Matthew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”
Every year, especially around New Year’s Eve, we hear people say, “This year I’m going to do better, this year I’m going to change my ways, this year I’m going to turn over a new leaf.”
That is a commendable goal to set, but unfortunately it usually doesn’t work because they are living in the same old sin-cursed body. Unless you change the old and make it new, you’re always going to be the same. That old man must be changed, and the only way that can happen is to have a new birth, or, a brand new start. Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” That means there must be a change of heart, and that can only occur by faith in Jesus Christ. Oh, you may clean up a little and put on a good outward show. But unless there is a heart change, you are still the same and are just living a lie. And sooner or later, the real you will show up, and will be far worse than before. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7 “For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” We can only put on a show for so long.
Our text identifies a man who attempts to turn over a new leaf without the new birth. He cleans himself up and gets rid of all that he knows is wrong. He begins to do some good deeds and trys to avoid bad company and activities. He works hard at living right, and that is commendable. But something is lacking, and that something is the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who must take up the space and fill the void that remained when everything else left. He tried to add prayer to a life that was not accustomed to spending time with a personal God. He may have tried to add a little Church attendance into a life that was not committed to the Lord’s Church. He probably put a little money into the offering plate without putting his life into it. He wanted to put some good deeds into a life that was not saturated with the goodness of Christ.
After doing all that he could do, he could still find no peace, and finally gave up and returned to the old life and became far worse than he had ever been before. According to the Scripture, he became seven times worse because he did not put Christ into his heart to fill up the vacuum that was left. He tried to put good into the bad, and new into the old, and it just would not work. A new life can only come from a new heart; a good life can only come from a good heart; and without salvation, good works are only good for this life.
See also Matthew 9:16, 17.