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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 8:29 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:29 contains the words of demons addressing Jesus during an exorcism.

The verse captures a moment where demons, possessing two men, recognize Jesus' divine authority and express fear of being tormented before the appointed time for their judgment.

This suggests that even the demons are aware of an eschatological timeline in which there is a final judgment, and Jesus is an authoritative figure in it.

They acknowledge Him as the "Son of God," which confirms His divine nature.

This encounter demonstrates the power and authority of Jesus over the spiritual realm, as well as the acknowledgment by evil spirits of an ultimate divine justice and eschaton – the end of times.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written in the first century, primarily for a Jewish audience.

At that time, belief in the existence of demons and evil spirits was widespread, and their influence was believed to cause various physical and mental illnesses.

Exorcisms were fairly common, performed by various religious figures.

Jesus' exorcism in this passage is part of a series of healings and miracles He performed, recorded to establish His authority and divinity.

This event takes place in the region of the Gadarenes, which was predominantly non-Jewish, and the presence of pigs (considered unclean animals by Jews) in the story emphasizes this.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates several key concepts:

Recognition of Jesus' divinity by the supernatural realm.
The dualistic conflict between good and evil, as well as the power of Jesus over evil.
The concept of a predestined time for judgment, implying divine sovereignty over history and eschatology.

Different Christian denominations may interpret this passage in various ways, but commonly it reaffirms the teaching of Jesus' supreme authority and the reality of spiritual warfare.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Matthew 8:29 reassures believers of the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all forms of evil and encourages them to trust in His ultimate authority.

It also serves as a reminder of the spiritual realities behind physical circumstances, encouraging a mindset that is vigilant and prayerful against evil influences.

Furthermore, it can inspire believers to confront injustices and evils in society, emboldened by the belief in Christ's power to ultimately rectify all wrongs.

Cross-References

Mark 5:7: "And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not."
Luke 8:28: "When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not."
James 2:19: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

Language Study

The term "Son of God" is a significant title in this verse, derived from the Greek "Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ" (Huios tou Theou). The title implies a unique relationship with God, possessing divine nature, and in the context of the New Testament, it is exclusive to Jesus.

The phrase "torment us before the time" uses the Greek word "βασανίσῃς" (basanizēs), which means to test the quality of something by examination or to torment. The idea of torment here is associated with divine judgment and punishment.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, exorcisms were also performed, such as in ancient Mesopotamia where priests would use incantations and rituals to dispel evil spirits.

The recognition of a divine figure invoking power over spirits parallels other ancient mythologies where gods would exercise authority over lesser supernatural beings.

Notably, however, the exclusive title "Son of God" and the demonstration of authority without resorting to incantations is unique in the Christian tradition.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science typically does not engage with the existence of demons or spiritual entities as they fall outside the realm of empirical observation and measurement.

However, the effects of belief in the supernatural on psychological and social behavior can be studied.

Psychologically, exorcism rituals can sometimes lead to placebo effects where individuals believe they have been freed from negative influences.

Sociologically, shared beliefs in spiritual forces can influence cultural norms and behaviors.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer insights into this passage:

Some commentators, such as Matthew Henry, emphasize Jesus' absolute authority over the powers of darkness and how this encounter demonstrated His willingness to deliver mankind from spiritual bondage.
Others, like William Barclay, discuss the significance of the demons' recognition of Jesus and His role in the divine timetable, showing the spiritual world's awareness of an approaching judgment.
Further commentaries analyze the social and political implications of Jesus' miracles in non-Jewish territories, suggesting they also served to break down barriers and proclaim the universality of Jesus' ministry.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:29 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 8:29 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?