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MATTHEW - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
PART 2 - Christ teaches and Ministers in Galilee (Matthew 5:1 - 18:35)
D - The Unbelieving Jews and Their Enmity to Jesus (Matthew 11:2 - 18:35)
1. The Elders of the Jews Reject Christ (Matthew 11:2 - 12:50)

h) The Sign of the Prophet Jonas (Matthew 12:38-45)


MATTHEW 12:43-45
43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came out,’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
(Luke 11:24-26, 2 Peter 2:20)

Multitudes of the Jews believed in Christ in the beginning of His call. They were impressed by His sayings and works, so they came to the Man of Love. His ministry produced a new thinking in them. His Spirit cast out the unclean spirits of their minds, and the word of Jesus cleansed and sanctified them in order to prepare the way for the permanent dwelling of the Holy Sprit in them.

The majority of them did not stand fast in Christ because of the threats of their leaders and their fear of the severe punishment that the law imposed on law breakers. Therefore they turned away from Christ little by little.

They had to decide their attitude between the over-exaggerated traditional judgments and God’s love in Jesus; between justification by works and justification by grace; between the Holy Spirit and the spirits of this wicked age. Therefore they left Christ and His salvation because of the fear of men. This is the greatest danger on a new believer, to fall away and deny the merciful Christ for the sake of satisfying men. Such a poor man is likened to a demon-possessed person who was purified after hearing Jesus’ preaching. Afterwards, he left his faithful Savior and was consequently possessed by seven additional evil spirits to become more wicked than before and become a son of hell.

Do not forget that with respect to your relation with God, you are neither free, nor independent. You will be ordained either with the Spirit of God or possessed with the spirits of the devil. If you leave your faith in Christ intentionally, then hell will come with great force and you will be bound and taken to evil and impurity.

Abide in Christ, accept His voice and obey the directions of His Spirit. Confess your sins and let the word of Jesus sanctify your thoughts and clean your conscience. If you come to Jesus, you will be filled with the power of His Spirit. This Spirit will fill the emptiness in you and guide you to join the only Deliverer. But if you turn away from Him, you will be in danger of being a slave to many evil spirits.

PRAYER: O Faithful Savior, We heartily thank You for You have called us to Your service, purged away our sins, cleansed our hearts, and filled us with Your Holy Spirit that the devil might not have any authority or power in us. We pray that You will deliver our friends and neighbors from the hand of the evil one that they may repent, accept You thankfully, turning to You that the Spirit of Life may dwell in them to keep them from falling prey to unclean spirits. Help us to commit ourselves completely to You, put ourselves in Your hands and abide in Your faithfulness.

QUESTION:

  1. Why is an evil spirit able to come back with seven other spirits to a man from whom he had been cast out of?

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