While the world is not educated on the existence of demons, the Bible has always been very clear. Not only are there demons, they interject themselves into people’s lives. Because many leaders in the Body of Christ are afraid to discuss the subject of demons we have an attitude that resembles most people’s attitude towards mosquitos. We know that they are there but we aren’t going to give them any thought. If perhaps we run into one we will swat at it until it leaves. There is however a reason we should be educated in the workings of demons. Not only to set ourselves and others free from their bondage, but to stop the schemes and plans against humans. C.S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters to show, in a satirical way, the workings of demons in humans and their relationship between one another. We obviously recognize that demons are not writing letters to one another, but they are communicating. Lewis suggests the ability to communicate, think, plan, and prepare a host. This is also what Jesus told us. We are seeing more and more occurrences of demons within people, manifesting in society. Average unsaved citizens are uncomfortable with these outbursts but think that the only way to handle the issue is by drugging the body of the possessed person. Why are they having more and more outbursts? Jesus told us that this generation will have an infestation.
The context of this section in Matthew 12 starts with Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath which caused the religious leaders to want to conspire to kill him. Jesus left the area, the crowds followed him and he healed them all. The people then brought someone who was possessed with a devil which had made that man blind and dumb. Jesus healed him and all the people believed that he was the Messiah. The Pharisees heard about it and claimed Jesus was casting out demons with the “prince of devils”, Beelzebub. Jesus corrects them and tells them that all blasphemy against the Son will be forgiven, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this world or the one to come.
Matthew 12:43 G3752 But whenever G1161 G3588 the G169 unclean G4151 spirit G1831 should go forth G575 from G3588 the G444 man,….
169 LSJ Gloss:ἀκάθαρτος uncleansed, unclean, impure
Dodson:ἀκάθαρτος unclean, impure.
TBESG: ἀκάθαρτος unclean
G:A
ἀκάθαρτος, -ον
(< ἀ- neg., καθαίρω), [in LXX chiefly for טָמֵא ;]
unclean, impure;
__(a) physically (LS, MM, VGT, see word);
__(b) ceremonially:
__(with) morally:
† (AS)
Thayer:
1) not cleansed, unclean
1a) in a ceremonial sense: that which must be abstained from according to the levitical law
1b) in a moral sense: unclean in thought and life
ἀκάθαρτος
akathartos ak-ath'-ar-tos From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G2508 (meaning cleansed); impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specifically (demonic))
KJV Usage: foul, unclean.
The first thing Jesus says in this verse is “when an unclean or impure spirit comes out or goes out of a manfaced”, and tells us it has to be “in” in order to come out. This is more than just having an unclean spirit on one shoulder and an angel on the other shoulder. While that analogy works for our understanding of being tempted by a demon, we should recognize that it is inside. The unclean spirit is in manfaced. People don’t see it floating around or next to a person because it is inside.
There are several ways to address unclean spirits such as evil spirits, demons, devils or familiar spirits. Generally it depends on who is writing or speaking. Some demons have actual names, while most are not addressed by a personal name or a title.
…G1330 it goes G1223 through G504 waterless G5117 places, G2212 seeking G372 rest, G2532 and G3756 does not G2147 find.
We get our first clues here as to why demons, devils, evil spirits, or unclean spirits, inhabit manfaced. When it goes out of a body, it passes through waterless or dry places. Humans are not dry. Human bodies are made up of 55-60% water. When the demon goes out, it ends up in a dry place. It seeks or searches for rest, an intermission, or a cessation from labor. This means that being in a dry place is laborious. It is restful to be inside a human. It is work to be outside a human. It does not find rest outside a human body. Evil spirits have intelligence, they can seek, search, and look for a host.
Matthew 12:44 G5119 Then G3004 it says, G1994 I will return G1519 unto G3588 G3624 my house G1473 G3606 from where G1831 I came forth…
The unclean spirit “says”. Says to who? Itself. It has the ability to think and reason, and this one decides to turn around and go back. It must know where to find the host human. It uses the word mou, μοῦ, meaning “me or my” in the phrase “my house”. It considers its host its own. Jesus is suggesting that the demon thinks of the human as its own dwelling. This helps us in another area, understanding possession. Some people say that humans are not owned by demons, but Jesus says that the demon thinks of the human as its own home. Therefore when we speak of possession we are saying that the demon owns that human, at least in its own thinking. When someone then acts uncontrollably, that individual is being controlled. The human has allowed the unclean spirit to take charge of his or her own body.
