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Matthew 8

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

What does Matthew 8:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 8:28 describes an event in the life of Jesus where He encounters two demon-possessed men upon his arrival in the region of the Gergesenes, after crossing the Sea of Galilee.

These men were so violent that they posed a danger to anyone passing by.

They lived among the tombs, which in itself was seen as unclean to Jewish people.

The focus on the fierce nature of these men indicates the severity of their possession and the impact this had on the local community.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Matthew 8:28 pertains to the period of Jesus's ministry in the first century A.D.

The region referred to as the country of the Gergesenes is sometimes called the Gadarenes and is located near the Sea of Galilee.

The Jewish people of that time saw graveyards and tombs as places of impurity.

The mention of demon-possession reflects the beliefs of the time regarding mental illness and unexplainable behavior.

Theological Insights

This verse provides several theological insights.

It emphasizes Jesus’s authority over the supernatural realm, as He is confronted by demon-possessed individuals and has the power to cast out these demons.

The presence of two individuals highlights the extent of Jesus's power, as He is capable of healing not just one but multiple people afflicted by demonic forces.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can inspire believers to have faith in the power of Jesus over all forms of evil and suffering.

It also encourages compassion and engagement with those society has marginalized, as Jesus did not avoid the possessed men but rather went to them.

The confrontation with darkness indicates that followers of Jesus may also confront evil and suffering, but with the confidence that Jesus has the authority over these forces.

Cross-References

Mark 5:1-20 - Another account of Jesus healing a man with an unclean spirit in the region of the Gadarenes.
Luke 8:26-39 - Luke’s account of the same event, offering different details.
Matthew 4:24 - Describing how people brought to Jesus all who were ill or possessed by demons.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek of Matthew 8:28 include:

"δαιμονιζόμενοι" (daimonizomenoi) meaning "possessed with devils."
"μνημείων" (mnēmeion) meaning "tombs."
"χαλεποί" (chalepoi) meaning "fierce" or "savage."

The term "δαιμονιζόμενοι" reflects the belief in evil spirits inhabiting and controlling a person. "χαλεποί" conveys the extreme danger these men posed to others.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this verse to other ancient myths and religions, the concept of demon possession can be found across diverse cultures.

Many ancient societies had beliefs about spirits capable of causing illness or altering behavior. The Bible's approach is distinctive in presenting a monotheistic viewpoint, where one sovereign God has supremacy over these spiritual entities.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings approach the concept of demon-possession differently, often interpreting such behavior as symptoms of mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

The scientific community typically does not attribute psychological conditions to supernatural entities.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse offer various insights:

Some emphasize Jesus's authority and power over demons, reflecting His divine nature and the kingdom of God's intrusion into the realm of darkness.
Others focus on the response of the community and the possessed individuals to Jesus's ministry, highlighting the transformative impact Jesus had on those he encountered.
A few note the geographical and textual differences in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the implications these have for understanding the historical Jesus and the composition of the Gospels.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:28 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 8:28 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?