Healing the Gerasene Demoniacs

73 – Healing the Gerasene Demoniacs; Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 

Matthew 8:28 And when He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men confronted Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29 And they cried out, saying, “[a]What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before [b]the time?” 30 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them. 31 And the demons begged Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the pigs; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and [c]drowned in the waters. 33 And the herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, [d]including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region. 

Mark 5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “[a]What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had already been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. 11 Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding [b]nearby on the mountain. 12 And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. 14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And then they *came to Jesus and *saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had previously had the “legion”; and they became frightened. 16 Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Him to leave their region. 18 And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might [c]accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them [d]what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis [e]what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. 

Luke 8:26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out onto the land, a man from the city met Him who was possessed with demons; and he had not put on clothing for a long time and was not living in a house, but among the tombs. 28 And seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and said with a loud voice, “[a]What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had already commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into the desert. 30 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; because many demons had entered him. 31 And they were begging Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. 32 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding there on the mountain; and the demons begged Him to permit them to enter [b]the pigs. And He gave them permission. 33 And the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 Now when the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported everything in the city, and in the country. 35 And the people came out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. 36 Those who had seen everything reported to them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been [c]made well. 37 And all the [d]people of the territory of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Him to leave them, because they were overwhelmed by great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. 38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might [e]accompany Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city what great things Jesus had done for him. 

Footnotes (Matthew) 

a. Matthew 8:29 Lit What to us and to you (an ancient idiom) 

b. Matthew 8:29 I.e., the appointed time of judgment 

c. Matthew 8:32 Lit died 

d. Matthew 8:33 Lit and the things of 

Footnotes (Mark) 

a. Mark 5:7 Lit What to me and to you (an ancient idiom) 

b. Mark 5:11 Lit there 

c. Mark 5:18 Lit be with Him 

d. Mark 5:19 Or everything that 

e. Mark 5:20 Or everything that 

Footnotes (Luke) 

a. Luke 8:28 Lit What to me and to you (an ancient idiom) 

b. Luke 8:32 Lit those 

c. Luke 8:36 Lit saved 

d. Luke 8:37 Lit multitude 

e. Luke 8:38 Lit be with 

Commentary 

This event is recorded in three of the four gospel accounts, and we will explore some of the tensions that exist between the different versions. First, however, I’ll mention that when I looked up the reference verses, I noticed one verse recurring several times. I don’t think there has been any study where there was a single verse referenced more often than Matthew 4:24 is referenced in these passages. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. This verse occurs much earlier in the gospel account of Matthew, but it is a reminder that Jesus’s fame continued to spread and that He made it a point to take time to heal people whenever He came into contact with them. 

The first tension that we encounter is that the accounts appear to contradict with regard to the location where Jesus encountered the men, but it seems that one account refers to a town or territory, and the other accounts refer to a district. “Gergesa was a town on the eastern slope of the Sea of Galilee and was included in the district of Gadara, one of the cities of the Decapolis. Both of these were included in the larger administrative district of Gerasa, whose center was the town of Gerasa in Gilead” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1192). 

We now believe the setting was an area that is now known as the ruins of Khersa, “in the eastern edge of the steep slopes overlooking the Sea of Galilee” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1276). “Immediately over this spot is a lofty mountain, in which are ancient tombs; and from this mountain there is an almost perpendicular declivity, literally (κρημνός) corresponding accurately to what is required by the description in the narrative of the miracle. Dr. Farrar (‘Life of Christ’) says that in the days of Eusebius and Jerome, tradition pointed to a “steep place” near “Gerasa” as the scene of the miracle. The foot of this steep is washed by the waters of the lake, which are at once very deep” (https://biblehub.com/mark/5-1.htm). So Jesus really could have pulled up from the deep water and been immediately confronted by the men who had come down from the cliff. 

“The people are called Gadarenes in Mark (and Luke) but “Gergesenes” in Matthew. The discovery of the ruins of Khersa (Gerasa) on the lake shore disproved [the claims that the accounts conflict] because this location was in close enough proximity to the larger city of Gadara that a single event could be identified with either place” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1244). 

The accounts also seem to diverge on the number of men Jesus encountered. This issue can also be resolved. Several commentaries assert that two of the accounts focus on the predominant convert only, whereas Matthew mentions both men. 

When the demon-possessed men ask Jesus if He has come to torment them before the time, bear in mind that this is eye-witness testimony from people who saw the interaction between the men and Jesus. They saw the men (or rather, the demons inside them) acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and that they knew a time was coming when He would destroy them. This story speaks, once again, to the reality of demons and demon possession, which I covered in more depth in a previous post. There are angels and demons, and the Bible refers to them many times, as their activities become a part of various stories. These beings are more intelligent and powerful than humans, and they all know for certain who God is. Their presence in this case is evidenced by the supernatural strength of the man who broke his chains and the fact that the demons inhabited the pigs after leaving the humans. Not only did the men commit self-harm while they were possessed, but the pigs proceeded to bring their own end once they became possessed. The Nelson KJV Bible (pg. 1276) mentions injury among the four characteristics of demonic possession (the other three are insanity, indecency, and infamy), and the description of this event demonstrates all the signs of demonic activity, as opposed to illness. 

Although it is not clear whether the demon’s self-description as “Legion” was figurative, a literal Roman legion at the time “usually consisted of six thousand men, or ten cohorts of six hundred. They feared that Christ would send them into the deep (Gr abyssos). Apparently, while on earth Jesus did cast many demons into a place of confinement from which they will not be released until the Tribulation Period (cf. Rev 9:1-11)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1276). “The unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not” (Matthew 12:43 KJV). What we read in fact is that the demons all inhabited one man and subsequently affected about 2,000 pigs. That they were able to enter the animals and affect them at all is remarkable, as I had never considered the idea that demons could possess animals. It raises lots of questions about the spirituality of animals, but those may go unanswered until we get to Heaven. 

