Matthew 8:30-34 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 8:28-34

We have here the story of Christ's casting the devils out of two men that were possessed. The scope of this chapter is to show the divine power of Christ, by the instances of his dominion over bodily diseases, which to us are irresistible; over winds and waves, which to us are yet more uncontrollable; and lastly, over devils, which to us are most formidable of all. Christ has not only all power in heaven and earth and all deep places, but has the keys of hell too. Principalities and powers... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 8:1-34

Of all the gospel writers Matthew is the most orderly. He never sets out his material haphazardly. If in Matthew one thing follows another in a certain sequence, there is always a reason for that sequence; and it is so here. In Matthew 5:1-48 ; Matthew 6:1-34 ; Matthew 7:1-29 Matthew has given us the Sermon on the Mount. That is to say, in these chapters he has given us his account of the words of Jesus; and now in Matthew 8:1-34 he gives us an account of the deeds of Jesus. Matthew... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:30

And there was a good way off from them ,.... "Nigh unto the mountains", as Mark says, or "on the mountain", as Luke, bordering on the sea shore; so that though it was at some distance, yet within sight. The Vulgate Latin, and the Hebrew edition of Munster read, "not far off"; and the Persic version, "near them": which agree with the accounts of Mark and Luke, who say, that there were "there", or hard by, "an herd of many swine feeding". Since swine's flesh was forbidden the Jews to eat, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:31

So the devils besought him, saying ,.... All the devils, the whole legion of them, who perceiving that they must be obliged to go out of these men, and after they had earnestly entreated they might not be sent out of the country where they had long been, and had made themselves masters of the tempers, dispositions, and circumstances of the inhabitants, and so capable of doing the more mischief, begged hard, if thou cast us out of these men, or "from hence", as the Vulgate Latin, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:32

And he said unto them, go , &c.; He gave them leave, as God did to Satan, in the case of Job; for without divine permission, these evil spirits cannot do anything to the bodies, souls, or estates of men: they could not enter into the swine without leave, and much less do things of greater moment and consequence; and therefore are not to be feared, or dreaded by men, especially by the people of God. It may be asked, why did Christ suffer the devils to enter the herd of swine, and destroy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:33

And they that kept them fled ,.... The hog herds, men of very low life, and whose employment was very infamous and reproachful, as has been observed. These, amazed at what they had seen, distressed with the loss of the swine, and so of their employment, and frightened also lest they should incur the blame and displeasure of their masters, ran away in great haste, fear, and astonishment; and went their way into the city ; either of Gergesa, or Gadara. Mark and Luke say, they "went and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:34

And behold, the whole city ,.... The inhabitants of it, not every individual person, but the greater number of them, or, at least, a very great number of them. Luke says, "the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about": for as the news was carried both into the city and country, great numbers flocked from all parts, and came out to meet Jesus : not out of any love and respect to him, and in order to invite him, and conduct him into their city, and there receive him... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:30

A herd of many swine - These were in all probability Jewish property, and kept and used in express violation of the law of God; and therefore their destruction, in the next verse, was no more than a proper manifestation of the justice of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:31

Suffer us to go away - Επιτρεψον ημιν απελθειν : this is the common reading; but αποστειλον ημας , send us away, appears more likely to be genuine. This latter reading Griesbach has adopted, on the authority of three ancient MSS., the Coptic, Sahidic, Ethiopic, Syriac, all the Arabic, Saxon, most of the Itala, and the Vulgate. Send us away seems to express more fully the absolute power Jesus Christ had over them - permission alone was not sufficient; the very power by which they were to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:32

They went into the herd of swine - Instead of την αγελην των χοιρων , the herd of swine, Griesbach reads τους χοιρους , the swine, on the authority of many MSS. and versions. The whole herd of swine - Των χοιρων , of swine, is omitted by many MSS. and versions. See Griesbach, and see on Luke 8:20 , etc. Ran violently down a steep place, etc. - The prayer of these demons is heard and answered! Strange! But let it be noted, that God only hears demons and certain sinners when... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 8:28-34

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 8:1-34

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:32

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:34

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:30

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:31

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:32

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