Today's Text: Matthew 12:43-45
One of the difficulties we have with parables is deciding just how far to take the application. We know this parable is not literal. One does not take a broom to sweep out one's insides. It certainly does not seem likely that a person would intentionally clean up one's "inner life" for the
expressed purpose of welcoming an evil spirit back. So it seems more likely that the clean up occurs with a sense of relief and an effort to "get things back to normal."
Jesus focuses the parable on "this wicked generation." So we should be careful about understanding this in a singular sense. Jesus may be warning the
House of Israel not to expect that just "getting back to normal" will prevent the return of destructive evil spirits. Think about Oak Ridge.
What are the evil spirits that tear churches apart? And if they leave us for a time, what can we do besides
tidy up the place in order to prevent them from taking up residence again?
