Matthew 8:28-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Demon-possessed of the Gadarenes

Matthew 8:28-34 – The Demon-possessed of the Gadarenes

|| Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-37

MT8:28 When Jesus reached the other shore in the country of the Gadarenes[1] two demon-possessed [men] came out from among the memorial tombs[2] to met him. These [demoniacs] were unusually fierce and no one had the strength or courage to travel through that way. MT8:29 And, look! they shrieked, yelling, “What? – to us and you,[3] Son of The God? Did you come here to torment[4] us before the appointed time?”[5] MT8:30 (Far away from them was a feeding herd of swine.)[6] MT8:31 So, the demons entreated him, saying, “If you are going to exorcise us, send us into the herd of swine.” MT8:32 Jesus said to them, “Off with you!” Those exorcised went away into the swine; and, look! the entire herd ran down the precipice into the sea and they died in the waters. MT8:33 But those pasturing the herd fled into the city reporting everything involving the demon-possessed [men]. MT8:34 And, look! the entire city came out to confront Jesus and when they saw him they entreated him to leave their area.

[1] Gadarenes: Called “country of the Gerasenes” in other mss and Mark 5:1 and Luke 8:26.

[2] Memorial tombs: The Greek is MNEMEION and could be rendered “memorium” but generally rendered “tombs” and “burial places.” The same word occurs at John 5:28.

[3] What? – to us and you: A Hebraic phrase of disdain or contempt. It is variously rendered: NWT: what have we to do with you; RHM: what have we in common with thee; TCNT: what do you want with us; LAM: what business have we together; KNX: why dost thou meddle with us. Jesus used the same language with his mother when she appeared to either direct him or insist he perform a miracle (John chapter 2).

[4] Torment: The Greek is BASANISAI and though it is generally rendered this way as well as “torture” (GDSP) the idea is one of “punishment.” One may compare its use in the Jewish Greek LXX Ezekiel 32:24, 27, 30 where it is used of buried soldiers and their armament. The word group occurs 20 times in the Christian Bible. Regarding Matthew 18:34, The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia states: “Probably the imprisonment itself was regarded as ‘torment’ (as it doubtless was), and the ‘tormentors’ need mean nothing more than jailers.” (Edited by J. Orr, 1960, Vol. V, p. 2999)

[5] Before the appointed time: These demons were not then being tormented in some hell-fire. Their ultimate punishment will be “everlasting cutting off” in what Revelation calls “Second Death.” (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:14)

[6] Herd of swine: Jews were forbidden pork and raising them violated the Law of Moses (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8). Compare the following regarding Jews and pork (Isaiah 65:4; 66:17; 1 Maccabees 1:63 and 2 Maccabees 6:18, 19; 7:1, 2). The Non-Jews consider pork a delicacy and doubtless these swine-herders sold their product to these.

The demons began to entreat Jesus saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And Jesus said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.

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Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

Matthew 8:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus a Miracle-working Son of God

Matthew 8:5-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Servant of Army Officer Healed

Matthew 8:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law

Matthew 8:18-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Two Would-be Followers

Matthew 8:23-27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Calms a Stormy Sea

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Further reading

1. Matthew 8:28-34
2. Matthew 8:23-24 … bay of Pigs
3. Escaping the Fear Factor
4. August 13, 2017 The Gadarene Demoniac
5. 6th Sunday of Luke: The Gadarene Demoniac
6. Day 127 – the Gerasene Demoniac
7. 14th October: Mark 4:1-6:13
8. Jesus, Demons and…Pigs?
9. How could they not know?
10. Meditation: Matthew 8:28-34
11. Thoughts to Ponder from Amos 5:14-15, 21-24 and Matthew 8:28-34
12. Maybe It’s All in the Telling
13. Fear of Change
14. Go then …
15. What if people don’t want Jesus as king? (Matthew 8:28-34)
16. Inconvenient Christianity
17. The First And Second Death
18. Second Death (New heaven on earth)
19. The Second Death
20. The Second Death: The Lake Of Fire And Brimstone