Matthew 8:30-32 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And there was a good way off—many swine, &c.— Instead of a good way off, Dr. Doddridge reads at a considerable distance,—at some distance;—and by comparing Mark 5:11 and Luke 8:32 it will be found, that this is the true meaning of the word μακραν. St. Mark says, that there were about two thousand in the herd of swine; which will not seem strange, if it be considered that the generality of the inhabitants of that country were Gentiles. The devils, no doubt, requested permission to enter into the herd of swine, with a view to prevent any good effects which the miracle might have had on the Gadarenes, and to render Christ odious to them. Their design could not be hid from Jesus: nevertheless he granted their request, making it subservient to his own gracious purposes. He permitted the devils to enter into the swine, not only to shew the reality of the possession (which was thus undeniably proved; for nothing but such a possession could have forced so large a herd down a precipice into the water), but that we might understand how great the power of evil spirits is, and how terrible the effects of their malice would be, if they were not restrained: for no sooner was the permission granted, than the keepers who were with the swine, and the disciples who were at a distance, beheld, to their great astonishment, the whole herd running furiously down the mountain, and leaping from the tops of the rocks into the sea; while the possessed furious madmen immediately became meek and composed, having recovered the intire exercise of their reason. Jesus also might permit the devils thus to fall on the herd, as a punishment to the Gadarenes for keeping swine, which were a snare to the Jews; and to make trial of their disposition, whether they would become more affected with the loss of their cattle, than with the recovery of the men, and with the doctrine of the kingdom. Whatever were the reasons, it is certain, that though he might rightfully have used all men's properties as he pleased; yet this, and the withering of the barren fig-tree, are the only instances wherein man suffered the least damage byany thing that our Lord ever did. But certainly, neither the owners of the herd, nor of the fig-tree, could justly complain of their loss, since the good of mankind, not in that period or corner only, but in every succeeding age, through all countries, has been so highly promoted at such a trifling expence to them. No miracles are more suspicious than pretended dispossessions, as there is so much room for collusionin them; but it was self-evident that the herd of swine could not be confederates in any fraud. Their death, therefore, in this instructive and convincing circumstance, was ten thousand times a greater blessing to mankind, than if they had been slain for food, as was intended. We may observe farther, that the devils, by making this request to Jesus, acknowledged that it was not in the power even of alegion of them to do any mischief to so contemptible a creature as a swine, without Christ's permission; far less could they destroy the man in whom they lodged. See Doddridge, Macknight, and Bishop Pearce's vindication of the miracles of Jesus.