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 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

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Matt 8:28-34

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs." 32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

NIV

Matthew is the only one of three accounts of this incident who mentions two demon-possessed men. Mark and Luke make mention of one man, and that only shows these three did not collaborate to tell a fabrication, but they show fit to relay certain facts as they were inspired to. Nevertheless, the point here is not about the pigs, but it might be more about the testimony of the demons. When Jesus arrived in the region of the Gadarenes, which is the area of the ten cities, called Decapolis, he did not seek out these demon-possessed men, they came running to meet Him. Understanding these men were so violent that no one could control them makes is more interesting that they came to meet Jesus. Of course, it was not the men, but the demons who possessed them who made the men come to Jesus, and when they met him, they did not use the term son of man, but knew him as the Son of God. Considering they had been cast out of heaven many years ago, which we do not know how many, they had been free to roam this earth for thousands of years, doing whatever they pleased, without interference from God. They did however know that a day was coming when they would be judged, just as all men will be. These demons knew Jesus was not going to let them stay in these men, so they asked him if he was going to command them to leave these men to send them into the pigs. This is the only reason the pigs are there. However, we do remember pigs are unclean and it is unlawful for Jews to eat them or even keep them, so the herd of pigs most likely was owned by gentiles. This would agree with the fact after the pigs ran down the hill into the water, all the people of the area, all gentiles did not want this Jewish Rabbi, this Jesus, to be in their area. This is strange considering the two men who caused so much trouble being so violent were now in their right minds and able to reenter the community, maybe even family. We wonder if anyone heard the demons testify that Jesus was the Son of God. Who would not want to know the Son of God? Why would people want the Son of God to vanish from their presence? Men who live in sin, in darkness, love the darkness and do not want the light of the world, Jesus, exposing their sin. However, sin cannot be hidden from God, for he knows the heart of each man, and each will be judged not according to his deeds, whether good or bad, but according to his heart. We only have to consider David who did many wrong deeds in the sight of God, yet God testifies that David was a man after His own heart. We may not understand all that completely, but we know that we have not only recognized that Jesus is the Son of God, but that He has the same authority over us as He did over those demons. Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, let us always yield to the Son of God, and when He says “Go” or “Come”, we do that which he says.