28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,1 two demon-possessed2 men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Section Overview
Jesus’ next miracle demonstrates his lordship over a new domain, that of evil spirits. Like the storm at sea, this episode appears in all three Synoptics. Again Matthew has the shortest account. The passage prompts questions: What is demon possession? Why is it common in the Gospels but rare elsewhere in Scripture?139 Why do the demons confront Jesus? What do demons know about Jesus, and how do they know it? Why do they want to enter pigs? Why does Jesus permit it? What should readers think of the destruction of property? Where does the event occur, and why do the locals want Jesus to leave?
The outline is straightforward. When Jesus lands, two demoniacs confront him, shouting out his identity and begging him to delay their judgment. Anticipating their exorcism, they ask to enter a herd of pigs. When the demons go, the pigs destroy themselves. When word reaches the city, its inhabitants beg Jesus to leave.
Response
Once again, we see the power and saving purposes of Jesus. Matthew reports Gentile indifference to his great work. Mark and Luke add that he commissions the man to proclaim what Jesus has done for him. In this way he prepares the way for later proclamations of Christ. In Matthew the accent falls on Jesus’ care for the men, in contrast to the hardness of human hearts. Matthew lets his thoughtful readers glean the lesson: it is wise to trust Jesus, who is so powerful and good, and to adopt his values as our own.