Matthew 12:43
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
When an unclean spirit
The phrase "unclean spirit" refers to a demon or evil spirit, which in the Jewish context of the time, was understood as a malevolent being opposed to God. The Greek word for "unclean" is "akathartos," meaning impure or morally unclean. In the historical context of first-century Judea, unclean spirits were believed to cause physical and spiritual afflictions. The presence of such spirits was a common understanding in the spiritual worldview of the time, reflecting the ongoing battle between good and evil.

comes out of a man
This phrase indicates the departure of an evil spirit from a person, suggesting a deliverance or exorcism. The Greek word "exerchomai" means to go out or depart. In the scriptural context, Jesus often cast out demons, demonstrating His authority over evil. This act of deliverance signifies a moment of liberation and cleansing for the individual, aligning with the broader biblical theme of redemption and restoration.

it passes through arid places
The "arid places" or "waterless places" are symbolic of desolation and barrenness. The Greek word "anidros" means dry or without water. In ancient Jewish thought, such places were often associated with the habitation of demons, as they were inhospitable and devoid of life. This imagery underscores the restlessness and dissatisfaction of the unclean spirit, which finds no rest or fulfillment in these barren regions.

seeking rest
The term "rest" here is translated from the Greek word "anapausis," meaning cessation or relief. The unclean spirit's search for rest highlights its inherent unrest and turmoil. In a broader theological sense, this reflects the nature of evil as being in constant conflict and discontent, unable to find peace apart from God.

but does not find it
This phrase emphasizes the futility of the unclean spirit's search. The Greek word "heurisko" means to find or discover. The inability to find rest signifies the ultimate emptiness and dissatisfaction inherent in evil. In a spiritual context, it serves as a reminder that true rest and peace can only be found in God, contrasting the restless nature of evil with the peace offered by Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Unclean Spirit
Refers to a demon or evil spirit that has been cast out of a person. In the context of the Bible, these spirits are often associated with causing harm or leading people away from God.

2. Man
Represents the individual from whom the unclean spirit has been expelled. This person is left in a vulnerable state if not filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. Arid Places
Symbolic of desolate or dry regions where the unclean spirit wanders. In biblical terms, these places are often seen as devoid of life and spiritual nourishment.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Vigilance
Believers must remain vigilant and spiritually alert, understanding that evil forces seek to exploit any spiritual voids.

The Importance of Filling the Void
When a person is delivered from evil, it is crucial to fill the void with the Holy Spirit and God's Word to prevent the return of unclean spirits.

The Nature of Evil
Evil spirits are restless and constantly seek to inhabit and influence individuals. Recognizing this nature helps believers to guard their hearts and minds.

The Role of Spiritual Discernment
Christians are called to discern spiritual influences and ensure that their lives are aligned with God's will, avoiding spiritual complacency.

Community and Accountability
Engaging in a community of believers provides support and accountability, helping individuals to remain spiritually strong and protected.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the passage teach us about the nature of unclean spirits and their behavior after being cast out?

2. How can we apply the concept of "arid places" to our spiritual lives, and what steps can we take to avoid becoming spiritually dry?

3. In what ways can we ensure that our lives are filled with the Holy Spirit to prevent the return of unclean spirits?

4. How does Ephesians 6:12 inform our understanding of the spiritual battle described in Matthew 12:43?

5. What role does community play in helping us maintain spiritual vigilance and accountability, and how can we actively participate in such a community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Luke 11:24-26
This passage parallels Matthew 12:43-45, providing additional context about the behavior of unclean spirits and the importance of spiritual vigilance.

Ephesians 6:12
Highlights the spiritual battle against evil forces, emphasizing the need for believers to be spiritually equipped.

