Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 11:26

"Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first." — Luke 11:26 (ASV)

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirit more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

It often happens that when men make a profession of reformation and then relapse into their former state, they become far worse than they were before. The so-called "reformation" is all of their own doing; or rather, the greater part of it is the devil's doing. The demon within the man voluntarily went away, and now that he comes back, he brings with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and so the man is more than eight times worse than he was before the demon left him for a while.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him even other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Sadly, there are many who have only a sham conversion, a conversion that lasts only a very short time. The devil was not cast out of them, but he went out of his own accord.

But when Christ has come—the One who is far stronger than the devil—to cast the devil out of his house, the devil will never be allowed to come back again. Christ will ensure that. Having won the victory and taken the house, Christ will keep it by force of arms.

But I urge you, beware of a "conversion" without Christ. Beware of a "reformation" in which the devil himself is your co-worker, because it will lead to something worse in the end.

Let me read the verse again: Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

He becomes a worse man than ever. This is because he once promised to be better, but he made that promise relying only on his own strength, which was utter weakness.