Jesus Frees the Man as Swine Run Off the Cliffby Stephenoch
8:31Matthew 8:31
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
The demons, bound by a power stronger than themselves, begged Jesus that if He cast them out He would not send them out of the region but suffer them to enter the great herd of swine feeding on the mountainside nearby, and He granted and permitted their request. The plea itself displays His absolute control over evil spirits to force them to release their victims, showing the Prince of Light supreme over the Prince of Darkness. Satan's design in the request was to drive the herd to destruction and cause such loss of property that Jesus would be blamed, the healing forgotten, and the gospel shut out of that country. Jesus allowed it because He cared more for their real good than they did themselves, to set before them visible evidence of Satan's power met and mastered by Christ, yet with eyes blinded by worldliness they valued property above grace and entreated Him to depart. God overruled the loss for good, for the healed men remained as light where Christ was rejected, becoming the first missionaries to Decapolis who by telling what they had seen and felt of His power opened the door so that thousands later flocked to hear Him.
Setting and Narrative
This plea came at the close of a full day beside the Sea of Galilee in which Jesus had taught the people in parables about His kingdom and healed, and in the evening, utterly wearied from ministering with scarcely food or rest under constant malicious criticism and misrepresentation from the Pharisees, sought retirement in seclusion across the lake. The eastern shore toward which He headed had towns here and there yet was desolate compared with the western side, with a population more heathen than Jewish and little communication with Galilee. After dismissing the multitude the disciples took Him just as He was into the boat and set off hastily, while other fishing boats crowded with people eager still to see and hear Him followed.
The landing was at the southern end of the lake in the territory of Gadara, a half-heathen city on the table-land above the shore, in the region of Gergesa in Decapolis. The two fiercely mad men who met Jesus the moment He landed lived in the larger and smaller limestone caves and rock tombs beside the road from the lake to Gadara. In their paroxysms they had prodigious strength that made that road almost impassable from their fierceness. This healing took place just before Jesus returned across the lake and Jairus came to ask Him to heal his dying daughter.
The unclean spirits had driven the two afflicted men into insanity and now used them as mediums of communication to bargain with Jesus. They spoke through them with shrieking, wild howling of frenzy as they sallied out toward Him, deprecating His interference. When asked their name they answered Legion, for they were many.
Bound by a power stronger than the chains the men had broken, the demons begged Jesus, whom they knew could cast them out, not to send them away out of the country or region. If cast out of their human habitation in the two men, they asked to be suffered to go away into a great herd of swine feeding nearby on a mountainside not far distant. Jesus granted and permitted the request and suffered them to enter the swine.
The spirits then left the men and entered the swine, and once in the swine drove them to destruction. Immediately a panic seized the herd, and they rushed madly and headlong down a steep cliff and precipice, unable to check themselves upon the shore. They plunged into the lake or sea and perished by drowning, while Jesus' restraint in the event protected the swine's keepers and owners from being swept into the sea as well.
When the demons left, a wonderful change came over the men they had controlled. Light shone into their minds and their eyes beamed with intelligence. Faces long deformed into the image of Satan became suddenly mild, blood-stained hands became quiet, and the men became intelligent and quiet and lifted their voices in praise to God.
Christ's Power Over Evil
Christ even in humiliation held absolute control over men possessed by demons and over evil spirits themselves, with principalities and powers subject to Him to force them to release their victims. When the spirits left, a wonderful change came over the men they had controlled, as light shone into their minds, their eyes beamed with intelligence, faces long deformed into the image of Satan became suddenly mild, blood-stained hands became quiet, and they lifted their voices in praise to God. The encounter is part of the demonstration of His power over the Prince of Darkness, showing that He had authority over demonic power and setting before onlookers the meeting of the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness with the supremacy of Christ.
The event also displays the demons' power and malice in driving the herd to destruction, while His restraint protected the swine's keepers and owners from being swept into the sea as well. Even the power of demons is under His control, and the working of evil is overruled for good. Though the demons acknowledged Him as the Son of God whom they knew could cast them out, and were bound by a power stronger than the chains the men had broken, they remained evil spirits, and that knowledge increased their condemnation.
Satan's design working through their request and the destruction that followed was to hedge up His way in that region of Gergesa and hold Him in disfavor throughout the country. By causing the swine at once to rush headlong down a steep precipice and drown in the sea, bringing considerable loss and destruction of property upon their owners, he aimed to make the destruction of property outweigh in the owners' minds the joyful restoration of the two men from demonic bondage to reason. In this way the people would be turned away from the Saviour and the preaching of the gospel in that region would be prevented.
Rejection and Gospel Witness
Jesus permitted the demons to enter the swine and allowed the resulting destruction of property because He cared far more for the people's real good than they cared for themselves. They cared only for worldly advantages and thought little of eternal interests, and nothing could awaken them so thoroughly as this occurrence in their midst. The loss raised their indignation and brought Him directly before public notice, setting before them visible evidence of Satan's power and the meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness in the supremacy of Christ over Satan.
