Our paragraph topic is: (The sign of Jonas) Part 5.
Christ continues his parable of the house unoccupied. He has told the Pharisees about what an unclean spirit does when he leaves a man, how it roams through dry places and finds no place to rest. But when it tires it returns to the place of previous occupancy and finds it unoccupied, swept and decorated, ready for occupancy. The Pharisees have wondered how this parable relates to them because they believe that they have no unclean spirits. After all, they are the keepers of the Law. They are the protectors of the Hebrew people and they are the scholars who know and love the scriptures. But they do not have unclean spirits.
Christ concludes his parable with, "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be with this evil generation also."
And so the parable is finished and the conclusion is drawn, the prediction of Pharisees' destiny. It is foretold that they will be inhabited by seven more unclean spirits more evil than the first. It is foretold that their state will be worse than the first state they were in. For Christ has again called them an evil generation. He has again foretold of their downfall. He has again shown them their future that they may repent and be saved. But again they do not listen. Again they do not take heed of the message. And in the interim their house is still left unoccupied for unclean spirits to come in and make their state worse than the present.
Thank you God for your mercy! Thank you God for your patience! Thank you God for the love that you bear for your children! For we are not an evil generation, but just lost sheep seeking to find our shepherd. You have told us of our future. You have given us the message of what will happen from our current state when the unclean spirits return. You have given us an opportunity to get our house in order that we may not be unoccupied. You have told us of the seven more unclean spirits to come, that will live with us, making our state worse than the first. Help us to find the true owner that should live with us. Help us find the living words of Christ that we may beseech the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Forgive us of our sins and have patience that we may be able to repent before the thief comes.
Do you have unclean spirits dwelling with you? Do you have a house unoccupied ready for more evil to dwell with you? Come, open your house to Christ. Open your doors to the living word that you may have life. Seek the Holy Spirit that you may know true life, true love, true justice, true peace, and the true God.
Christ continues his parable of the house unoccupied. He has told the Pharisees about what an unclean spirit does when he leaves a man, how it roams through dry places and finds no place to rest. But when it tires it returns to the place of previous occupancy and finds it unoccupied, swept and decorated, ready for occupancy. The Pharisees have wondered how this parable relates to them because they believe that they have no unclean spirits. After all, they are the keepers of the Law. They are the protectors of the Hebrew people and they are the scholars who know and love the scriptures. But they do not have unclean spirits.
Christ concludes his parable with, "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be with this evil generation also."
And so the parable is finished and the conclusion is drawn, the prediction of Pharisees' destiny. It is foretold that they will be inhabited by seven more unclean spirits more evil than the first. It is foretold that their state will be worse than the first state they were in. For Christ has again called them an evil generation. He has again foretold of their downfall. He has again shown them their future that they may repent and be saved. But again they do not listen. Again they do not take heed of the message. And in the interim their house is still left unoccupied for unclean spirits to come in and make their state worse than the present.
Thank you God for your mercy! Thank you God for your patience! Thank you God for the love that you bear for your children! For we are not an evil generation, but just lost sheep seeking to find our shepherd. You have told us of our future. You have given us the message of what will happen from our current state when the unclean spirits return. You have given us an opportunity to get our house in order that we may not be unoccupied. You have told us of the seven more unclean spirits to come, that will live with us, making our state worse than the first. Help us to find the true owner that should live with us. Help us find the living words of Christ that we may beseech the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Forgive us of our sins and have patience that we may be able to repent before the thief comes.
Do you have unclean spirits dwelling with you? Do you have a house unoccupied ready for more evil to dwell with you? Come, open your house to Christ. Open your doors to the living word that you may have life. Seek the Holy Spirit that you may know true life, true love, true justice, true peace, and the true God.
