John Calvin 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)

He findeth it empty: Christ is unquestionably describing those who, lacking the Spirit of God, are prepared for receiving the devil. For believers, in whom the Spirit of God effectively dwells, are strengthened on all sides, so that no opening is left for Satan.

The metaphor of a house swept and embellished is taken from people who find pleasure in the cleanliness and tidiness of their dwellings. For to Satan, no sight is beautiful but deformity itself, and no smell is sweet but filth and foulness. The meaning therefore is, that Satan never finds a more suitable dwelling within us than when, having separated from Christ, we receive Satan as a guest.¹⁴⁷ His highest delight is in that emptiness which is followed by the neglect of divine grace.¹⁴⁸

¹⁴⁷ “Que quand, laissans Christ, et nous esloignans de luy, nous attirons c’est hoste a nous;” — “that when leaving Christ, and withdrawing from him, we entice this guest.”;” — “that when leaving Christ, and withdrawing from him, we entice this guest.”

¹⁴⁸ “Ce qu’il aime donc le plus, et ou il prend un souverain plaisir, c’est ceste place vuide qui se fait quand l’homme ne tient conte de la grace de Dieu, et est nonchalant d’en bien user;” — “that which he loves most, and in which he takes a supreme pleasure, is the emptiness which is produced, when man sets no value on the grace of God, and is indifferent about making a good use of it.”;” — “that which he loves most, and in which he takes a supreme pleasure, is the emptiness which is produced, when man sets no value on the grace of God, and is indifferent about making a good use of it.”