| Unclean Spirits | Added: Feb-15-04 |
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, but an evil and wicked generation will not seek Him. This is followed by the parable of the man possessed of an evil or unclean spirit:"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation" (Matthew 12:43-45)
The jest of these verses refer to the unclean spirit more than to the man. It doesn't say that Christ cast out the unclean spirit or that the man did, but only that the unclean spirit was "gone out," that is, he left the man. It could have been that this man sought out an exorcist or merely decided to clean up his act. However, the unclean spirit appears to have left of his own volition. This man was the demon's dwelling. Note that it is the unclean spirit (demon) that said,"I will return to my house." Again, this refers to the dwelling of the unclean spirit within the man. He (the unclean spirit) goes on to say,"from whence I came out." The unclean spirit walks through dry places, that is, through dead and fruitless places. In other words, the demon (unclean spirit) sought re-embodiment in another place or another individual, but finds no place to dwell.
When the unclean spirit returns to the man (of his own volition) he finds the man empty (void of pleasure), swept (as that of cleaning, or cleaned up --evidently because the unclean spirit had departed), and garnished (adorned in raiment --like the man of Gadarene). There is no apparent pleasure in repossessing this man by himself. Therefore the evil spirit finds seven other spirits (demons) who are more wicked then he. They all enter this man and dwell there. Naturally this man was worse off than before.
Like the generation of the scribes and the Pharisees, there are those of wicked generations (such as our own generation) who try and clean up their lives through self-will, good works, or even religion. Some even go so far as to attempt freedom through psychics, exorcist, priest or holy man. However, these are quick fixes and do not last (unclean spirits know when to leave in order to allow credibility to false religions and false practices --again, the demon leaves of his own volition). This is realized because the demon left and returned at will. He even brought seven other demons with him. The man in the parable did not take the proper steps to be free of the threat of demon possession. He did not accept God's way. (Note: the unclean spirit was not afraid to re-enter the man. This is evidence that Jesus --or a true man of God-- did not cast him out).
The man in the parable stands as a type of wicked generations who are without Christ and living under the influence of unclean spirits. Such seek wisdom through any and all means except through Christ Jesus. Because the search for wisdom is not rooted in Christ Jesus, searchers are left in worse shape then when they began. This is evidenced today through Christless theories, Christless practices and Christless religions. True wisdom and true freedom comes only through Jesus; only through Jesus --or Jesus' name-- will unclean spirits be cast out with lasting results (and this by fasting and prayer --Matthew 17:21). The wisdom of Christ Jesus surpasses the wisdom of the world and ushers freedom from the many wiles of the devil. Only through Jesus may an individual be cleansed and made whole; free from the onslaught of Satan and his influential minions.