And all the multitude of the country of the Gerasens besought him to depart from them: for they were taken with great fear. And he, going up into the ship, returned back again.
και ηρωτησαν αυτον απαν το πληθος της περιχωρου των γαδαρηνων απελθειν απ αυτων οτι φοβω μεγαλω συνειχοντο αυτος δε εμβας εις το πλοιον υπεστρεψεν
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 10 commentaries
They ought to have been astonished by the Savior's authority and trusted in Him; however, it is noted that they implored Jesus to leave their region. This was due to their fear that they might endure further misfortune, similar to the loss of the swine.
Demons possess no authority over us, as evidenced by their treatment of the swine. These malevolent spirits are cruel, deceitful, and destructive toward those they dominate. This is clearly illustrated by their instigation of the pigs' plunge into the waters, demonstrating their savage and unyielding nature, which is solely inclined to bring harm to those they can control. If individuals among us choose a life akin to that of swine—embracing impurity and reveling in the vile acts of sin—God may permit such a person to succumb to demonic influence and descend into the depths of eternal judgment. However, this subjugation by demons will never befall those who cherish Christ.
As long as we continue to follow His way, diligently pursuing righteousness, yearning for what is pure, and committing ourselves to the honorable life that Christ has exemplified through the teachings of the Gospel, we remain shielded from such evil.
He does not compel the afflicted to receive healing against their desires, and He is quick to depart from the feeble when His presence becomes a burden to them, as demonstrated by the residents of Gerasenes, who emerged from the city—symbolic of a synagogue—and requested that He leave them, as they were overwhelmed with great fear. The fragile mind is unable to comprehend the Word of God, nor can it withstand the weight of wisdom; it becomes fatigued and burdened. Christ did not distress the people of Gerasenes, but instead boarded the boat and returned. He moved from the lower to the higher realm, transitioning from the synagogue to the Church, and traversed the lake, as described here, or across the sea, as stated by Matthew; indeed, there lies a vast sea between us and them. Thus, no one can safely journey from the Church to the synagogue without peril to their salvation, nor can one wishing to move from the synagogue to the Church do so without taking up their cross.
As the populace of Gergesa exited the city, they implored Jesus to leave, overcome by an immense fear (Luke 8:37). This reaction stems from the feebleness of the mind, which struggles to comprehend the Word of God and cannot endure the weight of wisdom, leading to fatigue and fragility. Consequently, Jesus chose not to burden them further and ascended, departing (Lk 8:37). He moved from the lower realms to the higher ones, transitioning from the synagogue to the Church. He made His way back along the lake, in accordance with Luke's account, or, as Matthew notes, Pomerius, illustrating that “between us and them is a great sea,” indicating that no one can transition from the Church to the synagogue without jeopardizing their salvation.
Additionally, anyone wishing to journey from the synagogue to the Church must bear their cross to traverse the distance. The healed man’s intention to return home, despite not being welcomed, serves to prevent any opportunity for arrogance, demonstrating to the unbelievers that this place is where refuge is genuinely found. Thus, after receiving healing, he is commanded to return from the graves and tombs to a life of spiritual dwelling; it is within him that the temple of God must arise, replacing the grave that housed the mind.
The inhabitants of the Gerasenes region implored Him to leave their vicinity due to a profound sense of fear that took hold of them. This event is further elucidated in the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. He boarded the boat and set sail back. The man who had been freed from the demons requested to accompany Him. However, Jesus permitted him to depart, instructing him, “Return to your home and declare what God has done for you.” He went away and proclaimed throughout the entire city the marvelous deeds of Jesus. Mark also documents this in the fifth chapter, where you will find a comprehensive account explaining the reasons behind the man’s request to remain with Him, Jesus’ decision to let him go, and other significant details.
