The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew #2516b

Christ casts devils out of the herd of swine.

Let us continue now to observe the dialog between the demonic spirits and Jesus Christ.

Matthew 8:30
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
It should be noted that the swine is not only an unclean animal but it is the lowest of all carnal flesh.
[31] So the devils besought Him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
The word "If" implies that they knew Christ would and could cast them out. So make no mistake about it... demonic spirits are subject to the power and authority of Jesus Christ. They even pleaded with Him to allow them (suffer us) to enter into the herd of swine, to which He gave His permission and said "Go"!
[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.
Behold! Did you see that? Did you see how the low-life swine would not be made subject to these demonic spirits and so the whole herd ran violently down a steep place and into the sea, and perished in the waters? Yes, even pigs have more sense than to put up with demonic spirits.

So a very good work has now been wrought by Jesus Christ and the two men possessed of the devils have been set free. That should bring good news to the community, shouldn't it?

Matthew 8:33
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.
Hey, the good news of what happened spread quickly.
[34] 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.
Uh oh! They want Jesus to "get out of town"? Where is the happiness and gratitude for what the Lord has done?

Well... it seems that they are not focused on the life given to the two men who were possessed with the evil spirits but rather on the large herd of bacon and pork loins lying at the bottom of the sea. Dr. Bullinger says it like this in the Companion Bible on page 1325: "Those who defiled the temple lost their trade and those who defiled Israel (here) lost their animals." Well, we certainly see where their priorities lie.

Hey, they should look at this way... Christ did them a favor because they shouldn't be eating that stuff anyway.

... to be continued.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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