St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 45, The Unoccupied House: Seven evil guest are invited in.

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 43 - 44, The Unoccupied House: The Unclean Spirit Leaves.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 4. 

The Pharisees have heard the evidence against them.  They have heard of the witnesses that will rise to testify against them.  Their fate is sealed.  Their destiny foretold.  Christ still offers them the opportunity to repent.  He still reaches out a hand and opens a door for them to enter into to escape damnation.  But they refuse.  They cling to their desire for power.  They hold to their roles of authority and they listen to the whisperings of the demons that counsel them to their destruction.

Christ tells a parable, his first.  He says, "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he roams through dry places in search of rest, and finds none.  Then he says, 'I will return to my house which I left'; and when he has come to it, he finds the place unoccupied, swept and decorated."    

The unclean spirits have claimed the Pharisees.  They own the house.  They live in them.  They know them.  For they have lived with them for many years.  And with them they have found rest.  Rest, that they can perform the evil that they do.  Rest, that they can recruit others to do evil in their names.  Rest, that they can challenge any who may come against them to cast them out.  For the heart is the resting place for those who do evil.  Darkness is the light that they live by.  Hatred is the doctrine that they practice against those who would believe in Christ. 

And Christ tells the Pharisees this parable of the unclean spirits.  He speaks to them in riddles that they may not understand the truth of what he speaks.  He speaks to the unclean spirits that lie within them that they may know that he is the Messiah.  For the unclean spirits have made their home in the Pharisees.  Even when they leave they return and find the home unoccupied, swept and cleaned as if waiting for a new occupant.  But they are the owners of the home and no others have come in.  The Pharisees had a vacancy.  They were without any other spirits.  And the Holy Spirit does not reside in them.

Is your house unoccupied, swept and clean, waiting for someone to come in?  Will unclean spirits make you their home or will you welcome the Holy Spirit?  Do you have a vacancy sign advertising your house or is it already occupied?  Christ seeks to come in.  He seek to live with you.  He seeks to know you.  He seeks to love you.  But, how can he, if you do not let him in?  How can he, if your house is already occupied?  There are only two occupants.  One does not live with the other.  Which do you prefer in your house?  Which do you prefer to guide your life?  Which do you prefer to counsel with?  Which do you prefer to stand with you on the day of judgment when the witnesses are brought before you?  Will it be the unclean spirits of Satan?  Or will it be the Holy Spirit of Christ?  The choice is yours.  You cannot stay unoccupied for long for you live in an unclean world and it will take hold of you.  Make your choice.  Seek the Holy occupant and open the door to Christ.

ST Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 41 - 42, The Prophecy: The witnesses against them.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 3. 

Christ is merciful.  Christ is loving.  Christ is patient.  The Pharisees continue to plot and plan against Christ and he continues to offer opportunities for them to hear the message, to understand the judgment, to repent from their position with Satan.  But the Pharisees are blind.  They cannot hear.  They do not understand the door of opportunity opened by Christ. 

Christ has spoken to them about their hearts.  He has shown them that their hearts are filled with evil.  He has told them of their treasure and has called them vipers that they may understand the harshness of his words.  Ye they persist.  They continue down the road of destruction, unaware that they condemn themselves.  Christ tells them who will witness against them.  He says: "The men of Nineve will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

They asked for a sign.  Christ told them a sign that would take place in the future.  He did not comply with their request now.  For the demons that possessed the Pharisees did not need a sign.  They knew Christ.  They knew of his authority.  They knew that he was of the Father.  Yet they could not work their evil of their own.  They had to possess men and persuade them to do their evil.  They had to suggest to the mind of men, the evil that was to be done.  They had to possess the heart with darkness to move the passions to create evil. 

And Christ knew of their plans.  He knew of their designs.  He knew that they possessed the Pharisees to do their evil.  Yet he was patient.  He was loving.  He was merciful to offer opportunity to repent.  He reached down into the darkness of their hearts and sought to help them understand.  But they would not.  He spoke again of their witnesses.  He told them,  "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."

How often does God call to us to repent?  How many times does he reach out his hand to help us in times of need?  Yet do we repent, do we accept his hand?  Our God is a loving God.  Our God is a merciful God.  Our God is a patient God.  He will wait until the end of time and still offer salvation.  But do not hesitate to accept, for death is at the door and judgment weighs in the balance.  Judgment at death is final.  There is no reprieve.  Mothers will witness against their sons and daughters.  Fathers will witness against their children.  Grandmothers spoke of the opportunity offered and yet not accepted.  For they themselves spoke the message to you and you did not accept.  Do not throw away this precious gift given by Christ.  For if you only knew what was being offered you would rejoice at the gift.  But Satan blinds.  Satan destroys.  Satan steals and will stand in the way to prevent you from receiving your gift.  Come, become a child of God and receive the gift of life!  Christ awaits you with his outstretched hand.  Receive him and get your reward!