Matthew 8:28 Demon-possessed people are under the control of one or more demons. Demons are fallen angels who joined satan in his rebellion against God and are now evil spirits under satan's control. They help satan tempt people to sin and have great destructive powers. But whenever they are confronted by Jesus, they lose their power. These demons recognized Jesus as God's Son, but they didn't think they had to obey Him. Just believing is not enough. Faith is more than belief. By faith, you accept what Jesus has done for you, receive Him as the only One who can save you from sin, and live out your faith by obeying His commands.
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Matthew 8:28 According to Jewish ceremonial laws, the men Jesus encountered were unclean in three ways: they were Gentiles, they were demon-possessed, and they lived in a graveyard. Jesus helped them anyway. We should not turn our backs on people who are "unclean" or repulsive to us, or who violate our moral standards and religious beliefs. Instead, we must realize that every human individual is a unique creation of God, needing to be touched by His love.
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Matthew 8:29 The Bible tells us that at the end of the world the devil and his angels will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). When the demons asked if Jesus had come to torment them "before the time," they showed they knew their ultimate fate.
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Matthew 8:32 When the demons entered the swine, they drove the animals into the sea. The demons' action proves their destructive intent - if they could not destroy the men, they would destroy the pigs. Jesus' action, by contrast, shows the value He places on each human life.
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Matthew 8:34 Why did the people ask Jesus to leave? Unlike their own heathen gods, Jesus could not be contained, controlled, or appeased. They feared Jesus' supernatural power, a power that they had never before witnessed. And they were upset about losing a herd of swine more than they were glad about the deliverance of the demon-possessed men! Are you more concerned about property and programs than people? Human beings are created in God's image and have eternal value. How foolish and yet how easy it is to value possessions, investments, and even animals above human life. Would you rather have Jesus leave you than finish His work in you?
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