Mat 12:43-45 | MHM | STEP | v. 43-45 : Jesus tells a parable about an unclean spirit. It leaves a person, but later returns with seven other spirits, making the person worse than before (Matthew 12:43-45 ). The evil spirit is restless and always looking to do harm (Proverbs 4:16 ). When Jesus cast out demons, it was permanent, but sometimes the devil would leave and come back with more power. This is what happens to people or nations who start to change for the better, but then turn away from God. After the Jews returned from Babylon, they stopped worshiping idols but soon became proud and unbelieving. Because they rejected Jesus, their final state would be worse than before. In the end, they would face great trouble and judgment (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 ). This is a warning to all people and churches: if we turn away from the good we have learned, our last state can become worse than the first.

‏ Matthew 12:43-45

v. 43-45: Jesus tells a parable about an unclean spirit. It leaves a person, but later returns with seven other spirits, making the person worse than before (Matthew 12:43-45 ^a). The evil spirit is restless and always looking to do harm (Proverbs 4:16 ^b). When Jesus cast out demons, it was permanent, but sometimes the devil would leave and come back with more power. This is what happens to people or nations who start to change for the better, but then turn away from God. After the Jews returned from Babylon, they stopped worshiping idols but soon became proud and unbelieving. Because they rejected Jesus, their final state would be worse than before. In the end, they would face great trouble and judgment (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 ^c). This is a warning to all people and churches: if we turn away from the good we have learned, our last state can become worse than the first.

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