Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Verse 44 is essentially a conditional clause to v.45: “If the demon on his arrival finds the house unoccupied [etc.],” it reenters the person with seven more demons. That person is now in a far worse condition than before. Jesus’ final statement here closes off the main part of this section by referring again to “this wicked generation” (cf. 12:39) and by stressing the danger of neutrality to the claims of Jesus.