… G2532 And G2064 having come G2147 it finds G4980 relaxing, G4563 being swept, G2532 and G2885 being adorned.
The unclean spirit does find leisure. It finds a vacant house. The word translated relaxing here is the word scholazō meaning “leisure or vacant”. It notices that the house is empty. It sees the house is clean and swept, as if someone used a broom. It sees the house is in order, or arranged, or decorated. So what happens when the unclean spirit is cast out of a human? It comes back but it sees that the host human dwelling has been fixed up. The broken-down old shack has been flipped.
Matthew 12:45 G5119 Then G4198 it goes G2532 and G3880 takes G3326 with G1438 himself G2033 seven G2087 other G4151 spirits G4190 more wicked G1438 than itself…
Now that the host human dwelling is vacant, cleaned, and decorated, the unclean spirit “journeys or travels to find associates in company with itself”. This tells us unclean spirits are social, they look for friends, specifically seven friends. Seven evil, wicked, or toilsome spirits move in with the first evil spirit. Now there are eight unclean spirits living in this flipped house.
...G2532 And G1525 entering G2730 it dwells G1563 there; G2532 and G1096 becomes G3588 the G2078 last G3588 G444 of that man G1565 G5501 worse G3588 than the G4413 first…
5501
χείρων
cheirōn khi'-rone Irregular compound of G2556; from an obsolete equivalent χέρης cherēs (of uncertain derivation); more evil or aggravated (physically, mentally or morally) KJV Usage: sorer, worse.
The evil unclean spirits reside there. Now there are eight unclean spirits. Do you imagine that they all get along all of the time? Probably not. Jesus says that the final condition of that manfaced is more evil or aggravated physically, mentally, or morally, than in the first place. Jesus is alluding that the man would have been better off with only the one unclean spirit, rather than casting the unclean spirit out and it finding friends to make the person more aggravated than before.
What is going on here? What we don’t usually pick up on is the fact that the Pharisees are mad that Jesus has healed the man. The Pharisees or the sons of the Pharisees were the ones who probably cast the original demon out of the man. Note Matthew 12:27. The word used should be “sons” but it is sometimes translated children. Exorcism was a business for the sons of Pharisees. These people cast the first demon out but the demon brought back its friends. Then they couldn’t do anything to help the man after he went blind and mute. The man’s condition was worse then before. Jesus is telling them that a tree is known by its fruit, either good or bad. Why is Jesus saying that? Were Jesus’ results good or bad? Were the exorcists results good or bad? He then goes on to tell the Pharisees that they won’t get any other signs besides him being in the earth three days and three nights.
...G3779 So G1510.8.3 it will be G2532 also G3588 to G1074 [3generation G3778 1this G3588 G4190 2evil].
This evil generation, genea, γενεά “race, stock or family”, will suffer the same way. What does Jesus mean? Cast out one demon, seven more come in. Jesus cast evil spirits out of a man who was blind and mute, this is the reference. The man was not always blind and mute, but became that way. There were many Jews that took up the task of casting out unclean spirits like the sons of the Pharisees. This man may have had one demon cast out but then seven more entered. Now the man had eight demons aggravating him physically and mentally. Could it be more or less then seven demons? Sure, but Jesus’ point is not the number of demons it is the end result is worse than before.
Why is this the case with this generation? Because the generation that rejects Jesus as Messiah and Lord will have more than one demon. They will have more demons than they can handle. They will be led by evil spirits and gather more evil spirits until the host human cannot control their own actions. Yes by all means drug the uncontrollable people until we can get their mind right. But don’t think that injecting drugs into a wild human with demons is easy. Jesus was able to heal the man in the tombs because the man and the man’s demons believed that Jesus was the Son of the Living God.
We see so many outbursts of demonic possession (oddly enough on airplanes) that we might think that it is better not to cast out the demons. That is not Jesus’ point. Jesus cast demons out of many people, usually telling them not to sin anymore. The point is that we have to fill up the space where the unclean spirit resided with another spirit, the Holy Spirit. Then we take authority over unclean spirits ourselves. People who have unclean spirits expelled should fill themselves with faith, confession of Jesus as Lord, belief that he rose up on the third day, and then be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. It was easy to believe that Jesus was the Messiah when he was on the earth, but once he left the earth he told us that he was sending the Holy Spirit to us.
