Unclean spirits are conspicuous by their absence in the Old Testament, but the one direct reference gives us a clue to their activities. The Lord promises to open a fountain to cleanse the house of David and the city of Jerusalem, and adds “I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land” (Zechariah 13:2).
As prophets are inspired by the Spirit of Yahweh, so false prophets are inspired by unclean spirits.
Now we can push this by turning back to Jeremiah to see what false prophets do. There, the false prophets are the ones who urge rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, assure peace, tell Judah and the exile will be brief. Jeremiah, the true prophet, stands against the insurrectionists and urges the people to submit to the judgment that is the king of Babylon.
Jesus exorcises similar unclean spirits inspiring similar false prophets. He is a new Jeremiah, fighting the spirit of insurrection and zealotry that has gripped the leaders of first-century Judaism. No wonder he finds unclean spirits in the synagogues.
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