1 Peter 5:8
Warns believers to be sober-minded and watchful, as the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
Clean, But EmptyR. Tuck Matthew 12:43
Last State Worse than FirstMarcus Dods Matthew 12:38-45
One Inevitable Law of JudgmentP.C. Barker Matthew 12:38-45
The Sign-SeekersJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 12:38-45
A Natural Improvement, not a Saving OperationB. Keach.Matthew 12:43-45
Furnished, But VacantT. C. FinlaysonMatthew 12:43-45
Partial SweepingB. Keach.Matthew 12:43-45
ReactionT. C. Finlayson.Matthew 12:43-45
Satanic Disquietude When Cast Out of ManMatthew 12:43-45
Satanic Relaxation not ExpulsionT. Adams.Matthew 12:43-45
The Apostate, or Black SaintT. Adams.Matthew 12:43-45
The Concealed OccupantT. Adams.Matthew 12:43-45
The Dangers of RelapseT. T. Munger.Matthew 12:43-45
The Empty HouseW.F. Adeney Matthew 12:43-45
The Empty LifeBishop H. C. Potter.Matthew 12:43-45
The Entrance of EvilBishop Cosin.Matthew 12:43-45
The Genius of Moral EvilDr. Thomas.Matthew 12:43-45
The Heart a HouseT. Adams.Matthew 12:43-45
The House Swept and GarnishedExpository OutlinesMatthew 12:43-45
The Return of the Dispossessed SpiritH. Melvill, B. D.Matthew 12:43-45
To Let, FurnishedT. C. Finlayson.Matthew 12:43-45
Transient Religious ImpressionsH. Bromley.Matthew 12:43-45
People
Beelzebub, David, Isaiah, Jesus, Jonah, Jonas, Ninevites, Solomon
Places
Galilee, Nineveh
Topics
Arid, Doesn't, Dry, Findeth, Finding, Finds, Forth, Foul, Getting, Goes, However, None, Passes, Passeth, Places, Rest, Roams, Seeking, Sooner, Spirit, Unclean, Walk, Walketh, Waterless
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 12:43

     5933   restlessness

Matthew 12:39-45

     2009   Christ, anger of
     5694   generation

Matthew 12:43-45

     4131   demons, kinds of
     4133   demons, possession by
     4134   demons, exorcism
     4165   exorcism
     5340   house
     5354   invasions
     7342   cleanliness

Library
An Attempt to Account for Jesus
'But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.'--MATT. xii. 24. Mark's Gospel tells us that this astonishing explanation of Christ and His work was due to the ingenious malice of an ecclesiastical deputation, sent down from Jerusalem to prevent the simple folk in Galilee from being led away by this new Teacher. They must have been very hard put to it to explain undeniable but unwelcome facts, when they hazarded such a preposterous
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Make the Tree Good'
'... Make the tree good, and his fruit good....' --MATT. xii. 33. In this Gospel we find that our Lord twice uses this image of a tree and its fruit. In the Sermon on the Mount He applies it as a test to false teachers, who hide, beneath the wool of the sheep's clothing, the fangs and paws of ravening wolves. He says, 'By their deeds ye shall know them; for as is the tree so is its fruit.' That is a rough and ready test, which applies rather to the teacher than to his doctrine, but it applies, to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'A Greater than Jonas'
'A greater than Jonas is here.'--MATT. xii. 41. There never was any man in his right mind, still more of influence on his fellows, who made such claims as to himself in such unmistakable language as Jesus Christ does. To say such things of oneself as come from His lips is a sign of a weak, foolish nature. It is fatal to all influence, to all beauty of character. It is not only that He claims official attributes as a fanatical or dishonest pretender to inspiration may do. He does that, but He does
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'A Greater than Solomon'
'A greater than Solomon is here.'--MATT. xii. 42. It is condescension in Him to compare Himself with any; yet if any might have been selected, it is that great name. To the Jews Solomon is an ideal figure, who appealed so strongly to popular imagination as to become the centre of endless legends; whose dominion was the very apex of national glory, in recounting whose splendours the historical books seem to be scarce able to restrain their triumph and pride. I. The Man. The story gives us a richly
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Pharisees' Sabbath and Christ's
'At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2. But when the Pharisees saw it they said unto Him, Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. 3. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, "Whosoever Shall Speak a Word against the Holy Spirit, it Shall not be Forgiven Him, Neither In
1. There has been a great question raised touching the late lesson of the Gospel, to the solution of which I am unequal by any power of mine own; but "our sufficiency is of God," [2335] to whatever degree we are capable of receiving His aid. First then consider the magnitude of the question; that when ye see the weight of it laid upon my shoulders, ye may pray in aid of my labours, and in the assistance which is vouchsafed to me, may find edification for your own souls. When "one possessed with a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, "Either Make the Tree Good, and Its Fruit Good," Etc.
1. The Lord Jesus hath admonished us, that we be good trees, and that so we may be able to bear good fruits. For He saith, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by his fruit." [2484] When He says, "Make the tree good, and his fruit good;" this of course is not an admonition, but a wholesome precept, to which obedience is necessary. But when He saith, "Make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt;" this is not a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
I. First, we have before us a view of MORTAL FRAILTY And first, the encouragement offered in our text applies to weak ones. What in the world is weaker than the bruised reed, or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it and it is bruised and broken; every wind that comes howling across the river makes it shake to and fro, and well nigh tears it up by the roots. You can conceive of nothing
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

