Worst state (Lk 11:26-11:26)

“Then this evil spirit

Goes

And brings

Seven other spirits

More evil

Than himself.

They enter

The home.

They live there.

The last state

Of that person

Is worse

Than the first.”

 

τότε πορεύεται καὶ παραλαμβάνει ἕτερα πνεύματα πονηρότερα ἑαυτοῦ ἑπτά, καὶ εἰσελθόντα κατοικεῖ ἐκεῖ, καὶ γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου χείρονα τῶν πρώτων.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said that this unclean spirit went and brought 7 others more evil spirits than him (τότε πορεύεται καὶ παραλαμβάνει ἕτερα πνεύματα πονηρότερα ἑαυτοῦ ἑπτά).  They entered and lived there (καὶ εἰσελθόντα κατοικεῖ ἐκεῖ).  Thus, the last state of that possessed person or man (καὶ γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου) was worse than the first or original state (χείρονα τῶν πρώτων) of that person.  This saying about the returning unclean spirit can be found almost word for word in Matthew, chapter 12:45, indicating a Q source.  This implied a failed exorcism or a failed healing, so that the evil unclean spirit would return with more evil spirits.  Thus, the unclean spirit brought 7 more evil spirits (τότε πορεύεται καὶ παραλαμβάνει μεθ’ ἑαυτοῦ ἑπτὰ ἕτερα πνεύματα πονηρότερα ἑαυτοῦ).  All these evil spirits entered and lived there (καὶ εἰσελθόντα κατοικεῖ ἐκεῖ).  Finally, the last state of that person would be worse than the original situation (καὶ γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου χείρονα τῶν πρώτων).  Thus, it would be the same for this evil generation (οὕτως ἔσται καὶ τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ πονηρᾷ).  Jesus had just called this generation evil, earlier in that chapter. Luke never mentioned this current evil generation here.  Do you think that more evil comes to an empty house?