Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 8:33

"And they that fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to them that were possessed with demons." — Matthew 8:33 (ASV)

Those who kept them fled, etc. These swine were doubtless owned by the inhabitants of Gadara. Whether they were Jews or Gentiles is not certainly known. It was not properly in the territory of Judea; but as it was on its borders, it is probable that the inhabitants were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. Swine were unclean animals to Jews, and it was unlawful for them to eat them (Leviticus 11:7). The Jews were forbidden by their own laws to keep them, even for the purpose of trade. Therefore, either they had expressly violated the law, or these swine were owned by the Gentiles.

The keepers fled in consternation. They were amazed at His power. Perhaps they feared a further destruction of property. Or, more likely, they were acquainted with the laws of the Jews and regarded this as a judgment from Heaven for keeping forbidden animals and for tempting the Jews to violate the commands of God. They dreaded, perhaps, further punishment, and foolishly came and implored Jesus to depart from their country.

This is the only one of our Saviour's miracles, except for the case of the fig-tree that He cursed (Matthew 21:18–20), in which He caused any destruction of property. It is a striking proof of His benevolence that His miracles tended directly to the comfort of mankind. It was a proof of goodness added to the direct purpose for which His miracles were performed. That purpose was to confirm His Divine mission, and it might have been as fully done by splitting rocks, removing mountains, or causing water to run up steep hills, as by any other display of power . He chose, however, to exhibit the proof of His Divine power in such a way as to benefit mankind.

Critics have objected to this whole narrative. They have said that this was a wanton and unauthorized violation of private rights in the destruction of property. They have said that the account of devils going into swine and destroying them was ridiculous. In regard to these objections, the narrative is easily vindicated.

1. If Christ, as the Bible declares, is Divine as well as human—God as well as man—then He had an original right to that and all other property, and might dispose of it as He pleased (Psalms 50:10–12). If God had destroyed them by pestilence, lightning, inundation, or earthquake, neither the owners nor anyone else would have had reason to complain. No one now feels that he has a right to murmur if God destroys a thousand times the amount of this property by overturning a city by an earthquake. Why, then, should complaints be brought against Him if He should do the same thing in another way?

2. If this property was held by the Jews, it was a violation of their law, and it was right that they should suffer the loss. If it was held by the Gentiles, it was also known to be a violation of the law of the people among whom they lived—a temptation and a snare to them, and an abomination in their sight—and it was proper that the nuisance should be removed.

3. The cure of two men, one of whom was probably a man of distinction and property, was of far more consequence than the amount of property destroyed. To restore a deranged man of family and standing today would be an act for which property could not compensate, and which could not be measured in value by any pecuniary consideration.

4. Jesus was not at all answerable for this destruction of property. He did not command; He only allowed or permitted the devils to go into the swine. He commanded them merely to come out of the man. They originated the purpose of destroying the property, doubtless to do as much mischief as possible and to destroy the effect of Christ's miracle. In this, they seem to have had most disastrous success, and they alone are responsible.

5. If it should be said that Christ permitted this when He might have prevented it, we reply that the difficulty does not stop there. He permits all the evil that exists, when He might prevent it. He permits men to do much evil, when He might prevent it. He permits one bad man to injure the person and property of another bad man. He permits the bad to injure the good.

   He often permits a wicked man to fire a city, plunder a dwelling, or rob a traveller, destroying property many times the amount that was lost at Gadara. Why is it any more absurd to allow a wicked spirit to do injury than a wicked man? Or to allow a legion of devils to destroy a herd of swine, than for legions of men to desolate nations and cover fields and towns with ruin and slaughter?