Matthew 12:45

KJV

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G5119} goeth he {G4198}, and {G2532} taketh {G3880} with {G3326} himself {G1438} seven {G2033} other {G2087} spirits {G4151} more wicked {G4191} than himself {G1438}, and {G2532} they enter in {G1525} and dwell {G2730} there {G1563}: and {G2532} the last {G2078} state of that {G1565} man {G444} is {G1096} worse than {G5501} the first {G4413}. Even so {G3779} shall it be {G2071} also {G2532} unto this {G5026} wicked {G4190} generation {G1074}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they come and live there -- so that in the end, the person is worse off than he was before. This is how it will be for this wicked generation."

Berean Standard Bible

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”

American Standard Version

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 12:45 concludes Jesus' parable of the unclean spirit, serving as a profound warning about the dangers of spiritual emptiness and the escalating consequences of rejecting divine truth. It illustrates that a mere removal of evil, without a subsequent filling by God's Spirit, leaves one vulnerable to a far worse spiritual condition, a principle Jesus applies directly to the unbelieving generation of His day who had witnessed His power but refused to embrace Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic conclusion of Jesus' parable of the unclean spirit, found in [Matthew 12:43-45](/matthew/12-43-45 "Matthew 12:43-45 - The Parable of the Unclean Spirit"). Immediately preceding this, Jesus describes an unclean spirit leaving a person, only to find its former dwelling "empty, swept, and put in order." The critical turn in verse 45 is the spirit's return with "seven other spirits more wicked than himself," leading to a state "worse than the first." This parable is delivered within a broader discourse where Jesus is confronting the Pharisees, who have accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul ([Matthew 12:24](/matthew/12-24 "Matthew 12:24 - Pharisees Accuse Jesus")). The parable thus serves as a direct indictment of their spiritual hypocrisy: they may have outwardly cleansed themselves from idolatry or other overt sins, but their rejection of Jesus, the true source of spiritual purity and power, left them spiritually vacant and susceptible to a deeper, more profound wickedness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' reference to "this wicked generation" is crucial. Historically, the Jewish people had experienced periods of spiritual cleansing, particularly after the Babylonian exile, when idolatry largely ceased to be a national sin. Yet, by Jesus' time, many, especially the religious leaders, had replaced overt idolatry with a rigid, legalistic adherence to the Law, often devoid of true heart transformation or genuine faith. They were "swept clean" of some external vices but remained "empty" of the Spirit of God and resistant to the Messiah. Jesus' ministry, with its powerful miracles and authoritative teaching, presented a unique opportunity for repentance and spiritual filling. Their rejection of Him, despite overwhelming evidence, constituted a hardening of hearts that would lead them to a more severe spiritual judgment than previous generations who had not been exposed to such divine light.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Matthew's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **danger of a spiritual vacuum**: merely removing evil without replacing it with divine presence creates a void that invites greater spiritual darkness. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **escalating spiritual decline**: the "last state" being "worse than the first" emphasizes that rejection of truth leads to a progression into deeper sin and spiritual bondage, a concept echoed in passages like [Romans 1:24-32](/romans/1-24-32 "Romans 1:24-32 - God Gives Them Over to Their Sins"). Thirdly, it speaks to the **consequences of rejecting Christ**: Jesus' direct application to "this wicked generation" reveals that those who are exposed to the light of the Gospel but deliberately refuse to embrace it face a more severe judgment, as seen in [John 3:19](/john/3-19 "John 3:19 - Judgment for Unbelief"). Finally, the parable affirms the **reality and malevolence of demonic influence**, reminding believers of the ongoing spiritual battle and the need for divine indwelling to withstand it.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **ponēróteros (Greek, _ponēróteros'_):** This word, translated "more wicked," is the comparative form of _ponērós_ (G4190). While _ponērós_ signifies evil in its active, harmful, and malicious sense (differing from _kakós_, which refers to essential badness), _ponēróteros_ intensifies this, indicating a greater degree of active malevolence and destructiveness. The "seven other spirits" are not just bad, but actively and intensely more harmful than the original.
* **geneá (Greek, _geneá'_):** Translated "generation," this term (G1074) refers to a specific age or the people living within a particular period. Here, Jesus uses it to designate the contemporary Jewish people, particularly their spiritual and moral character, which He deems "wicked" (_ponērós_). It emphasizes a collective spiritual condition of unbelief and resistance to God's truth, despite having witnessed His Son.
* **éschatos (Greek, _éschatos'_):** Meaning "last" (G2078), this superlative term denotes the final or farthest point in place or time. In this context, "the last state" refers to the ultimate, deteriorated spiritual condition of the man (and by analogy, the generation). It highlights the severity and finality of the decline, emphasizing that the end result is profoundly worse than the initial condition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself":** This clause describes the deliberate and strategic action of the unclean spirit. Having found its former dwelling empty, it actively seeks out and recruits a greater force of evil. The number "seven" (G2033, _heptá_) often symbolizes completeness or totality in biblical numerology, suggesting an overwhelming and comprehensive increase in demonic presence and influence. This is not a mere return but an invasion by a significantly amplified power of darkness.
* **"and they enter in and dwell there":** This signifies the successful re-occupation and establishment of the demonic presence. The verb "dwell" (G2730, _katoikéō_) implies a permanent or settled habitation, not just a temporary visit. This emphasizes the profound and entrenched nature of the spiritual bondage that results from the empty spiritual state.
* **"and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first":** This is the core warning of the parable. The spiritual condition after the return of the spirits is not merely a regression but a severe deterioration. The "first" state refers to the condition before the initial expulsion of the spirit, while the "last" state is the result of the re-entry with amplified evil. This highlights the grave danger of superficial spiritual cleansing without genuine, sustained transformation and divine indwelling.
* **"Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation":** This is Jesus' direct application of the parable's principle. He equates the "man" in the parable with the "wicked generation" of His day, particularly the Jewish leaders and people who rejected Him. They had been "cleansed" from overt idolatry (a "first state" relative to their ancestors), but their refusal to accept Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit left them spiritually empty, making them susceptible to a more profound and damning spiritual blindness and opposition to God's truth.

