The Parable of the Returning Unclean Spirit

The Parable of the Returning Unclean Spirit
Text: Matthew 12:43–45; Luke 11:24–26
Prepared by David Hersey

Opening: An Empty House That Didn’t Stay Empty
Jesus describes a person as a house. An unclean spirit departs. Time passes. The spirit returns and finds the house “empty, swept, and put in order.” Seeing vacancy, it brings seven more wicked than itself, and the final condition becomes worse than the first. The picture is vivid: moral clean-up without full surrender leaves a vacancy that invites ruin. The lesson presses on the conscience—clearing out evil must be joined to taking the Lord at His word and arranging life around His commands.

The Setting: Neutral Ground Does Not Exist
These words follow a dispute about the source of Jesus’ power and lead into His warning that alignment with Him is the deciding line: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). Luke places our text alongside a blessing for those who “hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28). Together they show the danger of spiritual vacancy. When the house is left unoccupied by obedient devotion, it remains exposed.

The Picture Explained
The “house” is a life. “Empty” signals vacancy—no resident authority, no settled allegiance, no ongoing practice that holds the ground. “Swept and put in order” signals reform and restraint. The spirit’s return with seven companions shows how unused space draws new tenants. Evil opposes vacuums; it seeks re-entry and recruits help. Jesus concludes: “So shall it also be with this wicked generation” (Matthew 12:45). The warning reaches every generation.

The Danger of Emptiness
Resolve is not the same as discipleship. A person can quit a vice, rearrange a schedule, and reduce public scandal while remaining uncommitted to the Lord’s voice. That vacancy becomes a doorway. The adversary watches for openings (1 Peter 5:8). He exploits drift, delay, and half-finished repentance. Scripture warns that returning to old ways after exposure to truth produces a worse state than before (2 Peter 2:20–22). Jesus’ picture explains why: the empty house becomes a target.

Filling the House: Hearing and Doing
Jesus blesses those who hear the word of God and keep it (Luke 11:28). That pairing—hearing joined to keeping—describes a house that is occupied. The word dwells richly and rules decisions (Colossians 3:16). Hidden in the heart, it resists intrusion (Psalm 119:11). The earliest disciples devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). Those habits place furniture and inhabitants in every room: instruction for the mind, shared life for the affections, the Lord’s table at the center, and prayer morning and night.

Closing Doors and Guarding Windows
“Nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). Houses remain safe when doors are latched and windows watched. Temptations usually approach through patterns: carelessness with speech and anger, secret indulgences, unwise company, unfiltered media, neglected worship, neglected rest. Watch and pray to avoid entering into temptation (Matthew 26:41). Resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7). Order your days so obedience has time and space.

When the Old Tenants Knock
Jesus teaches that the spirit “comes” and “finds” (Luke 11:24–26). Expect return attempts. Old habits test doors you used to leave unlocked. Answer with Scripture and practiced obedience. Replace what you once did with better work and better company. Confess quickly when you stumble, and move at once to do the next right thing.

The Role of the Congregation
Houses stand stronger in neighborhoods that watch for one another. “Exhort one another daily… lest any of you be hardened” (Hebrews 3:13). Restore the straying with a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1). Stir up love and good works and refuse to forsake assembling (Hebrews 10:24–25). Shared vigilance fills empty rooms with faithful companions.

The Final Word: Occupy the House with Allegiance to Christ
Jesus’ image allows no middle space. Vacancy invites defeat. A life occupied by obedient faithfulness remains guarded. Align with the Lord’s voice in every room—work, home, money, speech, desires, plans. Keep His sayings, and the house stands.

Exhaustive Sermon Outline

• Text
  • Matthew 12:43–45; Luke 11:24–26
• Aim
  • Warn against spiritual vacancy and urge whole-life obedience that “hears and keeps” the word.
• Context
  • Accusation and reply; the allegiance line (Matthew 12:25–30)
  • Blessing on hearers and keepers (Luke 11:27–28)
• Parable Elements
  • House = a person’s life
  • Empty, swept, ordered = reform without allegiance
  • Return with seven = compounded bondage after vacancy
• Doctrinal Bearings
  • No neutrality (Matthew 12:30)
  • Hear and keep (Luke 11:28)
  • Worse after relapse (2 Peter 2:20–22)
• Why Emptiness Is Dangerous
  • The adversary seeks openings (1 Peter 5:8)
  • Drifting hardens (Hebrews 3:12–13)
• How to Fill the House
  • Word dwelling richly (Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:11)
  • Devotions of Acts 2:42 implemented in daily life
  • Ordered practices: prayer, Scripture, assembly, service, accountability
• How to Guard the House
  • Refuse footholds (Ephesians 4:27)
  • Watch and pray (Matthew 26:41)
  • Resist with readiness (James 4:7)
• Congregational Safeguards
  • Daily exhortation (Hebrews 3:13)
  • Gentle restoration (Galatians 6:1)
  • Mutual stirring and consistent assembling (Hebrews 10:24–25)
• Decisions Before Us
  • Identify empty rooms and fill them with obedience
  • Establish patterns that keep the house occupied
  • Seek help where strongholds remain

Call to Action
If you have never obeyed the gospel, begin where the Lord directs: believe, repent, confess Jesus, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9–10; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). If you are in Christ and see empty rooms, fill them today—restore prayer, return to the assembly, schedule daily Scripture, seek accountability, close the doors that once stood open, and keep the Lord’s words.

Scripture Reference List

• Parable Texts — Matthew 12:43–45; Luke 11:24–26: the image of the empty, swept house and the returning spirit
• Allegiance and Hearing — Matthew 12:30: no neutrality; Luke 11:28: blessing on hearing and keeping
• Danger of Relapse — 2 Peter 2:20–22: the latter end worse than the beginning
• Vigilance and Resistance — 1 Peter 5:8: the adversary prowls; James 4:7: resist and he flees; Matthew 26:41: watch and pray
• Guarding Footholds — Ephesians 4:27: give no place to the devil
• Filling the House — Colossians 3:16: word dwelling richly; Psalm 119:11: word hidden in the heart; Acts 2:42: steady devotions
• Mutual Care — Hebrews 3:12–13: daily exhortation; Galatians 6:1: gentle restoration; Hebrews 10:24–25: stir up and assemble
• Gospel Response — Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9–10; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21: how to begin in obedient faith

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO