Matthew 12:43-45

The Sad Plight of This Generation (12:43-45).

This short illustration takes up the themes that have previously been presented and is firmly in context. Compare (Matthew 12:1) the being healed from an evil spirit (Matthew 12:22) which represents the inbreaking of the Kingly Rule of God (Matthew 12:28). (Matthew 12:2) The ‘evil generation' which has rejected such signs (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 12:39; Matthew 12:41; Matthew 11:16, and compare Matthew 16:4; Matthew 17:17; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 23:36). (Matthew 12:3) The unwillingness of Israel to accept the Kingly Rule of God which results in the house still being empty because they have not received His messengers (compare Matthew 10:14) and do not do the will of His Father in Heaven (Matthew 12:50). (Matthew 12:4) The contrast with those who now are Jesus ‘family', and therefore within His household (compare Matthew 10:25), and thus in an occupied ‘house' (Matthew 12:46) safe from such intrusion.

The general idea behind the picture is made clear in Matthew 12:45. It applies to the evil generation among whom He is preaching. As previously revealed He has bound the strong man (Matthew 12:29) and put evil spirits to flight (Matthew 12:27) and their house is now empty. By His very preaching He has swept and furnished it (compare how often He compares the Kingly Rule of God to a household - Matthew 20:1; Matthew 21:33; Luke 12:42; Luke 13:25; Luke 14:21). But if they leave Him out of their house, and refuse to enter His household, because they are still playing in the streets regardless (Matthew 11:16), then they must expect the forces of darkness to regather themselves and re-enter their house with the result that they will be even worse off than before He came (Matthew 23:38), and Satan will have a firmer grip on them.

Note how the restlessness of the evil spirit is emphasised in contrast with the One Who has come to give rest (Matthew 11:28). If they do not receive His rest, they will receive the restless spirit who can find no rest, along with his companions. If they do not receive the cup of cold water as a believer (Matthew 10:42) and the One Who is a spring of water (John 4:1) they will receive those who come from waterless places.

Analysis.

a But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it (Matthew 12:43).

b Then he says, “I will return into my house from where I came out” (Matthew 12:44 a).

c And when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and furnished (Matthew 12:44 b).

b Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there (Matthew 12:45 a).

a And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first, even so will it also be to this evil generation (Matthew 12:45 b).

Note that in ‘a' the unclean spirit goes out relieving the man's terrible state, and in the parallel the man's state becomes worse than it originally was. In ‘b' the spirit determines to return to the house and in the parallel he does so with seven other spirits. In ‘c', and centrally, is the reason for the man's fate. He has left the house fully ready for habitation, because his house having been cleansed and restored he has failed to receive the ‘Stronger than he' (Luke 11:22) so that He might possess it.