The house is Israel. The work of John the Baptist and Jesus brought Israel cleansing, in baptism for the forgiveness of sins, in healings, and in demons driven out. The Pharisees and teachers of the law did not promote the residence of the Spirit of God in the house of Israel instead, because they refused to accept Jesus as Messiah.
It signifies Israel. Through the ministry of John the Baptist and the work of Jesus, Israel underwent a form of cleansing. Many submitted to baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and many illnesses were healed and demons were driven out. The house of Israel therefore appeared swept clean and neatly ordered.
The purpose of this cleansing was that the Spirit of God should come to dwell there, and that the people should honour Jesus as Lord of this renewed house. This, however, did not happen. The insinuating and critical questions of the Pharisees and teachers of the law made clear that they sought to benefit from the ministry of Jesus without accepting him as Messiah. They allowed him to cleanse the house, but kept the door shut to him. As a result, the house remained empty—a condition fraught with danger.1
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.