FILTHY PIGS?

[MsSuzanna]

Okay, I can go along with that, seeing that most American churches have abandoned the cross and have embraced psychology.

I think the falling away has already begun with wof,prosperity, emergent church stuff. Jesus said it would increase and it has alot

 

[Tintin]

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men MATT 8


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.



I always found this passage kind of interesting.


I think the pigs committed suicide, because even though they are filthy creatures on the outside they could not bear the filth of the demons on their inside! People tolerate more filth than pigs do?


I am always disgusted by the towns reaction ... choosing their economy over Christ ... or were they all also demon possessed?

I don't think the town's people needed to be demon-possessed to react this way. I think they were just upset with their sudden economic 'recession' - how their livelihoods jumped off a cliff to their death.

 

[BeyondET]

I think this demonstrates the destructive nature of the demons. They destroy whatever they inhabit.

.
I think nature isn't a preferred host.

 

[oldhermit]

What I have always wondered at in this story is why Christ gave any concession to the demons.

 

[BeyondET]

What I have always wondered at in this story is why Christ gave any concession to the demons.

In my opinion I think Jesus knew where that was going to lead too.

 

[oldhermit]

In my opinion I think Jesus knew where that was going to lead too.

Well, there is no doubt he understood the nature of demons.

 

[Brainfreeze]

What I have always wondered at in this story is why Christ gave any concession to the demons.

29And, 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?

 

[BeyondET]

Well, there is no doubt he understood the nature of demons.

Yup and I doubt the demons knew of nature that very well probably why there's not many animals running everywhere being possessed today.

 

[JosephsDreams]

I don't think the town's people needed to be demon-possessed to react this way. I think they were just upset with their sudden economic 'recession' - how their livelihoods jumped off a cliff to their death.

That's why. They wanted Jesus out of the town because they did not want to lose anymore pigs and money.
Would be no different today.
Hey demons, go into those cars and drive them off a cliff.
Jesus, you got to go...

 

[BeyondET]

That's why. They wanted Jesus out of the town because they did not want to lose anymore pigs and money.
Would be no different today.
Hey demons, go into those cars and drive them off a cliff.
Jesus, you got to go...

pigs and money could have been a reason and others like Disbelief and fear

 

[JosephsDreams]

pigs and money could have been a reason and others like Disbelief and fear

Yeah, probably all of them...

 

[RobbyEarl]

I think the falling away has already begun with wof,prosperity, emergent church stuff. Jesus said it would increase and it has alot

many false teachers will come in my name. Imagine what Paul had to fight to keep the young church alive and thriving and why He was torn from dying or staying. He fought the law keepers tooth and nail and we still continue that fight today, but fight also Preachers who seem right but preach another Jesus.

 

[RobbyEarl]

Yeah, probably all of them...

They didn't want Jesus because they were skeered.

 

[RobbyEarl]

Okay I'm going to lay down and try again, I have always had problems sleeping so I may be back, but I pray to the Father that I can sleep. I don't drink alcohol so don't imply. I usually read the bible till my eyelids cave in. so good night again.

 

[tanakh]

Mat_8:28 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.

Mar 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
Mar 5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Mar 5:3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
Mar 5:4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
Mar 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Mar 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

Act 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Act 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Act 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Act 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

We can see how people that were possessed of a devil acted,crazy,mentally tortured,wild,fierce,and the spirit trying to cast them in to the fire,or the water to destroy them.

So no wonder the pigs ran in to the water and drowned,they were all a mess when they were possessed by an evil spirit,and went crazy,which they were probably trying to get rid of the way they felt,and the torment.,or else the evil spirits caused them to drown in the water,so they can escape after the pigs died.

Demons need a body to act through. If a Human isn't available they will possess an animal otherwise they use objects.
What suprises me is the number of Pigs in the story. The town of Sepphoris was the main town among the ten towns mentioned it isn't far from Nazareth. I visited the place when i went to Israel. Herod Antipas had his head quarters there at some point. I didn't see any Pigs though.

 

[tanakh]

many false teachers will come in my name. Imagine what Paul had to fight to keep the young church alive and thriving and why He was torn from dying or staying. He fought the law keepers tooth and nail and we still continue that fight today, but fight also Preachers who seem right but preach another Jesus.

Paul didn't fight Law Keepers he fought Judaisers. These were Jewish believers who insisted that Gentiles had to be circumcised to become Jewish before they could be saved. Paul was a Pharisee he never abandoned the
teachings of the Law or Torah (Teaching), as written in the five books of Moses. It was the oral traditions that both Jesus and Paul spoke against and these traditions are now found in the Talmud used in modern Judaism.

 

[JustWhoIAm]

They didn't want Jesus because they were skeered.

"As much as I'd like the past not to exist it still does
And as much as I'd like to feel like I belong here
I'm just as scared as you..."

 

[coby2]

VVhat I found interesting in this passage is that the demons begged Jesus to send them specifically into the pigs and Jesus obliged them. Does that point to His mercy, even to these demons? Think where else might have Jesus sent them that they pleaded to be sent into the pigs instead of the alternative.

No, it was mercy towards the man, I heard someone explain. This way they went out easily and He delt with the pig farmers too.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Greetings thepsalmist,

I am always disgusted by the towns reaction ... choosing their economy over Christ ... or were they all also demon possessed?

True! A very unwise request asking Jesus to leave your town. You'd think that they would be amazed and thankful that the demon possessed was cured. Just an FYI, I always notice this every time I read this same event, which is that both Mark and Luke record a single possessed man, opposed to two found here in Matthew. Below is the comparison:


Matthew 8:28
"When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. [/quote]

Mark 5:2
"They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him"

Luke 8:26
"They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town.

Both Mark and Luke are in the singular and Matthew is in the plural. I've always been partial to Luke's version, for in Mark it is recorded that the demons begged Jesus not to send them out of the area, but Luke's version gives a better understanding what they were actually saying when they begged Jesus not to send them into the Abyss. And Matthew's account doesn't even bring the issue up.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Jesus sent the unclean spirits into the 2000 pigs because it's a prophecy of the unclean spirits leaving Israel and entering into the Gentiles. This I think is the falling away of the Gentiles. The number 2 in the bible almost always represents the Gentile church.

Hello KJV1611,

Good to see the face linked to the name. Just FYI, There is no Gentile church, for the church is made up of both Jew and Gentile. Also, I can't remember there being a falling away of the Gentiles.