Paul was casting out evil spirits with handkerchiefs.
Acts 19:11 G1411 And works of power, G3756 not G3588 G5177 happening by chance, G4160 God did G3588 G2316 G1223 through G3588 the G5495 hands G* of Paul,
12 G5620 so that G2532 even G1909 unto G3588 the ones G770 being invalid G2018 [6were borne G575 4from G3588 G5559 5his flesh G1473 G4676 1scarfs G2228 2or G4612 3aprons], G2532 and G525 [3were rid G575 4from G1473 5them G3588 1the G3554 2diseases], G3588 and the G5037 G4151 [2spirits G3588 G4190 1evil] G1831 went forth G575 from G1473 them.
13 G2021 [8attempted G1161 G1161 1But G5100 2certain ones G575 3of G3588 4the G4022 5traveling G* 6Jewish G1845 7exorcists] G3687 to name G1909 [6against G3588 7the ones G2192 8having G3588 G4151 10spirits G3588 G4190 9evil G3588 1the G3686 2name G3588 3of the G2962 4Lord G* 5Jesus], G3004 saying, G3726 We bind G1473 you G3588 by the G* Jesus G3739 whom G3588 G* Paul G2784 proclaims!
14 G1510.7.6 And there were G1161 G5100 certain ones, G5207 [2sons G* 3of Sceva G* 4a Jew G749 5a chief priest G2033 1seven] G3588 G3778 doing this. G4160
15 G611 And responding G3588 the G4151 [2spirit G3588 G4190 1evil] G2036 said, G3588 G* Jesus G1097 I know, G2532 and G3588 G* Paul G1987 I have knowledge of; G1473 but you, G5100 who G1510.2.5 are you?
Just as demons yell out that “Jesus is the Son of the Most High”, demons can yell out anything. This particular demon knew who Paul was. They know who you and I are as well. If we flow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, ministering healing and casting out demons, the evil unclean spirits know us. But not because of the ministry we do, but because of the Holy Spirit in us. The sons of Sceva were exorcists. They were regular men, not filled with the Holy Spirit. Sceva was a high priest and his sons were traveling around making money by casting out devils. People trusted these sons of Sceva because of Sceva’s position, just like the sons of the Pharisees. The demon asks these men who they are. Funny. The exorcists thought they were famous and that they were known among the people. The demon says he knows (ginōskō) Jesus and he is acquainted with (epistamai) Paul, but he asks, who are you people? They tried to use magic words, binding evil spirits with the name of Jesus who Paul preaches. Not that they believed in Jesus Messiah themselves, it just seemed like the “word” to use. Notice what happened.
Acts 19:16 G2532 And G2177 [3springing G1909 4upon G1473 5them G3588 1the G444 2man], G1722 in G3739 whom G1510.7.3 was G3588 the G4151 [2spirit G3588 G4190 1evil], G2532 and G2634 having dominated G1473 them, G2480 he prevailed G2596 against G1473 them, G5620 so that G1131 naked G2532 and G5135 wounded G1628 they fled G1537 from out of G3588 G3624 that house. G1565
The man who had the demon housed in him katakurieuō, took “downward rule” over those seven exorcists. With ischuō kata “strength downward” they had their clothes ripped off their bodies and were wounded. One man with a demon is greater in strength than seven men who are without the Holy Sprit. The demon knew Jesus and was acquainted with Paul, but neither Jesus or Paul were attacked by this demon or any other demon. The man with the demon had supernatural strength so that seven men could not subdue it.
We have all seen a possessed person who seems to be able to throw off anyone who tries to stop the human they inhabit. The only way to stop a demon is not with human strength, it is with the Holy Spirit. Most of us do not travel with elephant tranquilizers so that we can subdue a possessed person at thirty thousand feet. Plus, as with these seven men, one demon overcame them all. What we do have however is the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:17 G3778 And this G1161 G1096 became G1110 known G3956 to all, G* both Jews G5037 G2532 and G* Greeks, G3588 G2730 dwelling G3588 G* in Ephesus. G2532 And G1968 [2fell G5401 1fear] G1909 upon G3956 all G1473 of them, G2532 and G3170 [6was magnified G3588 1the G3686 2name G3588 3of the G2962 4Lord G* 5Jesus].
