Matthew 8:28-34

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Matthew 8:28-34
This text immediately causes us to ask a number questions. (1) What is “demon possession,” and why are some demons more violent than others? (2) What do the demons mean when they ask Jesus if He has come to torment them before the time? (3) Why would the demons desire to go into the swine and why would Jesus send them knowing that it would destroy the herd? (4) Why did the whole city ask Jesus to leave?As to the first question, demons were apparently spirit beings who had rebelled from God somewhere back in eternity. We draw this conclusion because God would have made all beings good but also with a freewill. Satan and his angels at some point chose to go their own way and establish their own kingdom with the intent to destroy all the good intentions of the Lord. These beings were also made with varying amounts of power and this power was not taken away from them just because of their rebellion. Therefore, we see them using their powers in different ways and with different amounts of strength. Demons, along with the devil’s angels (possibly two different types of spirits), were given a “time” period after which they would be cast into “tartarus” (apparently the punishment side of Hades, 2 Pet. 2:4). These demons feared that Jesus had come to torment them before their time was up. Apparently, the demons desired to go into the swine because they hated to be left without an inhabitable home (Matthew 12:43-45). Why this is and why Jesus allowed them to go into the swine, we do not know. However, if the swine herders were Jews, they would have been in violation of the Law to use unclean animals as food. Finally, it is interesting to see the city ask Jesus to leave. In every other place, the common people were glad to have Him in their midst. Possibly in this case it is because of their sinfulness. When people are unwilling to repent of their sins, it is difficult to have the “Light” expose them.
What is the lesson for us? Jesus was destroying Satan’s kingdom. Demon possession was a visual symbol of all that Satan was doing to God’s creation. Satan had started this battle and now Jesus was beginning the movement that would conquer Him and free mankind from his tyranny.
Berry Kercheville