Matthew 12:44

New English Translation

⁴⁴Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’^[a] When it returns,^[b] it finds the house^[c] empty, swept clean, and put in order.^[d]

Matthew 12:44 tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”
Matthew 12:44 tn Grk “comes.”
Matthew 12:44 tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.
Matthew 12:44 sn The image of the house empty, swept clean, and put in order refers to the life of the person from whom the demon departed. The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell. If an exorcism occurs and there is no response to God, then the way is free for the demon to return. Some see the reference to exorcism as more symbolic; thus the story’s only point is about responding to Jesus. This is possible and certainly is an application of the passage.

New English Translation (NET)