Bible Study series: Matthew 8:28-34. Jesus traveled out of his way to set them free.
A warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together. I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Matthew 8:28-34
28 After he went to the other side of the lake into the region where the Gadarenes lived, two demonized men, coming from the tombs, confronted him. They were very dangerous, so that no one was able to pass along that road. 29 Then look! They shrieked, saying, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 There was, at a distance from them, a herd of many pigs, feeding. 31 The demons begged him, saying, “If you expel us, send us into the herd of pigs!” 32 He said to them, “Go!” They exited and departed into the swine. And look! The entire herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and perished in the water. 33 Then the swineherds fled and left for the town and reported everything—even the things about the demonized men. 34 Then surprise! The entire town went out for a meeting with Jesus, and after they saw him, they implored him to cross over, out of their vicinity. (Matt. 8:28-34)
Comments:
Let’s first tackle the issue of the two demoniacs, when Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39 have one.
The short answer is that Matthew knew by hiss own knowledge that there were two, and Mark and Luke, who were not eyewitnesses, knew of one. Or Mark and Luke merely trimmed one, to remove extra details. Example: you say, “I saw John in town today, and I had not seen him in years!” But John and Mary were together, yet you name only John.
Please go to Matthew 8 and scroll down to the right verses, for a longer commentary:
How can there be a contradiction when one Gospel is silent on some minor details which the other Gospel includes? There is no contradiction.
Begin a series on the reliability of the Gospels. Start with the Conclusion which has quick summaries and links back to the other parts:
15.. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Conclusion
The Gospels have a massive number of agreements in their storylines, so focus on and celebrate them:
14.. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
See this part in the series that puts the differences in perspective (a difference ≠ a contradiction):
13.. Are There Contradictions in the Gospels?
28:
The region of the Gadarenes is on the southeastern side of the lake. It was primarily Gentile. You can google it. This was a region where Gentiles lived, for Jews considered pigs to be unclean (Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8).
As for Mark’s “Gerasenes” (Mark 5:1) and Matthew’s “Gadarenes,” “Gerasa was larger and more powerful in Mark’s time; hence Mark used the more prominent city to identify the region …; Matthew, probably writing to Christians in Syria who knew the region better, clarifies the matter by naming the prominent city near the lake itself … In both Gospels, the writer is simply identifying the region; Gadara and Gerasa were both parts of the Decapolis, a primarily Gentile area with a large Jewish population” (Keener, p. 282).
See the links on the reliability of the Gospels, above.
The disciples were with him, and they needed training in taking authority over demons. They may have been baffled as to why Jesus was called to go over to this Gentile region, but now they are no longer mystified. Two men needed a large-scale deliverance session.
“demonized”: see v. 16 for further comment. The context indicates that these two men were completely possessed, not just attacked.
How Does New Testament Define Demonic Control?
Matthews informs us that they were so dangerous—again indicating total possession—that people could not pass along the road by the tombs, an appropriate place for demonized men. The seven sons of Sceva found out how dangerous demons could be. The demon-possessed man pounced on the seven men, overpowered them, and beat them up (Acts 19:11-17).
29:
“Why are you interfering with us”: These demons were arrogant smart alecks, but they had to acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God. In the spirit world, they probably saw Jesus rebuke Satan in the Temptation (Matt. 4:1-12).
Matthew introduces an eschatological (end times) element to the story with the word “time.” Apparently these demons understood what their ultimate fate was, but they did not know when exactly it was going to happen. No, Jesus was not going to torment them personally, but he was going to send them into hell, which was prepared for Satan and his angels (demons), and that state was going to be torment enough (Matt. 25:41). The legion of demons understood that Jesus had authority to command them.
In his name, we also have authority to command demons.
“time”: the noun here is kairos (pronounced kye-ross and is used 85 times), which speaks more of a quality time than quantity. BDAG defines the noun as follows: (1) a point of time or period of time, time, period, frequently with the implication of being especially fit for something and without emphasis on precise chronology. (a) Generally a welcome time or difficult time … fruitful times; (b) a moment or period as especially appropriate the right, proper, favorable time … at the right time; (2) a defined period for an event, definite, fixed time (e.g. period of fasting or mourning in accord with the changes in season), in due time (Gal. 6:9); (3) a period characterized by some aspect of special crisis, time; (a) generally the present time (Rom. 13:11; 12:11); (b) One of the chief terms relating to the endtime … the time of crisis, the last times.
All of this stand in a mild contrast—not a sharp contrast—from chronos. Greek has another word for time: chronos (pronounced khro-noss), which measures one day, one week or one month after another.
In this context, the demons must mean the third definition and (b), the end time.
Getting kicked out of a region meant that the demons have lost their authority over a jurisdiction and were going to the abyss to await judgment. Jesus was in the process of binding the strong man and pushing him out and shrinking his territory (Matt. 12:29).
The demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Let’s look into some systematic theology. Jesus was the Son of the Father eternally, before creation. The Son has no beginning. He and the Father always were, together. The relationship is portrayed in this Father-Son way so we can understand who God is more clearly. Now he relates to us as his sons and daughters. On our repentance and salvation and union with Christ, we are brought into his eternal family.
6. Titles of Jesus: The Son of God
When Did Jesus “Become” the Son of God?
30-31:
Evidently demons don’t like to be without a physical body to possess (Matt. 12:43-45). So they made a deal with Jesus. Send us into the pigs (Mark 5:13 says there were about 2000 pigs). He allowed it, but they must not have realized that the pigs would do a swan dive—a pig dive—into the lake, where they died. Did they escape the pigs’ bodies upon their deaths? Unknown (to me at least). But it seems that when the pigs dissolved into nothing by now, they escaped the bodies. Yet let’s not speculate like this. Let’s move on.
32:
I really like how Jesus issued a one-word command: “Go!” It is authoritative. Jesus was definitely in charge.
“lake”: see v. 24 for more comments.
32:
It is amazing to me how calm Jesus was. Authority and calm go together. Flashy Renewalists who shriek during deliverances are just insecure. Instead, be authoritative and calm, in Jesus’s name.
As for the loss of property when the pigs drowned and today’s readers feeling sad, Blomberg is right: “Readers concerned about the destruction of animal life and the loss of the farmers’ livelihood exhibit a contemporary sentimentality not shared by a Jewish audience who knew these pig farmers should not have been raising animals whose meat was forbidden to eat. Human sanity and salvation, moreover, must always take priority over financial prosperity” (comment on 8:32)
33-34:
“Surprise!” I chose this translation over the traditional “behold.” It always surprises me that the townspeople chose the pigs over Jesus and the delivered men. Yes, the swine was their livelihood or business, but honestly! People first! But if you don’t like “surprise,” then run with “behold.”
They ask him to leave their borders. We don’t want a miracle worker! How deceived can these people be? That deceived.
See my posts about Satan in the area of systematic theology:
Bible Basics about Satan and Demons and Victory Over Them
Bible Basics about Deliverance
Magic, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Fortunetelling
“their”: And here we have another instance of their (see 4:23; 7:29; 9:35; 10:17; 12:9; 13:54; 22:7; 22:16). Why does Matthew keep saying “their synagogue or their city or their teachers of the law? My opinion: his community has moved well past Judaism and must distinguish between the newly formed Christian community and the old Jewish community.
GrowApp for Matt. 8:28-34
1. Has Jesus set you free from any demonic influence (even false doctrine can be used by Satan)? Read James 4:7. What does it teach you about deliverance?
RELATED
9. Authoritative Testimony in Matthew’s Gospel
1. Church Fathers and Matthew’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom.
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