The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 302

•ollttereth. Our Lorrl here ie referring to spirits. There is 11nother well-known his- lh~ c>xnrcistR, an<l c,ontro.l\ting their impcrfeot torioal reference contained in these words of work with l1i8, showing how hopeless a task Josue, which speak of the triumphant return it wns to attempt tn (l(•mbat the evil one and of the tempornrily hmlshed devil. In this, bis snt<>llites apart from him-Christ. It is the chosen people ropr<ll!ent the one pos- part.iculerly to he noticed that Jesus neither sessed; the cxpolled devil was the one beset- herc nor elsewhere o\oargee these with im• ting sin which frooo the time of the E:1odu1 posture. Pretence anrl ri<liculone spells an<l to_ the. Captivity-that _fcl\!"90llle idolatry incantRtinns were douh\.less cnnstantly mixed with its attendant m1soh1ef - exoroised up with their attempts to exorcise; indeed, over Israel n strange and horrible faeoinn• the t~rm used to d~ribe them in Acts tion. After the return from exile, idolatry xi,. 13 is one of oonlempt; but Jesus as• seemed driven out for ever. But the house snmc>s in his argum:·nl bP-r(\ what WttS no WIU! only empty; there we.s no indwelling douut the fuct, that in these cases there was Presence there c,f the Holy Spitit of the often, in the person of the pbysician-cxorcfat, Lord, only an outwe.rd show of oeremonies Mrnestuess and prayer mingled with the and of rites, only e. religion of the lips, not deepest pity for the nnbappv snff'erer, and of the bee.rt ; and so the old 1tate of posses- before thPse there is no doubt that, in the sion returned under ~be form of hypocrisy, less severe cases of possession, the evil in- envy, narrowness, Jealousy, covetousness. fluence or spirit yielded, and for a time at The Jewish historian, Josephus, has de.red least let go his victim. "See," said the to pitint the picture of natione.l degradation Master." he that is not with me is against me which closed in the eaok and burning of the in tl:is dire conflict against evil;" for these city and temple (A.D, 70). But this striking would-be exorcists were utterly unable, even application belongs to SL Matthew, who in those instances where they expelled the reprrsenls our Lord closing hie sad sketch devil, to render him powerless to do mischief of the return of the devils with the words, for the future. "My power sent these dread " Even so shall it be also unto this wioked beings to the abyss, there to wait. The genere.tion." It may have been the.t Jesus would-be exorcists were unable to replace prolonged on this occasion the terrible the hellillb tenant which they expelled by sermon, and drew out lesson upon lesson another and a holier influenoe. I bring suggested by bis words; but it is more likely back the once-tormented soul to it.e old re- the.t St. Matthew is writing of another occa• lations with its God-F, iend, aud replace eion, when, taunted with working with the the unclean spirit by the Holy Spirit." He aid of the devil, the Master spoke similar goes on to eay- words, drawing from them other lessons. Vers. 24, 25.-When the =clean spirit is The general lesson to be lee.rned-if the gone out of a n:.an, he walketh through dry above exegesis be in the main followed-is places, seeking rest ; and :fi.ading none, he the utter hopelessness of e.ttempting any 1aith, I will return Ullto my house whence I work which has as its object the amrlioration came out. And when he oometh, he :fi.D.deth of the human race without the aid of Christ. it swept and gamished.. The devil, expelled Earnestness and imposture will alike in the for a see.son, watches his opportunity and end foil here. The ea.ee of the one of whom qnickly returns; the exorcist-physician was the disciples complained to their Me.ater as powerless without the aid of Christ to ac- casting out devils, but who followed not oomplish anything more than a half-cure; with them, was very different. Here the Lord 1lte relapse, as we shall see, was worse tl,an ea.id, "Forbid him not: be that is not again•t tLe origi11al me.lady. The imagery of the us is for us." The good work in this cnse "dry pla.ce" through whicb the de\"il walked was done, we ree.d, in the Name of Christ: duriug his temporary absence from th.e hence tLe Divine approval. afilickd soul, was deril'ed frow the popubr Ver. 27.-And it co.me to pass, as he spe.ke tradition that spirits of evil frequent,-d ruins these things, a certain woman of the corn• and desert places (see the Talwnd, • Tr<'ati.se pany lifted up her voice, and said unto him, BerachotL.,' foL 3, a ; and Tobit viii. 3). Blessed is the womb that bare thee, e.nd the Ver. 26.-Then goeth he, and taketh to pe.ps which thon hast sucked ! 'fhie womnn him seven other spirits more wicked than eeeme to have expressed the popular feeliug. him.self; and they enter in, and dwell there : The crowds who he.d seen the great mirncle, and the laat state of that man is worse than ha<l listened to the cavilling suspicions, a.n,l the first. As i1,stauces of such a terrii,Je tlien heard the Master's wise and ekill'ul pc,,;8ession, not improbalily the result of a reply, were evidently impressed with tho relapse such as is above portrayed, might wisdom RB with the power of the fomoue but 1,e cited the cases of Mo.rv Magdalene, out hated Teacher, for they no doubt echoed the of whom we an, told weut'eeveu devils, and lofty and eubli1ue blee8ing of the wouum of tLe Gergcsene demoniac, who was pos- here. She, perhaps, ho.d in her own poreou -oo by u ~wa.rw or lq,iou of tLe.e uuclc.:uu experience of ihc two kiudij of hco.liug juij, on. xt. 1-64.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LuKF:.