Matthew 12:43-45 "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 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. 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."
Jesus has been dealing with the self-righteousness of the Pharisees throughout most of this chapter. He has repeatedly pointed out the falsehoods they profess, all to discredit the very One they claimed to be looking for. The Pharisees were not really seeking a Savior in the sense that they saw themselves as needy sinners. Their desire was for one to come and “save” them by elevating them above other men and to make them rulers in the land.
In our verses this morning, Jesus is describing their hypocritical nature and the result of it. To properly consider what is being said here, we must consider the last statement first. This is the condition of those who engage in false religious piety. Their end is always worse than their beginning.
The Pharisees (and all who have a self-righteous countenance) try to appear as though they live above the sins of other men. Consider the parable that Jesus taught concerning the Pharisee and publican who came to pray. The Pharisee began his so-called prayer by reminding God that He was better than other men, especially men like the lowly publican. The Pharisee gladly pointed out all the good things he was doing.
When we try to serve God with human determination, we can go to great extremes to prove our dedication. We can throw away all the books and magazines that we think give us a bad look. We can get rid of our televisions, avoid social media, and point a finger at all the others who are not trying as hard as we are. Our efforts might make it appear on the surface that we are not bothered by an unclean spirit, that our house (life) is so clean that Satan does not have anywhere to get a toehold.
Dear ones, if we are living “godly” according to our own understanding and strength, it will not last. Our carnality is going to come roaring back, and we will find ourselves (like the Pharisees) denying the very one that we claim we are looking for. Christ alone is the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). The way that men would choose are, in the end, paths of destruction (Proverbs 14:12).