Luke 11: 24-26 In Order, Swept Clean and Ready for Relapse

Luke 11: 24-26 In Order, Swept Clean, and Ready for Relapse

[24] "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' [25] When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. [26] Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first."

What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus is talking to the temple elite who are criticizing him for casting out demons. They tell others that he does so in the name of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. Jesus asks them by what power their exorcists work. He tells them a house divided against itself will not stand, so why would Satan allow him to cast out demons?
Another saying of Jesus, about a strong man who is overpowered by one stronger than he is suspiciously inserted here. And then this last few verses about the tendency of unclean spirits to return to the house from whence they came. Jesus tells them that when the unclean spirit cannot find another place to rest, it returns and finds that place swept and in order, and it brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and then they enter that ordered, swept house and live there, and the person is worse off than before.
We cannot really know what context Jesus was referring to here, and scholars can only do their best to guess. But one thing we all know from experience is that when we are trying to overcome our past bad habits or addictions we sometimes reach a point when temptation to return is stronger than ever. It seems to be that at that point we are the most vulnerable. We have put our house in order and swept it clean, and then we relapse. Then the hopelessness really sets in. We have failed, again. There is no health in us. We might as well give in and give up. But if we can hold on to God and his promise for a new life, that makes all the difference.

How is this happening in the world today? -- In the recovery movement they speak of God as our Higher Power. They explain that once an addict, always an addict, but taking things one minute, one hour, one day at a time, by realizing our powerlessness and asking God to restore us, we can have new life. Jesus called this being born from above, and that requires us to become as humble as a little child, who knows he does not know, and who is not in control. Once a sinner, always a sinner, but it is letting go of the illusion of control that allows God to step in and save us from ourselves. The Buddha said the same thing. The attachment to the illusion of being in charge blinds us from the saving grace of God’s love for us. We get things in order and we sweep our houses, and we think we are ready. Then old demons come back to torment us, bringing even more pain, and more attachment.

How is this story my story – For some reason Lord, you made me with a short memory. I forget that you are there and try to put myself in charge. I tell myself if I am in control, of myself and everyone else, I can make life the way I want it. But it never works, Lord, and people aren’t interested in being controlled by me. I whine and gripe, but you wisely give me the pain of futility and the blessing of hopelessness, for that is when I start to remember who is in charge.