18 G4183 And many G5037 G3588 of the ones G4100 believing G2064 came, G1843 acknowledging G2532 and G312 announcing G3588 G4234 their actions. G1473
19 G2425 And a fit amount G1161 G3588 of the ones G3588 G4021 [2useless works G4238 1practicing] G4851 found it advantageous G3588 [2the G976 3books G2618 1to incinerate] G1799 before G3956 all; G2532 and G4860 they joined in tallying G3588 G5092 their value, G1473 G2532 and G2147 found it to be G694 [3of silver G3461 2myriads G4002 1five].
20 G3779 Thus G2596 with G2904 might G3588 the G3056 word G3588 of the G2962 Lord G837 grew G2532 and G2480 strengthened.
This event was known all over Ephesus. People realized this was real and they cleaned themselves up. They got rid of their magic books and charms and burned them. Every time we see a demonic outburst in a public place we should caution people to get clean, receive Jesus, and learn about the power of the Holy Spirit.
So why would Luke include this story in the Book of Acts? To us it seems messy and uncomfortable. Evil spirits have done a good job flipping the culture to making this subject non-existent in church. It was a common subject in the first century and everyone knew that demons needed to be cast out of people. They didn’t have injectable pharmaceuticals, they didn’t have straight jackets, and the chains and shackles they tried to use didn’t work anyway. Jesus came and shed light on the problem, and He provided the solution.
There is another apocryphal book that was well known before the first century, The Book of Tobit. Tobit was deleted by the Masoretes, maybe because it was too messy and uncomfortable, but it helps us understand the culture before Jesus came to earth. The timing is when the northern kingdom went into captivity, but the southern kingdom was still its own nation. Tobit was a godly man, although very few others around him were. While living in Nineveh, Tobit went blind from bird feces. He had a son named Tobias who he wanted to send to collect some money from someone he had deposited money with. Tobit suggests that he find someone to travel with. Tobias finds “Azarias” who is really the angel Raphael who had been sent to heal Tobit and a lady named Sara who would become Tobias’ wife. Sara has an especially strange situation that she needed deliverance from.
Tob 3:7 It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media Sara the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father's maids;
Tob 3:8 Because that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou not know, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.
Tob 3:9 Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be dead, go thy ways after them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter.
Tob 3:10 When she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she thought to have strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I shall bring his old age with sorrow unto the grave.
Sara got married but was not able to consummate the marriage because Asmodeus, an evil spirit, killed her husband. This happened seven times. Seven dead husbands killed by an evil spirit. Sara’s fathers’ maids accused her of strangling them all. Sara never took the name of her husbands. The maids, just like mean girls, encouraged Sara to commit suicide. Sara prayed to die.
Why did a demon spirit strangle all of Sara’s husbands? Do demons have a certain affinity to human women? Probably. Just as angels sinned and started the hybrid race of the Nephilim, this particular demon would not let Sara consummate her marriage. Whether this evil spirit worked through Sara and she strangled the men, or the evil spirit did it in conjunction with the demons in the men themselves, Sara remained a virgin.
Tob 3:11 Then she prayed toward the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable for ever: let all thy works praise thee for ever.
Tob 3:12 And now, O Lord, I set I mine eyes and my face toward thee,
Tob 3:13 And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear no more the reproach.
Tob 3:14 Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man,
Tob 3:15 And that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, neither hath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands are already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach.
Tob 3:16 So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the great God.
Tob 3:17 And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.
At the exact same time Sara and Tobit had both cried out to the Elohim. Raphael was sent to them. Tobias and Raphael, who is thought to be a man called Azarias, set out on their journey. They go to wash in the Tigris and a fish jumps up to eat Tobias.
Tob 6:1 And as they went on their journey, they came in the evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged there.
Tob 6:2 And when the young man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out of the river, and would have devoured him.
Tob 6:3 Then the angel said unto him, Take the fish. And the young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it to land.
Maybe it was a crocodile, as fish in the Tigris were probably not that big. But no matter, Tobias drags the fish to land.
Tob 6:4 To whom the angel said, Open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put them up safely.
Tob 6:5 So the young man did as the angel commanded him; and when they had roasted the fish, they did eat it: then they both went on their way, till they drew near to Ecbatane.
Tob 6:6 Then the young man said to the angel, Brother Azarias, to what use is the heart and the liver and the gal of the fish?
Raphael has some important information for Tobias.
Tob 6:7 And he said unto him, Touching the heart and the liver, if a devil or an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and the party shall be no more vexed.
