Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 8:29

"And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" — Matthew 8:29 (ASV)

This is the old cry, “Mind your own business! Do not interfere with our trade! Let us alone and go elsewhere!” Devils never like to be interfered with. But if devils have nothing to do with Jesus, He has something to do with them. His presence is torment to them. They know that a time is coming when they will fully receive their hell, but that time seems to be hastened when the Lord Jesus invades their solitary lurking-place among the tombs.

The devils here spoke and compelled the lips of the men in this way to plead against themselves. How very like this is to the swearer’s case, whose mouth is used to invoke a curse upon himself! The devils acknowledged Him as Son of God, for even they are not so base as to deny His deity. The demons confessed that He was not under their rule, “What have we to do with thee?” They also expressed their dread of His almighty power and feared the torment they deserved.