Matthew 8:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"

NIV: "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

NASB: And they cried out, saying, 'What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?'

CSB: Suddenly they shouted, "What do you have to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"

NLT: They began screaming at him, 'Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?'

KJV: 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?

NKJV: And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Jesus and His disciples have sailed across the Sea of Galilee, landing on a southeastern shore (Matthew 8:18). They have come to a Gentile region where Jesus has been approached by two demon-possessed men coming out of some tombs (Matthew 8:28). Now it becomes clear the demons have recognized Jesus.

The questions asked of Jesus by the demons reveal to us several things. First, the demons call Jesus the Son of God. Demons are fallen angels, those who joined Satan in his rebellion against God. Jesus, as God's eternal Son, would have known these beings since they were first created as angels. They would have known Him as the one with power and authority over all things. Their questions confirm Jesus' identity as being God's Son.

Second, the demons recognize that Jesus will ultimately have the responsibility of bringing judgment on them in the form of torment. They understand Him to be the judge and the enforcer of the judgment. They know they will be found guilty and tormented.

Third, the demons know that the time has not yet come for their final judgment. They, too, do not seem to understand the purpose of Jesus' mission on earth in this moment. They might not know there will be a first and second coming to earth by the Son of God.

Matthew 8:28–34 describes what happens when Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a mostly Gentile region. He is immediately confronted by two demon-possessed men who live in tombs. The demons recognize that Jesus is the Son of God and ask if He has come to torment them. They beg Jesus to cast them into a huge herd of pigs visible in the distance. He does so and the pigs immediately run straight into the sea and drown. The men are freed from the demons, but the people of the region ask Jesus to leave.

Matthew begins a series of stories revealing Jesus' authority over sickness, demons, and even the weather. Jesus heals a humble man with leprosy and great faith. He then heals the servant of a Roman centurion who understands that Jesus does not need to come to his home; He can just speak a word. Jesus praises the Gentile man's amazing faith. After healing many more, Jesus and the disciples get caught in a deadly storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus stops the storm with a word. Later, He casts demons out of two men and into a huge herd of pigs.

Matthew 8 follows the conclusion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2). He turns to telling a series of dramatic stories to show Jesus' power and authority over every kind of disease, over demons, and even over the weather. Jesus also gives brief teachings about the hard road of following Him on earth. He calms a violent storm with a single command and casts demons from two violently possessed men. Matthew will focus mostly on miracles until shifting focus to Jesus' teachings and parables in chapter 11.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.