Matthew 8:28-34

Matthew 8:28-34

[28] And  when he  was come  to  the other side  into  the country  there met  him  two  possessed with devils,  coming  out of  the tombs,  exceeding  fierce,  so that  no  man  might  pass  by  that  way.  [29] And,  behold,  they cried out,  saying,  What  to do with  thou Son  of God?  art thou come  hither  to torment  before  the time?  [30] And  a good way off  from  them  an herd  of many  swine  feeding.  [31] So  the devils  besought  him,  saying,  If  out,  into  the herd  of swine.  [32] 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.  [33] 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.  [34] And,  behold,  the whole  city  came out  to  Jesus:  and  him,  they besought  him that  he would depart  out of  their  coasts. 

What does Matthew 8:28-34 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The central theme of this incident is Jesus" authority over evil spirits. Though Matthew previously mentioned Jesus" reputation as an exorcist ( Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:16), this is the first of five exorcisms that he narrated (cf. Matthew 9:32-33; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:21-28; Matthew 17:14-20).