Turn From Something - But Turn Toward Someone Else! Matthew 11-13

Matthew 12:43-45 (ESV)

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 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. 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.”

The context for this section in Matthew is Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God.  He is in the midst of giving parables and stories to illustrate how the Kingdom of God is received and operates.  The above passage is one more of those examples.  

The scene is set by describing an unclean spirit who departed from living inside a man. We have no idea why this unclean spirit left, only that he did leave.  He left looking for another place to dwell.  We can assume that the man he previously occupied, had done some spiritual work.  When the unclean spirit returns, he finds the man’s house empty, swept and put in order.  There was some spiritual experience for this man.   However, the house (the inside of the man) was still empty.   He did not fill it with anything, or, in this case, anyone.   He may have had reformation but he did not have regeneration.   He became moral by getting rid of something, but he did not become holy be inviting the Savior into his life.   We can often have a religious experience and not have the presence of the Savior.  A moral change of heart is a good thing.  But if does not come with the inward dwelling of the Son, through the Spirit of God, it is only empty, swept and put in order.  The man had a worse experience at the end.  Seven more evil spirits entered his life (his home).   Repentance is not just turning away from something or someone.  It is also turning toward someone.  If we turn from something we must turn to someone, or the last will be worse than the first: 

Acts 3:19-21 (ESV)

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV)

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Acts 26:20 (ESV)

but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.