Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 12:44

"Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished." — Matthew 12:44 (ASV)

Then he saith, I will return into my house, etc. The man is called his house, because he had been the place where the spirit had dwelt.

He findeth it empty, etc. Here, the reference to the spirit's dwelling in men continues. He was called his house. By the absence of the evil spirit, the house is represented as unoccupied, or empty, swept, and garnished. That is, while the evil spirit was away, the man was restored to his right mind and freed from his wicked influence.

Garnished. Adorned, put in order, furnished. Applied to the man, it means that his mind was sane and regular when the evil spirit was gone; or, he had a lucid interval.