Footnotes for Matthew

The Bible says in Matthew chapter 8 verses 28 through 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.

Footnotes from the Life Application Study Bible:

8:28 The region of the Gadarenes is located southeast of the Sea of Galilee, near the town of Gadara, one of the most important cities of the region (see the map on page 1601). Gadara was a member of the Decapolis (see the note on Mark 5:20), ten towns with independent governments that were largely inhabited by Gentiles. This explains the herd of pigs (Matthew 8:30)-the Jews did not raise pigs because pigs were considered unclean and thus unfit to eat.

8:28 Demon-possessed people are under the control of one or more demons. Demons are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God and are now evil spirits under Satan's control. They help Satan tempt people to sin and have great destructive powers. But whenever they are confronted by Jesus, they lose their power. These demons recognize Jesus as God's Son (8:29), but they didn't think they had to obey him. Just believing is not enough (see James 2:19 for more on belief and demons) Faith is more than belief. By faith, you accept what Jesus has done for you, receive him as the only one who can save you from sin, and follow him by obeying his commands.

8:28 Matthew says there were two demon-possessed men, while Mark and Luke mention only one. Apparently Mark and Luke mention only the man who did the talking.

8:28 According to Jewish ceremonial laws, the men Jesus encounter were unclean in three ways: (1) they were Gentiles (non-Jews), (2) they were demon-possessed, and (3) they lived in the tombs. Jesus help them anyway. We should not turn our backs on people who are unclean or repulsive to us or who violate our moral standards and religious beliefs. Instead, we must realize that every human individual is a unique creation of God, needing to be touched by his love.

8:29 The Bible tells us that at the end of the world the devil, and presumably his fallen angels, will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 20:10). When the demons asked if Jesus had come to torture them "before the appointed time," they showed that they knew God would judge them in the future.

8:32 When the demons entered the pigs, they drove the animals into the sea. The demons' action proves their destructive intent-if they could not destroy the men, they would destroy the pigs. Jesus' action, by contrast, shows the value he places on each human life.

8:34 Why did the people ask Jesus to leave? Unlike their own pagan gods, Jesus could not be contained, controlled, or appeased. They feared Jesus' supernatural power, a power that they had never before witnessed. And they were upset about losing a herd of pigs more than they were glad about the deliverance of the demon-possessed men. Are you more concerned about property or programs than people? Human beings are created in God's image and have eternal value. How foolish and yet how easy it is to value possessions, investments, and even animals above human life. Would you rather have Jesus leave you than finish his work in you?


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