Matthew 12:45Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord had said to the Jews, The men of Nineveh shall rise in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; that they should not therefore be careless, He tells them that not only in the world to come but here also they should suffer grievous things; setting forth in a sort of riddle the punishment that should fall upon them; whence He says, When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man.

The Lord indicates that they had arrived at the brink of ruin by rejecting Him. Similar to those who have been liberated from evil spirits yet remain indifferent, your people were previously under the influence of a demonic force when they engaged in idol worship. However, through the prophets, I expelled this evil spirit and came to you with the intention of purifying you. Yet, you have turned away from Me and have sought to harm Me, as those who have committed even graver sins, and thus, your punishment will be greater; your final captivity will weigh heavier than the ones before. You also realize that through baptism, the unclean spirit is driven out, roaming through dry wastelands and finding no rest in unbaptized souls.

This is indeed very appropriate. If an individual, who has been liberated from sinful habits, fails to regain his discernment, he will inevitably find himself in a worse state than before. Hence, it is stated that such a person does not find rest (Mt. 12:43), indicating that he will certainly become vulnerable to the deceptions of evil spirits. He must come to his senses for two key reasons: first, due to the suffering he previously endured and from which he was rescued; and second, due to the grave risk of falling into even worse circumstances. Nonetheless, none of these reasons prompted any of them to amend their ways.

So that in these words the Lord signifies that some shall so believe, as not to have strength for the work of continence, and shall return to the world. He taketh unto him other seven, is to be understood that when any has fallen from righteousness, he shall also have hypocrisy. For the lust of the flesh being cast out of its wonted works by penitence, when it finds not any delights in which it may rest, returns the more greedily, and again takes possession of the soul, if carelessness has ensued, and there has not been introduced as the dweller in the cleansed abode the word of God in sound doctrine.

Upon receiving the gift of forgiveness for your transgressions, be vigilant in maintaining it, so that this forgiveness is anchored in God while your adherence rests upon you. How is this accomplished? Keep in mind the parable of Christ, as it serves as a profound source of assistance for you. An unclean and earthly spirit has been expelled from you during baptism. It abhors trials; it cannot endure being lost and destitute; it roams through desolate areas where the living water has ceased to flow, as this is where it prefers to dwell. It seeks solace but finds none. It approaches the souls of the baptized, where the filth has been cleansed by the sacramental waters. This spirit dreads water; its purification overwhelms it, reminiscent of a legion that perished in the depths of the sea.

Some suppose that this place is spoken of heretics, because the unclean spirit who dwelt in them before when they were Gentiles, is cast out before the confession of the true faith; when after they went over to heresy, and garnished their house with feigned virtues, then it is that the Devil, having taken to him other seven evil spirits, returns and dwells in them; and their last state becomes worse than their first. And indeed heretics are in a much worse condition than the Gentiles; for in the heretics was a hope of faith, in the Gentiles a war of discord. Yet though this exposition has a plausibility and a shew of learning, I am doubtful of its truth.

The deepest suffering can arise from fear of falling back into weakness and being cast out once again. The number seven signifies a multitude, representing the Evil Spirit who brings with him seven others, even worse than himself, embodying sins such as gluttony, followed by fornication, greed, wrath, despair, sloth, vanity, and pride. Initially, one demon tormented him; however, afterward, he faced many. The possessed individual illustrates that if someone is liberated from demonic grasp yet remains careless, they will experience a far more severe torment, mirroring the fate of this unfaithful and rebellious generation. Indeed, this came to pass. The Jews had previously been under demonic influence by worshipping idols and offering their children to them.

The dry places where no water is are the hearts of the righteous, which by the power of discipline are dried from all humours of carnal lust. The wet places are the minds of worldly men, which the humour of carnal lust fills, and makes watery; in such the Devil imprints his footsteps the more deeply, inasmuch as in his wanderings he comes down upon such hearts as upon low and marshy ground.

Or, the dry places are the hearts of the faithful, which after they have been purged from the weakness of loose thoughts, the crafty lier-in-wait tries if by any means he may fix his footsteps there; but flying from the chaste spirit, the Devil finds no resting-place to his mind but in the heart of the wicked; as it follows, and findeth none.

He calls the hearts of the Gentiles, dry places, as lacking all the moisture of wholesome waters, that is of the holy Scriptures, and of spiritual gifts, and strangers to the pouring in of the Holy Spirit.

In this situation, the malevolent spirit, alongside its sinful desires, departs and subsequently recruits seven even more wicked spirits to return with heightened strength and ferocity, bringing with them seven vices and fervent urges. Just as the Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts, these seven deadly sins become entrenched in the individual's being. Upon their return, these spirits take residence within him, and the state of that person becomes worse than before. Initially, there was still the possibility of redemption, but now malevolence has a stronger grip on his heart. This will be the fate of this wicked generation if you choose to disregard My words and increase your wrongdoing, even to the point of crucifying your Lord.

In the discourse concerning the unclean spirit, which finds no solace aside from its dwelling in humans, it is portrayed as possessing an insatiable desire to inflict harm upon others. Humanity is called to a state of perpetual vigilance over oneself after escaping the affliction of such malevolent entities; otherwise, these spirits may return, not in solitude, but accompanied by others, inflicting even greater torment than before. This section serves as a clear admonition to the once demon-possessed individual. However, the conclusion of the discourse extends its relevance to the entire wicked generation, against whom Christ pronounces a stern warning. What occurred with the restored demon-possessed man resonates with the fate of this sinful generation.

If, as we understand, even the Resurrection of the crucified and deceased Christ could not impact their hearts, what indeed could the unique sign that the Pharisees demanded signify? It would only serve to harm them rather than assist them. While it might create a temporary favorable impression, leading them to halt their persecution of Jesus and conceal their animosity and malice, how long would that last? Wouldn't their hidden anger eventually resurface, similar to those who have momentarily rid themselves of a consuming passion? Just as past grievances can return with even greater intensity, the same outcome could befall the Pharisees.

The term 'seven' can be understood not strictly but rather as symbolizing a vast number (see 1 Sam. 2:5, etc.). It can also signify a contrast: just as there are seven spiritual gifts, there exist likewise seven spirits of malice (Theophilus) or seven cardinal sins and vices. The phrase ‘So shall it be with this wicked generation’ indicates that despite all efforts to inspire faith and improve moral conduct, the level of unbelief and depravity is so entrenched that it will return to its core, akin to an evil spirit returning to a man, displaying even more intensity. This prophecy came to fruition.

Jesus Christ concluded His dialogue with the Pharisees by sharing a parable inspired by the healing of a man possessed by demons. In this teaching, the Lord illustrated the dire condition that the faithless Jewish people and Pharisees would eventually encounter. According to Blessed Theophylact, those liberated from the oppressive influence of evil spirits may experience an even greater downfall if they do not undergo true transformation. The unclean spirit departs from a person and wanders through arid places, seeking rest but finding none. It then declares, "I will return to my house from which I came," and upon arrival, discovers it to be cheerful, pure, and well-prepared.