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.”
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus uses a parable of a man cleansed from an evil spirit to describe the state of the nation of Israel. They are the man. From the time they were brought out of Egypt, they engaged in idolatry until God cleansed the nation during the exile to Babylon. At the time of Jesus, they were not engaged in idol worship and Jesus is wanting to take entrance into the clean house, but they reject Him. Without Jesus as Lord, the emptiness of the house is like a vacuum just waiting to be occupied by something. The spirit returns with seven other spirits. The number seven is used to represent perfection or completeness in the Bible. This probably refers to the nation returning to idolatry in a more complete form which the Bible predicts for the time of the Tribulation. By rejecting their Saviour, the nation has opened itself up to a worse condition than it had been previously. The same can be true in our lives. When we recognise sin, we can attempt to clean it up and even get it right. But if we don’t replace our sinful habits with good, godly habits, then we are exposed to the sin returning in an even worse state than before. Be careful not to just try to remove sin, but work to develop godly, spiritual habits that are transformative—don’t leave the house empty, let God fill it.
When His family arrives, Jesus uses that as another teaching opportunity. A relationship with Jesus doesn’t come through family ties or through culture but only through obedience to the will of God, which is that we believe in Jesus (John 6:28-29, 39-40). You are not a Christian because your family are Christians. You are not a Christian because you go to church or live in a Christian culture. The only way to be a part of God’s family is through personal belief in Jesus for your own salvation (John 1:12-13).
I did my quiet time just don’t really have anything to add😊
I am going to try serve my family more which will be a way of also serving God and the people he has given me
The thing I have learnt out of this passage was that try to help people with small things cause it could make a big difference for someone who can afford it
Verse 49 stood out to me the most. We should love our brothers and sisters in christ as much as we love our real family
Shoo, not returning to old sins. True Repentance. Very convicting. Thank You