#### Literary Devices
Jesus employs several potent literary devices in this verse and the preceding parable. The entire narrative functions as a **Parable**, a short, illustrative story teaching a moral or spiritual lesson. The "house" in the parable serves as a powerful **Metaphor** for the human heart or spiritual condition. When the spirit returns to find the house "empty, swept, and put in order," it creates a stark **Irony**: what appears to be an improved state (clean and orderly) is, in fact, a state of extreme vulnerability. The phrase "seven other spirits more wicked than himself" uses a form of **Hyperbole** to emphasize the overwhelming and intensified nature of the subsequent spiritual attack, with "seven" often symbolizing completeness. Finally, Jesus concludes with a direct **Analogy**, drawing a clear parallel between the man's deteriorating spiritual state and the impending spiritual judgment upon "this wicked generation" due to their rejection of Him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly underscores the biblical truth that a spiritual vacuum cannot long remain. God's design for humanity is not merely the absence of evil, but the active presence and indwelling of His Spirit. When a person or a people are exposed to divine truth and experience a measure of spiritual cleansing (like the expulsion of the spirit), but fail to embrace the Lord and allow Him to fill their lives, they become vulnerable to a far greater spiritual darkness. This principle applies not just to individuals but to communities and generations, serving as a stark warning against superficial religiosity or a temporary turning from sin without genuine, ongoing commitment to Christ. The "last state" being "worse than the first" highlights the increased culpability and deeper spiritual bondage that results from rejecting the light once it has been revealed.

* [Hebrews 6:4-6](/hebrews/6-4-6 "Hebrews 6:4-6 - The Danger of Falling Away")
* [2 Peter 2:20-22](/2_peter/2-20-22 "2 Peter 2:20-22 - Worse Than Before")
* [Luke 11:24-26](/luke/11-24-26 "Luke 11:24-26 - The Return of the Unclean Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 12:45 serves as a sobering reminder that spiritual neutrality is an illusion and a dangerous state. It's not enough to simply stop doing bad things or to remove negative influences from our lives. True spiritual health and protection come from actively inviting the Holy Spirit to indwell, fill, and transform us. A "swept and put in order" life, if left empty of God's presence, becomes an open invitation for greater evil to take root, leading to a condition far worse than before. This calls us to a vigilant and proactive faith: continually seeking God's presence, saturating our minds with His Word, and yielding our lives to the Holy Spirit's guidance. For those who have heard the Gospel, this passage is a solemn warning against hardening one's heart; the greater the light received, the greater the potential for spiritual decline if that light is rejected. We must not mistake outward morality or religious observance for true spiritual vitality, which is found only in an abiding relationship with Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "empty spaces" might exist in my life, even after I've tried to "clean up" certain areas?**
* **How actively am I seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit and God's Word, rather than just avoiding sin?**
* **In what ways might a superficial or temporary commitment to faith leave me more vulnerable to spiritual decline?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of spiritual warfare and the importance of an ongoing relationship with Christ?**

### FAQ

**Does this passage imply that a true believer can lose their salvation?**

Answer: This passage is primarily a warning to those who have been exposed to the truth of Christ but have resisted or rejected Him, rather than a direct statement about the security of a genuine believer's salvation. Jesus applies the parable to "this wicked generation," referring to the Jewish people and their leaders who witnessed His miracles and teachings but refused to repent and believe. Their "first state" was one where they were outwardly cleansed (e.g., from idolatry after the exile), but their rejection of the Messiah left them spiritually empty and thus vulnerable to a "worse" state of hardened unbelief and greater spiritual darkness. The parable emphasizes the danger of a spiritual vacuum and the consequences of rejecting the light of Christ, not the inability of God to preserve those truly born again. Other scriptures, such as [John 10:28-29](/john/10-28-29 "John 10:28-29 - No One Can Snatch Them Out of My Hand"), speak to the security of believers who are genuinely in Christ. The warning here is against a superficial or temporary turning from sin without a true, abiding relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 12:45, while a stark warning, ultimately points to the necessity of Christ for true spiritual transformation and security. The "empty, swept, and put in order" house represents a state of spiritual cleansing that, without the indwelling presence of Christ, remains vulnerable. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), provides the initial cleansing from sin, but He also offers the ultimate solution to spiritual emptiness: the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is through faith in Him that believers are not merely cleansed but also filled with the [Spirit of God](/romans/8-9-11 "Romans 8:9-11 - The Spirit of God Dwells in You"), who empowers them to live righteously and withstand the attacks of evil. The "last state" being "worse than the first" underscores the profound tragedy of rejecting the very One who offers lasting spiritual dwelling and protection. For those who open their hearts to Christ, He promises to [come in and sup with them](/revelation/3-20 "Revelation 3:20 - Jesus Stands at the Door"), making His home within them, ensuring their spiritual house is not left empty but eternally guarded by His divine presence. This passage thus highlights the critical difference between mere moral improvement and true spiritual regeneration found only in Christ, who fills the void and secures the soul against all spiritual adversaries.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 11:26

Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first.

Hebrews 6:4

For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Hebrews 6:8

But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.

Hebrews 10:26

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:31

[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Mark 5:9

And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many.

Mark 16:9

¶ Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.