Why did Jesus concede anything to the demons when they begged? Mark 5:6 said the man saw Jesus from afar (possibly from his vantage point at the top of the cliffs) and immediately went toward Him to bow down. This sign of honor may have been the thing that caused Jesus to show any mercy (pure speculation by me). It is odd that the worship seems sincere in this case, whereas there are so many other times when demons seem to use their captives to mock Jesus and/or the disciples. One commentary suggests that the Gerasene may have witnessed the calming of the storm, which occurred while Jesus was in transit to the shore, and that this inspired awe, even in the demons (https://biblehub.com/mark/5-1.htm).  

The mention of the swine here draws attention to the fact that there were Jewish herders raising pigs, which were considered unclean by Mosaic law (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1192). The law held that Jews could not eat pork, but they had relaxed their interpretation of the law to allow for Jews to breed pigs for sale to others. Some other commentaries assert that the poorest Jewish people would care for other people’s pigs, but that it was unseemly for them to do so, even if it was out of desperation. Whether the pigs were their own or someone else’s, the loss of them was a massive blow to someone’s wealth. 

“This is Jesus’ only recorded miracle that was destructive in nature” and shows Jesus’s deep concern for the men who were possessed (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1192). “The spiritual principle in this incident is that those who are deliberately disobedient (as was the case of the pig-breeders) deprive themselves of divine protection and place themselves at the mercy of the forces of evil” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1192). Was it the conviction of their sin or the destruction of their ill-gotten gains that caused them to ask Jesus to leave? If the Jews were working as herders, and the owners of the pigs were Gentiles, the owners may have been dismayed at their loss and unsettled by Jesus’s supernatural power. 

In contrast to the way Jesus was treated by the Gadarenes, go read Luke 8:40 (in the references section). The people in the Gadara area had asked Jesus to leave, but when he returns to the other side of the lake, the crowds have been waiting to welcome Him back. “The response of the Gadarenes was typically human; they were afraid of the unknown. Fear had existed before because of the demoniac, but as long as he remained in his own domain, they could live with it… They preferred the status quo, where everything could be explained by natural means” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1244). 

The fact that Jesus turned the man away from following Him speaks to the mystery of God’s plan for each of us. Many people feel they can only truly honor God if they pursue a career in ministry, but God may have plans for a person to minister to the people who are already in the person’s own circle, instead. Not only was the healed man able to deeply impact his family, who were keenly aware of his previous condition and subsequent redemption, but he also shared his story throughout the 10-city region of the Decapolis. 

The Word in Life Study Bible remarks that, since the man was likely a Gentile from Gadara, when Jesus sent him back to tell his family and friends about what had happened to him, he probably became the first Gentile evangelist (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1796). In many other accounts, Jesus tells the person who has been healed not to tell anyone what happened, but He encourages this man to return to his people to tell them about what Jesus did for him. Why the difference? There could be a variety of reasons (1) Jesus’s ministry was soon coming to a close, so Jesus had less reason to keep people from acknowledging who He was (2) Jesus didn’t have plans to spend a lot of time in that area, so he could afford for locals to know, without the overwhelming crowds or political opposition that often hampered His efforts to teach and minister (3) Jesus recognized the man’s earnest desire to participate in the ministry and wanted to honor that by giving him a job to do. At any rate, Jesus chose to appoint the redeemed demoniac as a witness to others, and the man enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to meet and exceed the requirements of Christ’s assignment. 

Find the next post here https://onthepath.online/2023/03/07/healing-a-woman-and-resurrecting-a-child/

Scripture References 

Matthew 8:28 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” 

Matthew 8:29 

Judges 11:12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?” 

2 Samuel 16:10 But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?'” 

2 Samuel 19:22 And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?” 

1 Kings 17:18 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?” 

2 Kings 3:13 Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” 

2 Chronicles 35:21 But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!” 

Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” 

Luke 4:34 “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” 

John 2:4 “Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. 

Matthew 8:30 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Matthew 8:31 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Matthew 8:33 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 

Matthew 8:34 

Amos 7:12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 

Acts 16:39 They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city. 

Mark 5:1 

Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” 

Mark 5:2 

Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: 

Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him. 

Mark 4:1 Once again, Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore. 

Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him. 

Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea. 

Mark 5:4  

Psalm 105:18 They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, 

Mark 5:7 

Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 

Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 

Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 

Hebrews 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. 

Mark 5:9 

Matthew 12:45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.” 

Matthew 26:53 Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 

Mark 5:11 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Mark 5:12 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Mark 5:13 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Mark 5:14 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Mark 5:15 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 26:53 Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 

Mark 5:16 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 9:32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. 

Mark 5:17 

Acts 16:39 They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city. 

Mark 5:18 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Mark 5:20 

Psalm 66:16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me. 

Matthew 4:25 The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. 

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 

Mark 7:31 Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 

Luke 8:26 

Luke 8:25 “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!” 

Luke 8:27 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Luke 8:30 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Matthew 26:53 Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 

Luke 8:31 

Romans 10:7 or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 

Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss. 

Revelation 9:11 They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon. 

Revelation 11:7 When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. 

Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw–it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be. 

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. 

Revelation 20:3 And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time. 

Luke 8:32 

Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

Luke 8:35 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Luke 10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to His message. 

Luke 8:36 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Luke 8:38 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

Luke 8:39 

Luke 8:40 When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. 

Commentary 

Rev 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the shaft. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them! 7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like human faces. 8 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months. 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.