Matthew 14:7

14:7 so much that he promised with an oath ¹  to give her whatever she asked.

Matthew 12:44

12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ ²  When it returns, ³  it finds the house ⁴  empty, swept clean, and put in order. ⁵ 

Matthew 25:24

25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,

Matthew 25:26

25:26 But his master answered, ⁶  ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter?

¹ tn The Greek text reads here ὁμολογέω (Jomologew); though normally translated “acknowledge, confess,” BDAG (708 s.v. 1) lists “assure, promise with an oath” for certain contexts such as here.

² tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”

³ tn Grk “comes.”

⁴ tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.

⁵ 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.

³ tn Grk “But answering, his master said to him.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.