Matthew 8:34

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 8:34

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 8:34

The whole city came out - Probably with the intention to destroy Jesus for having destroyed their swine; but, having seen him, they were awed by his presence; and only besought him to depart from their borders. Many rather chose to lose Jesus Christ than those temporal goods by which they gratify their passions at the expense of their souls. They love even their swine better than their salvation. Certain doctors in both sciences, divinity and physic, gravely tell us that these demoniacs... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-34

MESSIAH 'S WORK AS COMPLEMENTARY TO HIS TEACHING . We return in this section to matter which resembles that of Mark and Luke, and undoubtedly belongs to the Framework ( vide Introduction). St. Matthew has given a lengthy summary of the teaching of the Christ, and he now supplements it by a summary of his daily work. He is not concerned with the chronological connexion of the incidents here narrated, for this is evidently to him a matter of but secondary importance. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:28-34

The Gadarene demoniacs. Parallel passages: Mark 5:1-20 ; Luke 8:26-39 , where see full notes. Matthew is much less detailed. Matthew mentions two demoniacs; the parallel passages, one; the reason may be either that one was less fierce than the other, or that only one came from Gerasa (Nosgen). But in our present knowledge of the extent of inspiration, we cannot confidently affirm that the evangelists were kept from errors in numbers, and that the addition of the second demoniac is not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:28-34

The country of the Gergesenes. I. THE DEMONIACS . 1 . Their description. There were two—one fiercer, more violent, than the other. Satan's power has been broken; the incarnation of the Son of God, the atonement made upon the cross, has weakened his hold upon men. "I beheld Satan like lightning fall from heaven." The times were very evil when the Saviour came. Satan was the prince of this world, the ruler of this world's darkness. His power is still very terrible, but it is not what... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:28-34

Demoniacal possession. The personality of devils or demons has been called in question, and the examples of demoniacal possession recorded in Scripture have been construed as cases of insanity. But the narrative before us refuses to be thus treated. Here clearly are intelligences who can know, reason, speak, and pray, and who can exist separately from the subject of possession, and after expulsion from men can enter and possess inferior animals. Note— I. THAT DEVILS ARE FORMIDABLE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:34

And, behold . The third of the stages ( Matthew 8:29 , Matthew 8:32 ) in this incident that were apparent to all. The whole city ; i.e. Khersa , from the parallel passages ( Matthew 8:28 , note); all the city (Revised Version, though a similar phrase is not altered in Matthew 8:32 ); πᾶσα ἡπόλις . Not really less comprehensive, but giving a less vivid representation of one united body than ὅλη ἡπόλις ( Mark 1:33 , and especially Luke 8:39 ); cf. Matthew... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:34

The design of miracle frustrated. The destruction of the swine is one of the chief difficulties of the gospel narratives. Some common impressions in relation to it need careful correction. 1 . They were wild hogs, not what we understand by pigs. Their conduct is that of half-wild creatures. 2 . Christ, at the most, gave permission, not command. 3 . That the spirits did enter the swine, and that this explains their wild. conduct, is the people's idea, based on the paroxysms of the... read more

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