Matthew 8:30-34 NIV

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:30

‘Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.’ Had this been Jewish territory there would have been no herd of pigs, for to Jews pigs were ritually unclean. But this was Gentile territory, and here the keeping of herds of pigs was commonplace. That there were many pigs is important, for it brings out that there were many demons. ‘There was afar off’. We have here clear evidence of an eyewitness who remembered the herd in the distance. This description is against the idea that... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:31

‘And the demons besought him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” ’. The demons, recognising His authority and His mastery, pleaded to be allowed to go into those distant pigs. They did not want to be totally disembodied for that would have meant that if they could not soon find a body to possess they would have to go to meet their final fate. Jesus also knew how important it would be for the two men to be sure that the demons had left them, so He gave permission.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:32

‘And he said to them, “Go.” And they came out, and went into the swine, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea, and perished in the waters.” With a word of power Jesus told them to do what they had asked and go, and enter the swine, and, unable to resist, they left the two persons involved and entered the pigs, with the result that the whole herd ran down a slope into the sea. Jesus may well not have expected this outcome. He would be aware of the evil spirits’ desire for... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:33

‘And those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what had happened to those who were possessed with demons.’ Naturally those who guarded the pigs were terrified and extremely upset. They fled to the nearby city and described what had happened in full detail, and especially what had happened to the two demon possessed people who were now healed. They did not want to have to bear the blame for what had happened. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:34

‘And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they pleaded with him that he would depart from their borders.’ And the consequence was that ‘all the city’ (both Jews and Gentiles) consulted together through their elders and then came to Jesus in a large deputation on behalf of the whole city, and begged Him to leave their borders. They knew what a Jewish prophet would think about pigs, and they did not want any further attacks on their herds. It may also be that they... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:28-34

Matthew 8:28-Nahum : . The Gerasene Demoniacs ( Mark 5:1-Proverbs : *, Luke 8:26-Malachi :)— Mt. is considerably shorter than Mk.; note his summary of Mark 5:3-Deuteronomy : and omission of Mark 5:8-2 Samuel :, Mark 5:18-Proverbs :. He frequently omits questions put by Jesus. His statement that there were two maniacs may be compensation for the previous omission ( Matthew 8:1-Numbers : *), but perhaps Mk. and Lk. are thinking of the more important of the two. According to Dalman, “ Son of... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:30-31

Both Mark and Luke interpose here something more. Mark saith, And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many. Luke saith, And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. A Roman legion consisted of twelve thousand five hundred soldiers. Not that there were precisely so many evil spirits which had a power over this poor man, but many had. A certain number is named for one uncertain.... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:32

Mark gives us much the same account, Mark 5:13, only adding, they were about two thousand. Luke differeth not, only what Matthew calls a sea Luke calls a lake; but the Jews called all great gatherings together of waters seas. The devil is naturally so fond of doing mischief, that he will rather play at a small game than stand out. This way of executing his malice, upon the beasts, we have often had experience of in the practice of witchcraft. And it may teach husbandmen, and those that trade in... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:33

Mark and Luke in this differ not from Matthew, only they add, that they told it in the city and country. Those that most serve the devil are afraid of him when he cometh to show himself in his true colours. These men go and publish abroad the miracle, what had happened to the man that was so famous an object of the devil’s malice, and what had happened to the swine. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:34

Both Mark and Luke here add much. Mark saith, Mark 5:14-20, And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the Legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been... read more

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:30

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:31

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:32

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:33

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:34

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:28-34

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:30-31

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:32

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:33

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 8:34

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