Matthew 26:30

26:30 After ¹  singing a hymn, ²  they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 12:44

12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ ³  When it returns, ⁴  it finds the house ⁵  empty, swept clean, and put in order. ⁶ 

Matthew 25:1

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

[26:30]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:30]  ² sn After singing a hymn. The Hallel Psalms (Pss 113-118) were sung during the meal. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung just before the second cup and 115-118 were sung at the end of the meal, after the fourth, or hallel cup.

[12:44]  ³ tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”

[12:44]  ⁴ tn Grk “comes.”

[12:44]  ⁵ tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.

[12:44]  ⁶ 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.