How to Read the Bible
I. That is the subject of our present discourse, or, at least the first point of it, that IN ORDER TO THE TRUE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES THERE MUST BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEM. I scarcely need to preface these remarks by saying that we must read the Scriptures. You know how necessary it is that we should be fed upon the truth of Holy Scripture. Need I suggest the question as to whether you do read your Bibles or not? I am afraid that this is a magazine reading age a newspaper reading age a periodical
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 25: 1879

Strength in the Weak.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench."--MATT. xii. 20. Strength in the Weak. Will Jesus accept such a heart as mine?--this erring, treacherous, traitor heart? The past! how many forgotten vows--broken covenants--prayerless days! How often have I made new resolutions, and as often has the reed succumbed to the first blast of temptation, and the burning flax been well-nigh quenched by guilty omissions and guiltier commissions! Oh!
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Identity of Christ's Character.
THE argument expressed by this title I apply principally to the comparison of the first three Gospels with that of Saint John. It is known to every reader of Scripture that the passages of Christ's history preserved by Saint John are, except his passion and resurrection, for the most part different from those which are delivered by the other evangelists. And I think the ancient account of this difference to be the true one, viz., that Saint John wrote after the rest, and to supply what he thought
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart.
1. Manifest formality in religious exercises. A stereotyped, formal way of saying and doing things, that is clearly the result of habit, rather than the outgushing of the religious life. This formality will be emotionless and cold as an iceberg, and will evince a total want of earnestness in the performance of religious duty. In prayer and in religious exercises the backslider in heart will pray or praise, or confess, or give thanks with his lips, so that all can hear him, perhaps, but in such a
Charles G. Finney—The Backslider in Heart