Tob 6:8 As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man that hath whiteness in his eyes, and he shall be healed.
Raphael has a cure. Is this the only way to cast out demons or heal the blind? No. It is instructions for faith. Tobias having faith in the instructions will do what Raphael says.
Tob 6:13 Then the young man answered the angel, I have heard, brother Azarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.
Tob 6:14 And now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I go in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a wicked spirit loveth her, which hurteth no body, but those which come unto her; wherefore I also fear lest I die, and bring my father's and my mother's life because of me to the grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to bury them.
Tob 6:15 Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same night shall she be given thee in marriage.
Tob 6:16 And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it:
Tob 6:17 And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and pray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you: fear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that she shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things, he loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her.
Tobias had faith in the words of Raphael who he did not know was an angel. Tobias believed this man had a cure for the evil spirit that killed Sara’s seven other potential husbands.
Tob 8:1 And when they had supped, they brought Tobias in unto her.
Tob 8:2 And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish thereupon, and made a smoke therewith.
Tob 8:3 The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.
The good news is that Tobias did what he was instructed. Then the angel Raphael could bind the evil spirit Asmodeus. Meanwhile, Raguel, Sara’s father, starts digging a grave for Tobias.
Tob 8:4 And after that they were both shut in together, Tobias rose out of the bed, and said, Sister, arise, and let us pray that God would have pity on us.
Tob 8:5 Then began Tobias to say, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed is thy holy and glorious name for ever; let the heavens bless thee, and all thy creatures.
Tob 8:6 Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife for an helper and stay: of them came mankind: thou hast said, It is not good that man should be alone; let us make unto him an aid like unto himself.
Tob 8:7 And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for lush but uprightly: therefore mercifully ordain that we may become aged together.
Tob 8:8 And she said with him, Amen.
Tob 8:9 So they slept both that night. And Raguel arose, and went and made a grave,
Tob 8:10 Saying, I fear lest he also be dead.
Tob 8:11 But when Raguel was come into his house,
Tob 8:12 He said unto his wife Edna. Send one of the maids, and let her see whether he be alive: if he be not, that we may bury him, and no man know it.
Tob 8:13 So the maid opened the door, and went in, and found them both asleep,
Tob 8:14 And came forth, and told them that he was alive.
Tob 8:15 Then Raguel praised God, and said, O God, thou art worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise; therefore let thy saints praise thee with all thy creatures; and let all thine angels and thine elect praise thee for ever.
The happy ending here is that Raphael journeys with Tobias and Sara back to Tobit. Tobias uses the gall on Tobit’s eyes and he again receives his sight. Raphael then tells them that he is an angel sent for both Tobit and Sara.
Just as Elisha told Naaman, captain to the king of Syria, to wash in the Jordan seven times and that he would be healed of his leprosy, Tobias had instructions that brought healing. Jesus told ten lepers to show themselves to the priests and that they would be cleansed and healed. One of those men, a Samaritan, fell at Jesus’ feet and gave glory to God. Jesus told him that his faith had made him whole. Faith makes people whole. Faith that the instructions are from the Elohim makes people whole. Paul’s handkerchiefs probably came with instructions regarding confession of Jesus as Lord.
Tobit is part of the Septuagint. Three Greek texts and one Hebrew text of Tobit were found in caves in Qumran. It was a well known book at the time of Jesus. Therefore people of the first century understood that demons agitated people and made them sick. They recognized demons could conspire to kill people and make the righteous blind. There was never a question in the first century that demons existed. However in our day we pretend demons don’t exist, which gives them free rein to overcome people and plan situations that turn our societies upside down. While the demons are not writing letters to one another, they are communicating to destroy Spirit filled churches in every community. Unclean spirits don’t care about dead churches but when the Holy Spirit is moving in a church and people are getting healed and set free, then demons come to try and shut it down. They will do whatever it takes to get people to fall and destroy the body of believers.
If we allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to move then we will see healings and miracles. Our first order of operation is to get people saved, then work on educating them in the ways of the Lord. We get people spirit filled, then we can cast out demons without seven more showing up. Sadly our generation is rejecting Jesus as Lord and Messiah, which means we will see more and more outbursts from possessed people. We are the ones who have an answer. We know what is happening because we are of the Body of Christ. We ourselves need to walk holy and spiritually clean so that demons are acquainted with us and fear us because of the Holy Spirit within us.
