What does it mean that an unclean spirit returns to the house from which it came to find it put in order?
Not having found rest, the unclean spirit returns to his former dwelling, finding it empty, swept, and put in order,
as if ready for it to live there, because the Spirit is not living there.
Even after being cast out, the demon still calls the man my house
(Matthew 12:44a). Though the man does not know it, the demon sees that the cleansed house remains unoccupied.
Having failed to find rest in waterless places, the unclean spirit returns to his former dwelling and discovers it empty, swept clean, and neatly arranged. In other words, the house has been made ready for a guest’s festive reception. Yet, because the Spirit of God has not taken up residence in this man, the unclean spirit comes back with renewed force (see Matthew 12:45).1
Given the demon’s evil nature, which is constantly bent on destroying and corrupting God’s creation—especially human beings—he seeks to return to his former victims and once again surround them with hatred. At the root of this lies the demon’s refusal to acknowledge God’s rightful claim over his creation. Even after being cast out, he still calls the man my house
(Matthew 12:44a). Though the man does not recognize it, the demon perceives that the cleansed house remains unoccupied—and he draws his own conclusions.2
44 Alors il dit: Je retournerai dans ma maison d'où je suis sorti; et, quand il arrive, il la trouve vide, balayée et ornée.