Bible Question: what does the verse matthew 12-43 mean? It is very confusing. thanks to all in advance! |
Bible Answer: Thank you for your question concerning Matthew 12:43. You can understand verses 43-45 when you understand the overall context of what Jesus is saying beginning in vs. 38. Vs. 38 - The Jews had asked a sign "from thee" that should decisively prove that he was the Messiah, and satisfy their unbelief. He replies that, though he should give them a sign or a conclusive and satisfactory "proof", they would soon return to their former course of unbelief and wickedness and become worse and worse. Vs. 39-40 - He then states that the only "sign" they would receive was the sign of Jonah (speaking of his resurrection - which they never believed). Vs. 41-42 - Christ then gives two examples for their benefit. The men of Nineveh "repented" at the preaching of Jonah - this generation would not (vs. 39). Therefore, by their evil and adulterous actions, they would be condemned; the "queen of the south" - Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13)came "to hear the wisdom of Solomon". She obviously was seeking a greater knowledge of God (Jehovah) - these Jews did not display this attitude and were here condemned by Jesus. Vs. 43 - Jesus here warns the Jews that the evil spirits which he had cast out would return, and if they found the man impenitent (as these Jews were), they would take possession of his heart with greater malignity than ever and would hasten him on to ruin. The unclean spirit is here represented as going "through waterless (dry) places, seeking rest, and finding none". The Jews, Arabs, and Egyptians believed that deserts were the haunts of evil spirits. Hence, the evil spirit finds habitation in the desert; it is "represented" here as a man in a fever, who in vain turns to every side for ease, but finds none. His nervous system is disorganized and cannot remain still. It is driven by restless madness. The demon, driven by divine power from the hearts of men, is pictured by Jesus as going about searching for a fit abode and restless because no human heart is found for residence. Vs. 44 - "Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out". The man is called his "house" because the evil spirit had dwelt in him. "and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished." By the absence of the evil spirit the house is represented as unoccupied or "empty", "swept", and "garnished". In other words while the evil spirit was away, the man was restored to his right mind, or was freed from the "influence" of the evil spirit. The word "garnished" means "adorned, put in order, furnished". Applied to the man, it means that his mind was sane and normal when the evil spirit was gone. Vs. 45a - "Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there" - The number "seven" represented to the Jews of that day any "finished, perfect, or complete" number. The evil spirit will not reenter a man weak and alone; he will take with him a strong reinforcement so as not again to be ejected. Vs. 45b - "and the last state of that man is worse than the first" - This statement seems to indicate that there are different "degrees" of depravity among demons as well as among men; they are worse after having returned, and the man into whom the reenter is "sevenfold" worse. Vs. 45c - "Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation" - These words show Jesus' application of the parable; we can now say so it "was with that generation" (vs. 39). This parable refers to not merely to verses 38-45, but to the whole narrative (verses 22-42) which was occasioned by the miracle in verse 22. To summarize the above: There were evil spirits in the days of Jesus who took possession of men's minds (hearts). When Jesus cast them out, they were supposed to inhabit dry desert places (vs. 43). When the demons did not find rest in those places, they wanted to once again inhabit the "house" (or mind) that Jesus had cast them out of. This evil spirit returns to the same mind finding it unoccupied with a "good spirit". He enters the man's mind and takes with him "seven" other spirits more wicked than himself, and the "last state" of that man is worse than the first because he did not "fill" his heart with "good" when the "evil" was cast out. Jesus said, "Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." The Jews he was speaking to (and those of like mind) would be the "worse" for having known and rejected Jesus. This same principle applies to men today. If we know God's truth (John 17:17), and fail to practice and obey it (James 1:23-25; Romans 6:17), the heart (mind) is hardened (Hebrews 3:13). We are the "worse" for having known it (2 Peter 2:20-22). The gospel of Christ presents to believers eternal life. Rejection of that gospel will result in eternal death or damnation (2 Thess. 1:7-10). Mike |