Matthew 25:7

25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

Matthew 12:44

12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ ¹  When it returns, ²  it finds the house ³  empty, swept clean, and put in order. ⁴ 

Matthew 23:29

23:29 “Woe to you, experts in the law ⁵  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You ⁶  build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves ⁷  of the righteous.

[12:44]  ¹ tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”

[12:44]  ² tn Grk “comes.”

[12:44]  ³ tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.

[12:44]  ⁴ 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.

[23:29]  ¹ tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:29]  ² tn Grk “Because you.” Here ὅτι (Joti) has not been translated.

[23:29]  ³ tn Or perhaps “the monuments” (see L&N 7.75-76).