With eyes blinded by worldliness they saw only the magnitude of their loss and valued property and worldly interest above grace and the healing and restoration of the men to reason. Fearing additional loss of property, in covetousness they entreated Him to depart and drove Him from their doors. He gratified their wish and departed from a people who rejected Him in ignorance, for He never urges His presence where He is unwelcome. Satan used the loss to turn them against Him by making them think He had destroyed their property.
God overruled the working of evil for good, so that the destruction roused the whole country as nothing else could have done and directed attention to Christ. Though Christ departed without having been heard, He left light with them through the healed men, who remained as witnesses to His power. Changed from mediums of the prince of darkness into channels of light and messengers of the Son of God, they carried light to people who had rejected Christ in ignorance without hearing His words. A door was opened to the gospel throughout that region, the people listened to them and a desire to see Him was aroused, so that when He came again into Decapolis He was received with gladness and thousands from all the surrounding region flocked to Him and for three days heard the message of salvation.
The two restored men became the first missionaries He sent to teach the gospel in Decapolis. They had listened to His words only a short time and had never heard one sermon from His lips, so they could not instruct as the disciples who had been daily with Him were able to do, but they could tell what they knew, what they themselves had seen and heard and felt of the Saviour's power. This shows everyone whose heart has been touched by grace can do the same, and this personal witness is what the Lord calls for and for lack of which the world is perishing. The same choice as the Gadarenes is made by many in these days who treat that priceless Gift of Heaven as an unwelcome invader, refuse to follow His teachings, and turn Jesus from their hearts and drive His Spirit from them because obedience would cost them worldly interest and pecuniary loss.
Even though the demoniacs could speak only Satan's words, their hearts' unspoken appeal was heard, showing that no cry from a soul in need, however overpowered by evil, goes unheeded. The account to which the verse belongs shows that through Jesus entrance into rest is found and heaven begins here. Responding to His invitation to come and learn of Him begins the life eternal, a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ where the longer one continues the more glory is opened and happiness, love and satisfaction in His presence increase. All that human nature can bear may be received here, but it is small compared with the hereafter, when they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple, with Him dwelling among them, hungering no more nor thirsting any more, untouched by sun or heat, fed and led by the Lamb unto living fountains of waters, with all tears wiped from their eyes.
The demons, bound by a power stronger than themselves, begged Jesus that if He cast them out He would not send them out of the region but suffer them to enter the great herd of swine feeding on the mountainside nearby, and He granted and permitted their request. The plea itself displays His absolute control over evil spirits to force them to release their victims, showing the Prince of Light supreme over the Prince of Darkness. Satan's design in the request was to drive the herd to destruction and cause such loss of property that Jesus would be blamed, the healing forgotten, and the gospel shut out of that country. Jesus allowed it because He cared more for their real good than they did themselves, to set before them visible evidence of Satan's power met and mastered by Christ, yet with eyes blinded by worldliness they valued property above grace and entreated Him to depart. God overruled the loss for good, for the healed men remained as light where Christ was rejected, becoming the first missionaries to Decapolis who by telling what they had seen and felt of His power opened the door so that thousands later flocked to hear Him.
Setting and Narrative
This plea came at the close of a full day beside the Sea of Galilee in which Jesus had taught the people in parables about His kingdom and healed, and in the evening, utterly wearied from ministering with scarcely food or rest under constant malicious criticism and misrepresentation from the Pharisees, sought retirement in seclusion across the lake. The eastern shore toward which He headed had towns here and there yet was desolate compared with the western side, with a population more heathen than Jewish and little communication with Galilee. After dismissing the multitude the disciples took Him just as He was into the boat and set off hastily, while other fishing boats crowded with people eager still to see and hear Him followed.
The landing was at the southern end of the lake in the territory of Gadara, a half-heathen city on the table-land above the shore, in the region of Gergesa in Decapolis. The two fiercely mad men who met Jesus the moment He landed lived in the larger and smaller limestone caves and rock tombs beside the road from the lake to Gadara. In their paroxysms they had prodigious strength that made that road almost impassable from their fierceness. This healing took place just before Jesus returned across the lake and Jairus came to ask Him to heal his dying daughter.
The unclean spirits had driven the two afflicted men into insanity and now used them as mediums of communication to bargain with Jesus. They spoke through them with shrieking, wild howling of frenzy as they sallied out toward Him, deprecating His interference. When asked their name they answered Legion, for they were many.
Bound by a power stronger than the chains the men had broken, the demons begged Jesus, whom they knew could cast them out, not to send them away out of the country or region. If cast out of their human habitation in the two men, they asked to be suffered to go away into a great herd of swine feeding nearby on a mountainside not far distant. Jesus granted and permitted the request and suffered them to enter the swine.
