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Packed into three verses here in the middle of the chapter is an unbelievable amount of depth and theology. Many of us have heard or read these verses.
“When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 “And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 “Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
Luke 11:24-26 NASB
Breaking it down into simple terms, Jesus is using an allegory to explain a deep and longstanding truth. That truth is this; Jesus must rule your house. Let’s investigate how we come to this conclusion.
It was a common belief in Jewish culture that demons much preferred to take up residence within humans. A demon that was wandering “in waterless places” was said to be miserable. A picture of a demon wandering in the desert is what comes to mind. Therefore, the people would have understood exactly what Jesus was saying here.
When a demon is swept out of a house, or a person, there are two question we must ask. They really are two sides of the same coin. 1 )Was the exorcism real or counterfeit, and 2) will the house be filled with Jesus or left empty? I would point out that a real experience with Christ is a real exorcism and leads to a real relationship in which Christ comes in and rules that house, or person, with all authority. A fake, or counterfeit “experience” leads to verse 26 – a state of that person becoming worse than before.
The seven other spirits found in verse 26 indicates a completeness. A person who had not experienced and cooperated with the manifestation of receiving the Holy Spirit (only coming through an authentic profession of faith), cannot both receive a clean house and fill it with the power of God. Rejection of the Holy Spirit naturally leaves the home empty.
“When you are blessed by a cleansing of evil that allows you to receive fresh spiritual input, do not leave your inner “house” empty. The risk is that the void will be refilled with something even worse than what had been banished. Neutrality is emptiness, a void that eventually is filled by something—often something like what was there before. When we do not respond to God, opportunity becomes tragedy, and the chance for permanent reversal is lost.”
IVP New Testament Commentary
Many people have decided they like Jesus but have not truly professed in faith that He is Lord of their house. In not doing that, their mind, body, and soul become vulnerable to “completeness” of demonic persuasion which will seek to permanently reside in that person. This is exactly why we have so much false teaching and phony doctrine within the church!
A great example of this, and maybe an intentional explanation on Jesus’ part, is the history of Israel. They had never truly repented and received what the Lord desired for their nation, and in doing so, what was established by the Pharisees was a culture of exclusiveness, self-righteousness, hate, pride, hypocrisy, selfishness, and greed.
Over the years of their history, their rooms were swept clean by God, but when Jesus showed up, they never let Him come in and rule their hearts. For many of the Pharisees and religious leaders, when they saw the One before them in the flesh who could save them from themselves, their houses were already filled.
The writer in Hebrews has some thoughts that really highlight what Jesus is speaking of here.
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NASB