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Jesus Teaches On Unclean Spirits Return

Jesus' teaching on the return of unclean spirits, recorded in Luke 11:24-26 and Matthew 12:43-45, describes a scenario where an expelled evil spirit attempts to re-enter its former "house" [1]. This parable illustrates the spiritual dangers of an empty, un-occupied life after an initial deliverance from evil influences.

The passage in Luke states, "The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’" [1]. Matthew's account is nearly identical, adding that the spirit then "goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first" [1]. This teaching follows Jesus' confrontation with those who accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons [1]. Jesus had just demonstrated his authority over unclean spirits, a power he also bestowed upon his disciples [2, 4].

The "unclean spirit" refers to Satan or one of his demonic agents, who are described as having become unclean through sin and delight in uncleanness [10]. The act of the spirit "going out of a man" is not necessarily a permanent expulsion by divine grace, but can refer to a temporary departure or a superficial reformation [10]. John Gill suggests that in the context of Matthew 12, this refers to the Jewish nation, particularly the Scribes and Pharisees, who, despite outward religious observance, remained a "house" for Satan [11]. Their apparent reformation was not a true change of heart, allowing the spirit to return and reassert its influence [11].

The spirit's search for "rest" in "dry places" (Luke 11:24) can be understood as a restless wandering, as demons are depicted as seeking to inhabit bodies [1]. When the spirit finds no suitable dwelling, it resolves to return to its original "house" [1]. Upon its return, if it finds the house "swept and put in order" but "empty," it brings "seven other spirits more evil than itself" [1]. The state of being "empty" is crucial; it signifies a life that has been cleansed of overt evil but has not been filled with good, with the presence of God, or with genuine spiritual transformation [11].

The consequence of this return is that "the last state of that man becomes worse than the first" [1]. This emphasizes the danger of a superficial or incomplete spiritual cleansing. If a person is delivered from one evil influence but does not embrace a new, righteous way of life, they become vulnerable to a more severe spiritual oppression. This teaching serves as a warning against backsliding, which is described as turning from God, leaving one's first love, or departing from the simplicity of the gospel [7]. Such a state displeases God and brings its own punishment [7].

The broader context of Jesus' ministry frequently involved confronting and casting out unclean spirits [3, 14]. Jesus gave his disciples authority over these spirits, enabling them to drive them out and heal diseases [2, 4]. This power demonstrated Christ's divine authority and his mission to rescue believers from demonic influence [13]. For instance, in Capernaum, Jesus cast out an unclean spirit from a man in the synagogue, astonishing the people with his doctrine and authority [12, 14]. In another instance, he rebuked a "mute and deaf spirit," commanding it to come out and "never enter him again" [3, 8].

The concept of an unclean spirit's return highlights the need for more than just the removal of evil. It underscores the importance of filling the void with spiritual good. The "new birth" is a theological concept that addresses this need, describing a spiritual transformation effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, through the word of God and the resurrection of Christ [6]. This new birth is characterized as a "new creation" and "newness of life," implying a complete change rather than just an external cleaning [6]. Without such a fundamental change, the "swept and put in order" house remains vulnerable.

The teaching also implicitly contrasts with the Jewish expectation of resurrection, which was a widely held doctrine among Jews, though denied by some groups like the Sadducees [5]. The idea of a spiritual return or a worsening state after an initial cleansing speaks to the ongoing spiritual battle and the need for sustained faith and commitment, rather than a one-time event of deliverance.

The imagery of "unclean spirits like frogs" is also used in Revelation, where they are associated with idolatrous prophets and the worship of the beast, representing a deeper spiritual corruption that arises from rejecting Christ [9]. This further illustrates the progression from initial infidelity to gross idolatry, where the "last state" is indeed worse.

