Matthew 12:43-50--The Return of the Unclean Spirit and Jesus' Mother and Brothers

​Matthew 12:43-50 English Standard Version (ESV)
Return of an Unclean Spirit
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Jesus' Mother and Brothers
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

---

Remember that Jesus has just been in a debate with the Pharisees about under what authority He casts out demons and by what authority they cast out demons.  Jesus now gives some insight into the spiritual realm to say that when a demon is cast out of a man it is as if that demon is cast out into a desert place where there is no rest or comfort and it is miserable for the demon, but the demon still has free will to return.  It is not as if the demon is suddenly imprisoned and unable to harm anyone ever again.

In this story, Jesus tells of the fact that the demon returns and finds the "house" (the person's soul) in a condition ready to accept visitors and invite guests over--I take this to mean that even though the demon was cast out the person is still lost and living in way that is inviting and welcoming to the evil spirits and that they've neither repented nor set up anything that would act as a "lock" on the door to prevent them engaging in the old habits that got them in trouble.  Kicking the unclean spirit out isn't enough if the house doesn't change ownership.  If this demon had returned and the Holy Spirit had taken up residence in the man's heart, there is no way that the demon would have felt welcomed or able to invite his seven "friends" over--putting the man in an even more demonized state than before.

I think of issues like drug addiction here where people go into programs and rehab, or maybe even go to jail and they "get clean" for a time but as soon as they come out they immediately get a "fix" and get high because the issues in their lives were never resolved and they are still ripe for substance abuse to escape that reality, however there is a law of diminishing returns involved and they have to use more powerful drugs more often and they may even get to the point where they intentionally try to overdose or or take something that they know will kill them.  At times they may even admit that they hear demons telling them to kill themselves.  Often this is simply attributed to mental illness and them "hearing voices," but I'm not convinced that demons don't play a role in men going into an altered mental state where they are susceptible to being demonized.  The Greed word for witchcraft is the same word we get "pharmaceuticals" (drugs) and "pharmacy" and "pharmacist" from.  However, any time we put ourselves into the state of a "trance" or altered mental state or "empty our minds" to listen to our inner voice, we are in danger of listening to the voice of demons and inviting them in.  This is why those of you who are my friends know that I warn so many of you in participating in yoga and condemn the idea of "Christian yoga" because Christians have no place in mixing the true God of Christianity with the paganism and witchcraft of this religious system that is a gateway to get people involved and trapped in Hinduism.  While we have not gotten to the Pauline epistles yet, we will soon get there and study these verses:

​2 Corinthians 6:14-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Moving onto the next part of today's reading, Jesus is then immediately confronted by his own family who wanted Him to come away with Him.  Whatever the reason they wanted Him, Jesus knew both their hearts and the temptation that He would face to not complete His mission He had been sent on if He left to go home with them.  My hypothesis is this might have been the point where Joseph died as it is the first time we see only Jesus' brothers, sisters, and mother mentioned without Joseph also being mentioned and from here on out Joseph appears to be referenced in the past tense.  If so, it would make a lot of sense to say "Jesus, come home for the funeral." or "Jesus, you are the firstborn and it's your responsibility to take over the business and take care of the family now."

Whatever the reason (which, again, I admit we don't really know because the text does not tell us), Jesus makes a choice to send what may be viewed as an odd message back to them (but maybe not so odd, but still very hurtful I'm sure, if my speculation is correct).  If they were asking Jesus to come home and take care of His family, Jesus' reply of "This is my family.  Here are my brothers and mother (pointing to His followers)" would be a definite response of "That responsibility needs to pass to someone else because I already have these people to care for, and I choose these people first.  Jesus just told us in Chapter 10 that whoever wasn't willing to leave family behind wasn't worthy to follow after Him.  I think this is Jesus putting those words into practice in His own life.  Jesus still loved His family very much as we'll see in other places, but when it comes to God's calling for your life, family obligations should not stand in the way of obedience, nor should we as friends and family attempt to stand in the way of the mission we know God has called someone to.