Matthew 12: 43-45

[Dralan]

Ive been struggling with this scripture for awhile. Can someone help shed some light on this passage? Thanks in advance....

43"When an evil[f] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

 

[Tiger18Wheeler]

The scriptures that you quote are to be interpreted pretty much as they are read.

The idea is that a person that has demons ( or evil spirits ) living within them, and repents of his/her sins, and is ( saved ) or forgiven for those things by God is then righteous.
The demons or spirit goes out of that person looking for another soul to live in, but when the spirit cannot find such a soul, it returns to it's previous host ( origional person ). It goes in to find the person's soul "cleansed and sweep" ( interpreted to mean sin free ), so, since there is so much "room to live in' the demon or evil spirit will find seven other demons ( evil spirits ) to move in with him, thus the person will be in a far worse state (with the eight evil spirits living in him) than he was origionally with the one evil spirit.

Quick Interpretation: If you are saved, don't go back to your evil ways.
I hope that helps.

 

[Dralan]

Yea thanks; I just wasnt sure about the 'seven other spirits more wicked than itself' but that helps alot. Thank you....

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Ive been struggling with this scripture for awhile. Can someone help shed some light on this passage? Thanks in advance....

43"When an evil[f] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

During Christ's ministry, and that of the disciples, many demons were cast out of people, and some probably left upon the baptism of repentance of John the Baptiser. Because the holy spirit did not confirm that repentance (the HS had not yet arrived) those persons were certainly at risk of returning to their old ways. The parable of the sower attests to this as well.

owg

 

[DArceri]

Ive been struggling with this scripture for awhile. Can someone help shed some light on this passage? Thanks in advance....

43"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

This is talking about 'EMPTY' SOULS....ie. those without Christ.

Luke gives a more detailed version:
Luke 11:14-26

Notice verse 19:
19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

There were Jewish exorcists who claimed power to cast out demons, and Jesus points out that if such exorcisms is not from God, then they will just come back (to an empty soul) with more demon "friends". However, if they come back and find the once vacant soul 'occupied' by the power of Christ, they will leave him alone.

 

[ChaChynga]

Strongman, if the strongman has not been replaced by Christ, then your on your own, and backsliding is a real hi risk and likely - hood.


Just because you were "saved" does not mean you are always saved.

Being Saved what most people call it is nothing more than a CONVERSION - but without the necessary requirements like communion and baptism and your walk to maintain your cleansed status. when one defaults in following the biblical means of remaining "sinless" then one opens the door so that the house is vacant for the old tenant to return. He often returns with a HEAVY hitter or a GANG of them, because the one is weaker since you overcame it in the firstplace... he's just BUYING some INSURANCE ad his assurance that his stay will last as long as demon-ly possible.