There were many in Christ's day, as there are today, over whom the control of Satan for the time seemed broken; through the grace of God they were set free from the evil spirits that had held dominion over 324 the soul. They rejoiced in the love of God; but, like the stony-ground hearers of the parable, they did not abide in His love. They did not surrender themselves to God daily, that Christ might dwell in the heart; and when the evil spirit returned, with "seven other spirits more wicked than himself," they were wholly dominated by the power of evil.

Ligesom i dag var der på Kristi tid mange, over hvem Satans magt syntes at være brudt. Ved Guds nåde blev de befriede for de onde ånder, som havde haft herredømme over deres sjæle. De frydede sig i Guds kærlighed, men ligesom tilhørerene i lignelsen, hvor ordet faldt på stengrund, forblev de ikke i hans kærlighed. De overgav ikke daglig sig selv til Gud, så at Kristus kunne bo i deres hjerter, og når den onde ånd vendte tilbage med "syv andre ånder, værre end den selv," var de kommet fuldstændig i det ondes magt.