All over the Old Testament and New, we see pictures. Pictures of spiritual blindness and even (or maybe especially) today, we struggle to really understand the war that rages in secret places. Many times Jesus is portrayed as a complete pacifist and -- to near cartoonish levels -- as a hippy. While love is written all over His life and work, sometimes that love is wrapped in hard casing, delivered matter-of-factly. “Go and sin no more” offered very directly to the woman caught in adultery. “Whoever keeps his life will lose it” in response to what it takes to follow Him. In yesterday’s reading, we saw Jesus in human form fully acting like the Son of the Most High God. On the heels of more than enough miracles to quench their unbelief, our Savior declined to do any further miracles for the scribes and pharisees.
Today, we find out why he will not do any further miracles for them. It has nothing to do with his lack of love for them, but His knowledge of the condition of their heart and of the collective heart of the Jewish nation. In 2 Corinthians 3:15-16 it says: 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
Jesus knows that their heart longs not for the truth but for idols to cling to, and He warns them with regard to their end.
Let’s read and unpack.
Matthew 12.43-45
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.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ Why would the “last state” of a person or nation be worse than the first when it comes to idol worship?
+ Often in Scripture the Jewish nation offers us a window into our own hearts. Do you have idols you have overcome? Could you see how their return would bring spiritual activity and destruction worse than before you overcame them? Why?
+ What did Jesus mean by “finds the house empty, swept and put in order”?
+ What parallels does the Jewish nation have with many nations today including America? What does our music, and our movies, and some of our culture say about the doors of idolatry we are opening?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ We are living in times that are in many ways looking increasingly dystopian. This is the time to pray that people might turn towards our Savior. Not only the Jewish nation but all mankind struggles with idols. Are you praying for others to return to God? Are you willing to be used to tell the world and to make disciples of all men?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?