Matthew is giving us a summary of Jesus’ condemnation of those who have rejected Him. Having first compared that generation to the Ninevites (and noting that those Jonah preached to repented), and then comparing the leaders to the Queen of Sheba in Solomon’s day, Jesus goes on to speak directly to the nation as a whole. He notes, “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then 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.”
The context of this parable (and the fact that Jesus’ parting comment clearly designates it as a parable in the first place), mean that this is not a teaching on demonology or exorcism. It is a comment meant to describe the path Jesus’ generation is on. Remember that the crowd Jesus was speaking to knew about exorcism. They knew that the final condition of a man who is only temporarily freed from demonic possession is far worse than their first state. Likewise, Israel’s rejection of Jesus will result in a far worse condition as a nation than Israel had at the time.
Jesus’ first two comments were kind in comparison. Perhaps they were meant more for the crowds gathered around him than for the Pharisees and teachers of the law when they posed their challenge, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”
But Jesus was not duped into responding as they might have hoped. Instead, Jesus uses a Spiritual example from the enemy’s camp to prophesy their future.
Those who asked Jesus for yet another sign actually wanted to exorcise Jesus from their land and out of their people group. To that point, Jesus’ comment is not given as logical teaching to impart an understanding of what demons experience after an exorcism. It may inadvertently do that. But it is primarily a biting and scathingly sarcastic condemnation of His own religious leadership, who are not only making His ministry much harder, but perhaps also much less fruitful than if they had recognized who was walking among them.
It was no doubt harsh living under Roman rule and occupation. But it would be much harsher as exiles from their homeland. While Herod and his ilk occupied Israel, there was at least a structure to live life by. It was a difficult life – a disordered life, rife with violence and oppression – but a life in their homeland all the same. When Herod and his enablers finally left (by way of death), a far worse Roman invasion would take place. History shows us how that reality played out. The temple would be completely destroyed in 70AD. The Jews would be driven from their homeland. Two thousand years of wandering would be capped off with a world war caused by Hitler’s personal drive to exterminate the Jewish people. The generation of those who reject Jesus would indeed find the condition of their country worse than it was at first.
If that was so for them, how much more will it be for those who can look back on all of it as history, and yet still reject Him?
As a minister, I have never found men and women rejecting the gospel of Christ on the basis of misunderstanding or confusion. Rather, the problem is some dark place in the soul, some secret sin. The rejection of Christ is the refusal to give these things up and come to the light of Christ and follow Him.
A.W. Tozer
APPLICATION: Intentionality
Mindful of the coming judgment, let us do all we can to reach those we can with the Gospel while we can.