Matthew 12:44

I will return. The “unclean spirit” implies that his absence was only temporary. Christ is probably thinking of the man out of whom He had cast a demon but a short time previously (see on v. 22). The man was very likely in the audience, and this may have been intended as a warning to him in particular as well as to the audience in general. Certainly it was a warning to the Pharisees (see vs. 31-37).

Empty, swept, and garnished. The condition of the “house,” or person, restored to the state existing before the demon originally took up residence there. The Christian religion does not consist primarily in refraining from evil, but rather in applying the mind and the life intelligently and diligently to that which is good. Christianity is not a negative religion consisting of various prohibitions, but a positive, constructive force for good. It is not enough that demons, whether literal or figurative, be cast out of the heart and mind; the Spirit of God must come into the life and be placed in control of the thought and conduct (see 2 Chron. 6:16; Eph. 2:22). It is not enough to hate the evil; we must ardently love and cherish that which is good (see Amos 5:15; 2 Thess. 2:10; see on Matt. 6:24).

The hapless person represented by the “house” failed to take a positive stand for God. His intentions were good. He did not anticipate the return of the evil spirit, and therefore failed to yield the “house” to Christ’s control. Submission to Christ might prevent him from using the “house” as he chose, and he therefore decided, for the time being at least, to live his life as he wanted to. Had he surrendered to Christ, a new power would have been in control (see Rom. 6:16), and the unclean spirit could never have gained an entrance. Our only safety is in wholehearted surrender to Christ, in order that He may enter in and live out His perfect life within us (Gal. 2:20; Rev. 3:20). This parable is a solemn warning against mere negative improvement; it is not enough to shun the evil, we must actively “seek those things which are above” (Col. 3:1, 2).