Lesser and Fuller Forms.
Moreover, we have endeavoured to use the fullest form, including the words of those Gospels which have the lesser forms of sentences, except where the sentence ends in a period, in which case have given the least form, so that the larger form of the other Gospels might be made apparent; as, for instance, this sentence, taken from Matt. xii. 47; Mark iii. 32; Luke viii. 20: ^c 20 And it was told him, ^a Behold, thy mother and thy brethren bseek for thee. ^c stand without desiring to see thee. ^a seeking
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
(Probably While on the Way from Jerusalem to Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 1-8; ^B Mark II. 23-28; ^C Luke VI. 1-5. ^b 23 And ^c 1 Now it came to pass ^a 1 At that season ^b that he ^a Jesus went { ^b was going} on the { ^c a} ^b sabbath day through the grainfields; ^a and his disciples were hungry and began ^b as they went, to pluck the ears. ^a and to eat, ^c and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. [This lesson fits in chronological order with the last, if the Bethesda
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals Multitudes Beside the Sea of Galilee.
^A Matt. XII. 15-21; ^B Mark III. 7-12. ^a 15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew ^b with his disciples ^a from thence: ^b to the sea [This was the first withdrawal of Jesus for the avowed purpose of self-preservation. After this we find Jesus constantly retiring to avoid the plots of his enemies. The Sea of Galilee, with its boats and its shores touching different jurisdictions, formed a convenient and fairly safe retreat]: ^a and many followed him; ^b and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Christ's Teaching as to his Mother and Brethren.
(Galilee, Same Day as the Last Lesson.) ^A Matt. XII. 46-50; ^B Mark III. 31-35; ^C Luke VIII. 19-21. ^a 46 While he yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without seeking to speak to him. [Jesus was in a house, probably at Capernaum--Mark iii. 19; Matt. xiii. 1.] ^c 19 and there came { ^b come} ^c to him his mother and ^b his brethren; ^c and they could not come at him for the crowd. ^a and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Healing a Withered Hand on the Sabbath.
(Probably Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 9-14; ^B Mark III. 1-6; ^C Luke VI. 6-11. ^a 9 And he departed thence. [The word here points to a journey as in Matt. xi. 1 and xv. 29, which are the only places where Matthew uses this expression. Greswell may be right in thinking that it indicates the return back to Galilee from the Passover, since a cognate expression used by John expresses such a journey from Galilee to Judæa. See John vii. 3 ], ^c 6 And it came to pass on another sabbath [another sabbath
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Acceptance of the Christian Conception of Life Will Emancipate Men from the Miseries of Our Pagan Life.
The External Life of Christian Peoples Remains Pagan Though they are Penetrated by Christian Consciousness--The Way Out of this Contradiction is by the Acceptance of the Christian Theory of Life--Only Through Christianity is Every Man Free, and Emancipated of All Human Authority--This Emancipation can be Effected by no Change in External Conditions of Life, but Only by a Change in the Conception of Life--The Christian Ideal of Life Requires Renunciation of all Violence, and in Emancipating the Man
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn by the Disciples, and the Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand
IN grouping together the three miracles of healing described in the last chapter, we do not wish to convey that it is certain they had taken place in precisely that order. Nor do we feel sure, that they preceded what is about to be related. In the absence of exact data, the succession of events and their location must be matter of combination. From their position in the Evangelic narratives, and the manner in which all concerned speak and act, we inferred, that they took place at that particular
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The First Peræan Discourses - to the Pharisees Concerning the Two Kingdoms - their Contest - what Qualifies a Disciple for the Kingdom of God, And
It was well that Jesus should, for the present, have parted from Jerusalem with words like these. They would cling about His hearers like the odour of incense that had ascended. Even the schism' that had come among them [4194] concerning His Person made it possible not only to continue His Teaching, but to return to the City once more ere His final entrance. For, His Peræan Ministry, which extended from after the Feast of Tabernacles to the week preceding the last Passover, was, so to speak,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Opposition to Jesus.
During the first period of his career, it does not appear that Jesus met with any serious opposition. His preaching, thanks to the extreme liberty which was enjoyed in Galilee, and to the number of teachers who arose on all hands, made no noise beyond a restricted circle. But when Jesus entered upon a path brilliant with wonders and public successes, the storm began to gather. More than once he was obliged to conceal himself and fly.[1] Antipas, however, did not interfere with him, although Jesus
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

The Cardinal was Seated, -- He Rose as Moretti Appeared. ...
The Cardinal was seated,--he rose as Moretti appeared. "I beg your Eminence to spare yourself!" said Moretti suavely, with a deep salutation, "And to pardon me for thus coming unannounced into the presence of one so highly esteemed by the Holy Father as Cardinal Bonpre!" The Cardinal gave a gesture of courteous deprecation; and Monsignor Moretti, lifting his, till then, partially lowered eyelids, flashed an angry regard upon the Abbe Vergniaud, who resting his back against the book-case behind him,
Marie Corelli—The Master-Christian

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