Matthew 12:43–45 (ESV)
Return of an Unclean Spirit
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which
I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person
is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
When an unclean spirit leaves a body, you better fill the void with the
Holy Spirit, otherwise… more demons will return. Jesus describes how a person delivered from a demon becomes worse when there is failure to fill the emptiness with goodness. We can also relapse into old and habitual sins when we fail to nourish
our spiritual lives through Word and Sacrament. Only the Holy Spirit can replace the evil spirits that are constantly “seeking someone to devour” (1Pt 5:8). With words from Luther’s baptismal service, we cry out: “Depart thou unclean
spirit and make room for the Holy Spirit” (AE 53:107). •
I pray: Come, Holy Spirit, and make my heart Your dwelling place.
Amen.
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The
Lutheran Study Bible (p. 1606). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.