Sources

  1. Luke “The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ -- Luke 11:24”
  2. Matthew “Matthew 10:1 (BSB) — And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.”
  3. Mark “When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” -- Mark 9:25”
  4. Mark “Mark 6:7 (BSB) — Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection, The — A doctrine of the Old Testament -- Job 19:26; Ps 16:10; 49:15; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; Ho 13:14. A first principle of the gospel -- 1Co 15:13,14; Heb 6:1,2. Expected by the Jews -- Joh 11:24; Heb 11:35. Denied by the Sadducees -- Mt 22:23; Lu 20:27; Ac 23:8. Explained away by false teachers -- 2Ti 2:18. Called in question by some in the church -- 1Co 15:12. Is not incredible -- Mr 12:24; Ac 26:8. Is not contrary to reason -- Joh 12:24; 1Co 15:35-49. Assumed and proved by our Lord -- Mt 22:29-32; Lu 14:14; Joh 5:28,29. Preached by the Apostles -- Ac 4:”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Backsliding — Is turning from God -- 1Ki 11:9. Is leaving the first love -- Re 2:4. Is departing form the simplicity of the gospel -- 2Co 11:3; Ga 3:1-3; 5:4,7. God is displeased at -- Ps 78:57,59. Warnings against -- Ps 85:8; 1Co 10:12. Guilt and consequences of -- Nu 14:43; Ps 125:5; Isa 59:2,9-11; Jer 5:6; 8:5,13; 15:6; Lu 9:62. Brings its own punishment -- Pr 14:14; Jer 2:19. A haughty spirit leads to -- Pr 16:18. Proneness to -- Pr 24:16; Ho 11:7. Liable to continue and increase -- Jer 8:5; 14:7. Exhortations to return from -- 2Ch 30:6; Isa 31:6; Jer 3:12,14,22;”
  8. Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 9:25: When Jesus saw that the people came running together,.... "to him", as the Syriac version adds, and so the Persic; upon hearing the vehement cry of the father of the child, and the earnest solicitations he made, expecting that something would be done: he rebuked the foul spirit; that brought this disorder on the child, had continued it so long, and with so much violence. Matthew calls this foul spirit, "the devil"; see Gill on Mat 17:18, saying unto him, thou dumb and deaf spirit; so calling him, not because the spirit was dumb and deaf, but because he had been the ”
  9. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 16:13: unclean spirits like frogs--the antitype to the plague of frogs sent on Egypt. The presence of the "unclean spirit" in the land (Palestine) is foretold, Zac 13:2, in connection with idolatrous prophets. Beginning with infidelity as to Jesus Christ's coming in the flesh, men shall end in the grossest idolatry of the beast, the incarnation of all that is self-deifying and God-opposed in the world powers of all ages; having rejected Him that came in the Father's name, they shall worship one that comes in his own, though really the devil's representat”
  10. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 12:38: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,.... By "the unclean" spirit, is meant Satan, the old serpent, the devil; who by the Jews, is wont to be called as here, , "the unclean spirit" (x); and that, because he is by sin become so, though he was not so originally; is the cause of uncleanness in men, and delights in unclean persons, places, and things: his "going out of a man", is not to be understood of his being dispossessed of the bodies of men; nor of the ejection of him, and his going by force, through the power of divine grace, out of the souls of men; but ”
  11. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 12:39: Then he said, I will return into my house,.... Into the land of Judea, particularly into the Scribes and Pharisees, outward professors of religion; who, notwithstanding their outward reformation, and great pretensions to holiness, are Satan's house still: he has a property in them, a claim upon them; and though he says, from whence I came out, yet he never really and properly quitted it, only seemingly, and in appearance; and therefore his returning is only throwing off the guise, and reassuming his former character, as a vicious and unclean spirit. And when he ”
  12. Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 4:31: When Christ was expelled Nazareth, he came to Capernaum, another city of Galilee. The account we have in these verses of his preaching and miracles there we had before, Mar 1:21, etc. Observe, I. His preaching: He taught them on the sabbath days, Luk 4:31. In hearing the word preached, as an ordinance of God, we worship God, and it is a proper work for sabbath days. Christ's preaching much affected the people (Luk 4:32); they were astonished at his doctrine, there was weight in every word he said, and admirable discoveries were made to them by it. The doctrine itsel”
  13. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of Christ's Miracles Considered Specifically, Art. 1: Article: Whether those miracles were fitting which Christ worked in spiritual substances? I answer that, The miracles worked by Christ were arguments for the faith which He taught. Now, by the power of His Godhead He was to rescue those who would believe in Him, from the power of the demons; according to Jn. 12:31: "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out." Consequently it was fitting that, among other miracles, He should also deliver those who were obsessed by demons. On the contr”
  14. Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 1:23: As soon as Christ began to preach, he began to work miracles for the confirmation of his doctrine; and they were such as intimated the design and tendency of his doctrine, which were to conquer Satan, and cure sick souls. In these verses, we have, I. Christ's casting the devil out of a man that was possessed, in the synagogue at Capernaum. This passage was not related in Matthew, but is afterward in Luk 4:33. There was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, en pneumati akathartō - in an unclean spirit; for the spirit had the man in his possession, and led h”
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