Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 11:24

"The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out." — Luke 11:24 (ASV)

“Evil spirit” means “demon.” In these verses a spiritual renewal has taken place, but without the indwelling of the Spirit and the power of Christ’s kingdom (perhaps this refers to the work of the Jewish exorcists mentioned in v.19). The evil spirit wanders in the desert and seeks a human body. In order to repossess its previous abode, it enlists the aid of seven demons even worse than itself (contrast the “seven spirits” before the throne in Rev 1:4). The demons settle down there (the same verb is used in Eph 3:17 of Christ’s full indwelling).