The spirits then left the men and entered the swine, and once in the swine drove them to destruction. Immediately a panic seized the herd, and they rushed madly and headlong down a steep cliff and precipice, unable to check themselves upon the shore. They plunged into the lake or sea and perished by drowning, while Jesus' restraint in the event protected the swine's keepers and owners from being swept into the sea as well.
When the demons left, a wonderful change came over the men they had controlled. Light shone into their minds and their eyes beamed with intelligence. Faces long deformed into the image of Satan became suddenly mild, blood-stained hands became quiet, and the men became intelligent and quiet and lifted their voices in praise to God.
Christ's Power Over Evil
Christ even in humiliation held absolute control over men possessed by demons and over evil spirits themselves, with principalities and powers subject to Him to force them to release their victims. When the spirits left, a wonderful change came over the men they had controlled, as light shone into their minds, their eyes beamed with intelligence, faces long deformed into the image of Satan became suddenly mild, blood-stained hands became quiet, and they lifted their voices in praise to God. The encounter is part of the demonstration of His power over the Prince of Darkness, showing that He had authority over demonic power and setting before onlookers the meeting of the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness with the supremacy of Christ.
The event also displays the demons' power and malice in driving the herd to destruction, while His restraint protected the swine's keepers and owners from being swept into the sea as well. Even the power of demons is under His control, and the working of evil is overruled for good. Though the demons acknowledged Him as the Son of God whom they knew could cast them out, and were bound by a power stronger than the chains the men had broken, they remained evil spirits, and that knowledge increased their condemnation.
Satan's design working through their request and the destruction that followed was to hedge up His way in that region of Gergesa and hold Him in disfavor throughout the country. By causing the swine at once to rush headlong down a steep precipice and drown in the sea, bringing considerable loss and destruction of property upon their owners, he aimed to make the destruction of property outweigh in the owners' minds the joyful restoration of the two men from demonic bondage to reason. In this way the people would be turned away from the Saviour and the preaching of the gospel in that region would be prevented.
Rejection and Gospel Witness
Jesus permitted the demons to enter the swine and allowed the resulting destruction of property because He cared far more for the people's real good than they cared for themselves. They cared only for worldly advantages and thought little of eternal interests, and nothing could awaken them so thoroughly as this occurrence in their midst. The loss raised their indignation and brought Him directly before public notice, setting before them visible evidence of Satan's power and the meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness in the supremacy of Christ over Satan.
With eyes blinded by worldliness they saw only the magnitude of their loss and valued property and worldly interest above grace and the healing and restoration of the men to reason. Fearing additional loss of property, in covetousness they entreated Him to depart and drove Him from their doors. He gratified their wish and departed from a people who rejected Him in ignorance, for He never urges His presence where He is unwelcome. Satan used the loss to turn them against Him by making them think He had destroyed their property.
God overruled the working of evil for good, so that the destruction roused the whole country as nothing else could have done and directed attention to Christ. Though Christ departed without having been heard, He left light with them through the healed men, who remained as witnesses to His power. Changed from mediums of the prince of darkness into channels of light and messengers of the Son of God, they carried light to people who had rejected Christ in ignorance without hearing His words. A door was opened to the gospel throughout that region, the people listened to them and a desire to see Him was aroused, so that when He came again into Decapolis He was received with gladness and thousands from all the surrounding region flocked to Him and for three days heard the message of salvation.
The two restored men became the first missionaries He sent to teach the gospel in Decapolis. They had listened to His words only a short time and had never heard one sermon from His lips, so they could not instruct as the disciples who had been daily with Him were able to do, but they could tell what they knew, what they themselves had seen and heard and felt of the Saviour's power. This shows everyone whose heart has been touched by grace can do the same, and this personal witness is what the Lord calls for and for lack of which the world is perishing. The same choice as the Gadarenes is made by many in these days who treat that priceless Gift of Heaven as an unwelcome invader, refuse to follow His teachings, and turn Jesus from their hearts and drive His Spirit from them because obedience would cost them worldly interest and pecuniary loss.
Even though the demoniacs could speak only Satan's words, their hearts' unspoken appeal was heard, showing that no cry from a soul in need, however overpowered by evil, goes unheeded. The account to which the verse belongs shows that through Jesus entrance into rest is found and heaven begins here. Responding to His invitation to come and learn of Him begins the life eternal, a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ where the longer one continues the more glory is opened and happiness, love and satisfaction in His presence increase. All that human nature can bear may be received here, but it is small compared with the hereafter, when they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple, with Him dwelling among them, hungering no more nor thirsting any more, untouched by sun or heat, fed and led by the Lamb unto living fountains of waters, with all tears wiped from their eyes.