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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 8:34 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:34 describes an incident where the inhabitants of a city in the region of the Gadarenes (or Gerasenes) react to Jesus Christ's miraculous healing of two demon-possessed men.

This verse encapsulates the city's response to Jesus after He allowed the demons to enter a herd of pigs, causing the animals to rush down a steep bank into a lake and drown.

The verse expresses a sense of fear and rejection, as the people, after witnessing Jesus' supernatural power, ask Him to leave their region.

The literal meaning is clear: the people were frightened by Jesus and wanted Him to go away.

The deeper meaning may reflect the human tendency to resist the unfamiliar and unsettling, even when it comes in the form of healing and liberation.

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Historical Context

Matthew 8:28-34 recounts the healing of the demoniacs in the country of the Gadarenes, a predominantly Gentile area on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

Given the presence of a large herd of pigs, an unclean animal according to Jewish law, it is evident that this event occurs in a non-Jewish community, which could explain the local population's different reception of Jesus compared to Jewish areas.

The historical context highlights the stark contrast between Jesus' ministry in Jewish regions versus Gentile territories.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations focus on the theme of Jesus' authority over evil spirits and the response to His miracles.

Some commentaries suggest that the request for Jesus to leave their coasts reflects a prevailing discomfort with the disruption of the social and economic status quo caused by the loss of the pigs.

Additionally, there is a theological emphasis on the tension between Jesus' mission to preach the Kingdom of God and the unwillingness of people to accept His power and transformative message.

Practical Applications

This verse can remind individuals about the importance of being open to transformative experiences and messages, even when they come with a cost or challenge existing comforts and norms.

It teaches that as followers of Christ, one should embrace change that aligns with spiritual growth and healing, rather than resist it due to fear or material loss.

Cross-References

Mark 5:17 - “And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.”
Luke 8:37 - “Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.”

Language Study

The key term in the original Greek text of Matthew 8:34 is "παρεκάλουν" (parekaloun), which translates to "they besought" or "they begged." This verb indicates an earnest plea, signifying the intensity of the townspeople's reaction to Jesus.

The phrase "ἵνα μεταβῇ" (hina metabēi) is "that he would depart," implying they wanted Jesus to leave their territory immediately.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The fear depicted in Matthew 8:34 mirrors reactions to supernatural events in other ancient cultures, where the presence of powerful deities often elicited fear and awe.

Many ancient myths include stories of gods whose actions were met with respect but also a desire to keep a safe distance.

In a broader religious context, this account parallels how divine manifestations can sometimes be met with resistance or rejection by those who prioritize material well-being over spiritual enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology might interpret the events of Matthew 8:34 through the lens of cognitive dissonance, where the townspeople's belief systems were challenged by Jesus' actions, resulting in a psychological discomfort.

From an economic perspective, the loss of the pigs would have had a tangible financial impact on the community, which could contribute to the request for Jesus to leave the area.

commentaries

Bible commentaries offer varied insights into Matthew 8:34.

Some highlight the tragic irony of the situation, people valuing their economic livelihood over the opportunity for spiritual deliverance.

Others focus on the stark contrast between the reaction of the demon-possessed men, who found peace in Jesus’ presence, and the townspeople, who felt fear and anxiety.

Commentators like Matthew Henry stress the divine authority of Jesus and the sad reality that some people might reject His miracles and message.

Moreover, modern scholars often examine the broader narrative arc of the Gospel of Matthew, noting how this event fits into Matthew's emphasis on the Kingdom of Heaven and its implications for both Jews and Gentiles.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:34 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 8:34 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?