Observe how the magnificent Luke elaborates on what the sacred Matthew presented in broader strokes. He notes that the townsfolk and villagers went out to witness the events that had transpired (Luke 8:35). However, since he previously mentioned that the man tormented by demons was unclothed, dwelling among the tombs, breaking chains, and being driven into the wilderness by the evil spirit, he recounts that those who came to investigate discovered this man liberated from the demonic influence, sitting calmly at the feet of Jesus Christ, fully clothed and in his right mind. Upon witnessing this transformation and hearing from others about his deliverance, they were gripped by immense fear. But what could have sparked that fear?
The healing of the possessed man should have elicited feelings of joy, awe, and gratitude. It appears that their fear stemmed from witnessing the demise of the swine, as the Jewish law prohibited the consumption of pork, yet they partook in it (Lev. 11:7). They likely felt the weight of their transgression for having violated the law, fearing that this calamity was a punishment for their other failings (Deut. 14:20). Consequently, they implored Jesus Christ to leave their vicinity. In response, Jesus boarded a boat and returned across the lake to the land of the Gerasenes, while the man who had been healed earnestly requested to remain with Him forever.
The fear they experienced led them to worry that an even graver misfortune might befall them if the mysterious Man and His followers remained in their land. Consequently, feeling unable to act violently against these unexpected guests, they implored Jesus to leave them, preferring to remain in their previous state of spiritual ignorance. Jesus granted their request, but His departure was not total; by leaving, He liberated them from the dominion of malevolent spirits.
Upon witnessing it, they were filled with dread. Their horror was not solely due to the extraordinary miracle, but rather because of the significant loss they experienced in its occurrence. The demise of two thousand pigs troubled them greatly, for the pigs were of greater value to them than human beings and all that could be anticipated from the divine Visitor. In shameful agreement, they implored Christ to leave their midst. Christ had previously instructed His disciples to refrain from giving sacred things to dogs or casting pearls before swine, "lest they trample them with their feet, and turn round and tear them up." Consequently, He chose to depart from the unwelcoming region but did not wish to leave them entirely without the good news of the forthcoming kingdom of heaven.
He commissioned one of those He had healed to proclaim the glory of God in that land. "Go home," the Saviour instructed him, "to your own, and tell them what the Lord has done, and how He has had mercy on you." Thus, the former demon-possessed man from Gadara became the first herald of the kingdom of God in the area known as Decapolis, of which Gadara was a part. His message was authenticated by the miraculous change that had been wrought in him.
The narrative of the Lord's time in the region of the Gerasenes closely parallels that found in Luke, which itself mirrors the account given by Mark (Mark 5:1-20). However, Matthew presents a more concise version that varies in several respects from the others.
The shepherds, upon witnessing what had transpired, hurried to share the incredible news with everyone in the city and surrounding villages. This remarkable account prompted the townspeople to rush to the scene to witness the occurrence themselves. When they approached Jesus Christ, they found the man who had been afflicted by a multitude of demons, now sitting peacefully at His feet, dressed and in his right mind, which filled them with amazement. Those who had witnessed the event recounted the details of the deliverance of the afflicted man as well as the fate of the swine. This information increased their fear; they were apprehensive about experiencing further calamities, and feeling the weight of their losses, they rejected the presence of the Lord.
Thus, all the people from the region of the Gadarene, along with the city dwellers, implored Him to leave their territory. As St. John Chrysostom points out, when those in that area, who had been privileged by Him, demanded His departure, He left quietly, forsaking those who had proven unworthy of His teachings. He climbed into the boat to return. Then, the formerly demon-possessed man, who had received healing, approached Him, requesting to accompany Him. The reasons behind this request remain unclear—whether it stemmed from gratitude towards the Healer or from fear that such deliverance might not be granted again after the Lord's departure. Jesus, however, did not grant his request but instead instructed him to return home, that he might be a source of benefit to others by sharing his testimony of Christ’s mercy among his family and friends. "Return to your house and to your own, and report all that the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." The man followed His command, proclaiming the message of Christ throughout his city, to his relatives, and then extending his witness across the entire region, including the Ten Towns. The people were astonished by his accounts, which could potentially pave the way for faith among the inhabitants of that largely pagan land.
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THEOSIS