Luke 11:25

And when he cometh, he findeth [it] swept and garnished.

And {G2532} when he cometh {G2064}, he findeth {G2147} it swept {G4563} and {G2532} garnished {G2885}.

When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Luke 11:25 is part of a crucial parable taught by Jesus, illustrating the spiritual dangers of a life that has been cleansed of evil but not subsequently filled with good or with the presence of God. The verse describes the state of a "house" (representing a person's life) after an unclean spirit has departed and returns.

Context

This verse is found within a broader discourse where Jesus has just cast out a demon, leading to accusations that He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons (Luke 11:15). Jesus refutes this, stating that He casts out demons by the "finger of God" (Luke 11:20). The parable of the returning unclean spirit (Luke 11:24-26) serves as a warning against merely removing evil without replacing it with spiritual truth and the presence of Christ. The preceding verse, Luke 11:24, sets the stage for the spirit's return, finding the house ready for re-occupation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Emptiness: The primary message is the peril of a spiritual vacuum. While the "swept and garnished" house appears orderly and clean, it is empty of a positive, indwelling presence. This emptiness makes it highly susceptible to re-invasion.
  • Superficial Cleansing: The verse highlights that outward reformation or the removal of obvious sins is insufficient for true spiritual security. Without a deeper transformation and filling, the life remains vulnerable.
  • The Need for Divine Occupation: The parable implicitly teaches that once evil is expelled, the space must be occupied by God's Spirit. A life merely free from evil is not necessarily filled with good.

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "swept" comes from the Greek sesaroménon (σεσαρωμένον), meaning thoroughly cleaned or swept.
  • "Garnished" is from kekosmeménon (κεκοσμημένον), which implies decorated, put in order, or made attractive. This suggests not just cleanliness, but an appearance of readiness or even welcome, making the empty space appealing for the returning spirit.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful warning for believers and non-believers alike. It teaches that:

  • Conversion Requires More Than Renunciation: It's not enough to simply stop doing bad things or to be freed from certain bondages. True spiritual health requires inviting Christ into one's life and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • Vulnerability of an Empty Life: A life that has been "cleaned up" but not filled with the Spirit of God, prayer, Scripture, and fellowship, remains dangerously exposed. The absence of positive spiritual engagement creates an inviting space for former habits or even worse influences to return, as seen in Luke 11:26.
  • Proactive Spiritual Cultivation: We must actively cultivate a relationship with God, allowing Him to occupy and transform our inner lives, rather than leaving a spiritual void. This aligns with the broader teaching of Matthew 12:43-45.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jude 1:8

    ¶ Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

  • Jude 1:13

    Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9

    [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:12

    That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

  • 2 Peter 2:10

    ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

  • 2 Peter 2:19

    While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

  • Matthew 12:44

    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.

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