Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 8:31

"And the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." — Matthew 8:31 (ASV)

The request for the demons to enter into the pigs came probably because of a hatred of God’s creatures, and most certainly because of a desire to stir up animosity against Jesus. The Gospels elsewhere show that exorcised evil spirits sometimes expressed their rage by visible acts of violence or mischief (e.g., 17:14–20).