system. People take pride in being rich—rich in spiritual and material goods, rich in influence and intelligence, rich in positions and status, and rich in social, cultural, and humanitarian efforts to improve the world. While not everything done is inherently worthless, and some noble deeds may indeed resemble acts of children of God, all of this is accomplished without God. This is why the Lord must say to Laodicea: "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). Ultimately, He will reject this lifeless system (Revelation 3:16).

The path of Christianity without Christ will resemble that of Judaism without Christ. Under the merciless rule of the Antichrist, they will converge. Not only will all Jewish beliefs be abandoned, but all Christian beliefs as well (1 John 2:22). Just as evil spirits will dwell in the Jewish house, "Babylon the Great," the universal church of the end times, will also become a "habitation of demons" and a "prison for every foul spirit" (Revelation 18:2).

What profound and far-reaching significance lies in the simple words of the Lord Jesus! Let us take them to heart, along with the warnings they contain. He reveals the end of the development that we cannot see. His perspective is always the right one. Let us rely on it, rather than on what people say!