The Unclean Spirit of a Man

By Jack Marshall

What did Jesus mean when He spoke of "the unclean spirit of a man"? This study addresses the passages from Matthew 12 and delivers a unique view of its content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jack Marshall
• Release date: Jul 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463056943

Jack Marshall

I was born in California in 1957, but raised in Oklahoma, where my experience with Christianity began at the age of 19. After several years of attending various denominational and non-denominational churches, my love for the Bible and desire to understand the scriptures became a vital part of my life. Through in-depth study for the past 45 years, I have discovered that the message of scripture is truly one of hope, love, and encouragement for the entire world.

Book preview

THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT OF A MAN

Jack Marshall

THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT OF A MAN

Jack Marshall

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2019 Grain of Wheat Publishing

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this eBook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author. This free eBook may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration, and the reader is not charged to access it.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: Unclean

Chapter Two: Three Days and Three Nights

Chapter Three: The Man of Sin

Chapter Four: This Generation

Chapter Five: Seven Other Spirits

Chapter Six: Dry Places

Chapter Seven: The Rest of God

Chapter Eight: The Last of that Man

Chapter Nine: The Strong Man

Chapter Ten: Denying the Self

Chapter Eleven: Is This the Man?

Bibliography

Introduction

This study is based on the passages from Matthew, Chapter 12, verses 38 through 45. No doubt, these passages are quite mysterious in their presentation, mixed with several things that challenge our understanding.

This is a brief study, and there are several things I did not discuss at length, simply because I’ve addressed them in other studies which are available at Smashwords. Hopefully, enough is said to make my thoughts on this subject clear.

There are mistakes in this presentation, not by intention, but out of ignorance. I am still and always will be learning. It has been difficult to put aside what I have inherited in order to see from a fresh perspective.

In His Grace,

Jack Marshall

Please note: All Hebrew and Greek definitions are taken from the Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary unless otherwise noted. All Bible passages are taken from the New King James Bible unless otherwise noted.

Matthew 12:43-45 (KJV)

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself 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. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Chapter One

UNCLEAN

Matthew 12:43 (KJV)

⁴³ When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man…

The Strong’s Concordance defines unclean as, "Impure (ceremonial, moral [lewd] or special [demonic]). Dictionary.com defines lewd as, Inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious. A synonym of lechery is carnality or lust while lascivious means, Inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd. All of these definitions give us an idea of what is meant by unclean." Simply put, it comes down to the following.

Romans 8:5-8 (ESV)

⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Our phrase set their minds in verse 5 is rendered do mind in the King James. It is the transliteration phroneō which Strong’s defines as, "To exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensive to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)."

In the Old Testament, the first use of the word unclean is found in Leviticus 5:2. This is the transliteration ṭāmēʾ, which Strong’s defines as, "Foul in a religious sense, taken from the word meaning, To be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense (contaminated)." This agrees with our Greek definition in Matthew 12:43.

The Cambridge Dictionary online defines lust simply as, A very powerful feeling of wanting something. That being said, the word covet comes to mind.

Exodus 20:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Here, Strong’s defines covet as simply, "To wish for."

Deuteronomy 5:21 (KJV)

²¹ Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Here, our word desire is defined as, "To delight in, while our word covet" is the same as that used in Exodus 20:17.

Our passage in Exodus 20:17 is the tenth commandment of the Ten Commandments which were delivered to Moses and Israel at Mount Sinai. In my mind, this commandment essentially sums up all of the commandments. After all, isn’t a very powerful feeling of wanting something the cause behind transgressing any of them?

So what did Jesus mean by unclean spirit? Given the definitions and context, it suggests that our behavior is motivated by carnality or lust. Romans 8 agrees, our phrase who live according to the flesh implying this lustful condition or state. I cannot help but think of the following.

Proverbs 27:20 (ESV)

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

Never satisfied are the eyes of man. Think about this in light of reality today and the fact that we