Matthew 8:32, commentary and pictures

At His word Go the demons left the two possessed men and entered the herd of swine feeding nearby, and the whole herd seized with panic rushed headlong down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. The destruction displays His absolute control over demons and the supremacy of the Son of God over Satan, making even evil serve His purpose while restraining it from destroying the keepers and owners. Satan designed the financial loss to turn the people of Gadara against Jesus and hedge up His work there, but it was overruled to rouse the whole country and direct attention to Christ. The owners and townspeople counted the loss of the swine of greater moment than the deliverance of the captives, feared further ruin from His presence, and begged Him to depart, and He granted their wish yet left them light. The two men restored to reason and sitting clothed at His feet were sent home to tell what the Lord had done for them, becoming the first missionaries to Decapolis whose testimony prepared thousands to receive Him gladly when He returned.

Context and Occurrence

The verse stands in the account of the stilling of the tempest and the healing of the demoniacs in Matthew 8:18-34, parallel to Mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-39. It takes place on the eastern shore of Gennesaret after an eventful day beside the Sea of Galilee spent teaching the parables of the sower, the mustard seed, the leaven, the wheat and tares, the fishing-net, the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the householder, and healing. In the evening, after ministering day after day with scarcely pausing for food or rest and made more severe by constant malicious criticism and misrepresentation from the Pharisees, Jesus was utterly wearied and determined to seek retirement in a solitary place across the lake. The eastern shore was not uninhabited but 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, offering the seclusion sought. After dismissing the multitude the disciples took Him even 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.

It happened on shore at the southern end of the lake in the territory of Gadara, in the region of Decapolis at Gergesa, a half-heathen trading city on table-land twelve hundred feet above the shore. The demons came from two fierce madmen who lived in the large and small limestone caves and tombs beside the road from the lake to Gadara, which had been enlarged into dwellings and tombs. Their madness gave them prodigious strength and made them a terror to the neighborhood so that the road was almost impassable from their fierceness. As soon as Jesus set foot on shore they sallied out toward Him, shrieking amidst wild howls of frenzy in deprecation of His interference with them. The healing at Gadara took place just before He returned to where Jairus came to beg Him to heal his dying daughter.

Jesus said Go and commanded the demons to go, granting through the afflicted men as mediums their request not to be sent out of the country after His question about the name and their answer that the name is Legion for they are many. A great herd of swine was feeding on a mountainside not far distant, and when He suffered them to enter, they left the men and entered the swine. A panic immediately seized the whole herd, they rushed madly headlong down the cliff and steep slope, unable to check themselves upon the shore, plunged into the lake and sea, and were drowned and perished in the waters. The destruction of the herd caused financial loss to its owners, and the swine keepers spread the news of what had happened.

Christ's Power and Purpose

With a single word of permission the demons were forced to leave the men and enter the herd, which then rushed down the steep slope and perished in the sea, and in that command was displayed absolute authority over demons and the supremacy of the Son of God and Prince of Light over Satan and the Prince of Darkness. Even the power of demons remains under the Saviour's control, so that the working of evil is made to serve His purpose. While He permitted them to drive the swine into the sea, His power restrained them from destroying the keepers and owners as well. The loss rebuked those who raised unclean animals for gain, and the event revealed Satan's cruel power over people and animals alongside Christ's power to free those held in bondage.

Satan designed the destruction to hedge up Jesus' way in that region by bringing considerable and serious financial loss upon the owners so that Jesus would be held in disfavor. His intent was to turn the people of Gergesa and Gadara away from the Saviour and to prevent the preaching of the gospel there. The owners and citizens valued the lost property more than the joyful restoration of two men from bondage to demons, giving the deliverance less attention than the loss. Yet the loss was overruled for good and brought Jesus directly before public notice. It roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, directed attention to Christ, stirred interest in His teaching, and helped prepare the region to hear the message of salvation.

Forcing the evil spirits to release their victims brought a wonderful change over the demoniacs. Light shone into their minds and their eyes beamed with intelligence, their faces long deformed into the image of Satan suddenly became mild, their blood-stained hands became quiet, and they lifted their voices in praise to God. The two men who had been the terror of the country were now clothed and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words and glorifying God for making them whole. The deliverance was not withheld even though while possessed they could utter only words inspired by Satan, for their hearts' unspoken appeal was heard.

The crossing in which Jesus brings rest through storm and demonic possession shows that through Jesus rest and heaven begin here. Coming to Him and learning of Him begins eternal life as a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ, with ever more glory opened and ever more intense happiness in knowing God. There is fullness of His love and satisfaction in His presence now, leading to life before the throne with no more hunger, thirst, burning heat or tears, where the Lamb feeds and leads to living fountains of waters.

Rejection and Witness

The keepers first saw the raving men suddenly made sane and calm and then saw the swine charge recklessly into the sea, and they hurried to tell the owners and the people until the news spread through the whole country. The destruction of the herd brought serious and substantial financial loss upon its owners. The whole town came out to meet Jesus.

Those who saw it did not rejoice, but counted the loss of the swine of greater moment than the deliverance of these captives of Satan. They cared more for lost property than for the joyful fact that two men had been restored to reason from bondage to demons, and gave the restored men's deliverance less attention than the loss of their property. They looked with indifference on the healed men sitting calmly and clothed and in their right mind at Jesus' feet. Worldliness blinded their eyes to see only the magnitude of their loss and to fear further loss, and they refused to consider the advantage of having among them One who could control the elements by the lifting of His finger and cast out demons and heal the diseased and imbecile by a word or touch.

In terror and panic they crowded around Jesus, feared still greater calamity and financial ruin from His presence, and treated Him as an unwelcome invader. They begged Him to depart from their coast, and He complied and granted their wish and took ship at once for the opposite shore, for He never urges His presence where He is unwelcome. Yet He did not leave them in the darkness they chose without light, but sent them light through witnesses they would listen to. The loss roused the whole country as nothing else could have done and directed attention to Christ and stirred interest in His teaching.

The restored men felt far differently, desiring the companionship of their Deliverer and feeling secure from the demons that had tormented their lives in His presence. Keeping close to His side as He was about to enter the boat, kneeling at His feet and begging to remain near Him to listen to His words, they were bidden to go home and tell what great things the Lord had done for them. Their deliverance made them the first missionaries Christ sent to teach the gospel in Decapolis, and their deliverance led them to carry the good news of Christ's saving power to others. Though they had listened to Christ only a short time and had never heard a sermon from Him, they could not instruct people as the disciples who had been daily with Christ could, but they could tell what they knew from what they themselves had seen and heard and felt of the Saviour's power. Those once controlled by the prince of darkness became messengers of the Son of God and stood before the people as living proof that Jesus was the Son of God, teaching His salvation with powerful influence. This personal testimony is what everyone whose heart has been touched by the grace of God can give, and it is the witness the Lord calls for and for lack of which the world is perishing.

The people listened to the healed men left behind as messengers, so desire was aroused to see Him. When Jesus returned to Decapolis thousands from the surrounding country flocked to Him and for three days heard the message of salvation, and they received Him with gladness when He came again. The same choice continues when many refuse to follow His teachings because obedience would require sacrificing some worldly interest. People likewise treat Him as an unwelcome invader and turn Jesus from their hearts and ruthlessly drive His Spirit from them when following Him seems likely to cost worldly interests, fearful that His presence will cost them pecuniary loss, overlooking His grace, proving that they cannot serve God and mammon.