Men or Pigs?

TEXT: Matthew 8:28-34

TOPIC: Men or Pigs?

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Icard, NC

Wednesday night, July 10, 1997

What’s more valuable: two thousand pigs or two men? Any sensible person would answer “of course the two men.” But that’s not the way we always see it.

In Matthew 8, Jesus has demonstrated his power over disease by cleansing a leper, healing a centurion’s servant, as well as Peter’s sick mother-in-law. He demonstrated his power over nature by calming the storm and the seas. Now he demonstrates his sovereignty over Satan by exercising 2000 demons from two demon-possessed men.

v. 28 “the country of the Gergesenes” (Gadarenes) East coast of the Sea of Galilee sometimes called the Lake of Gennesaret. Near Bethsaida.

“the other side” (see v. 18) didn’t turn out to be a vacation. In fact Jesus braved the storm to come to the other side.

“two possessed with devils” or demons. This account does not contradict the accounts of those in Mark 5 or Luke 8. Instead, they supplement it. It is likely that both Mark and Luke chose to major on the more prominent of the two.

“coming out of the tombs” this scene took place in the graveyard. This is where Satan would like to hold all mankind captive. We are reminded that man apart from Christ is dead in trespasses and sins.

It is a picture of what Satan does for man:

1. Robs him of sanity and self-control

2. Fills him with fear

3. Robs him of the joys of family and friends

4. (if possible) condemns him to an eternity of judgment.

It also reveals what society does for a man in need:

1. Restrains him

2. Isolates him

3. Threatens him

4. Avoids him

5. Ignores him

“…that way” Where is our country of the Gadarenes? That place where we choose not to pass. Is it the socially oppressed? (Run down trailer park, inner-city apartments) The socially elite. The down and outs and the up and outs. The physically and/or emotional challenged.

These guys must have looked like two Hell’s Angels bikers on their way to a steakers’ convention.

Notice that in v. 29 it is the demons who cry out. Their statement constitutes a confession of faith. Demon’s have faith, only a head or intellectual faith, not a saving faith. James 2:19

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder.(NIV)

1. They believed in the deity of Christ. “Jesus, thou son of God”

2. They believed in the existence of God.

3. They believed in the reality of future judgment.

4. They also believed in and practiced prayer. Verse 31 says they “besought him.”

Of two thousand swine, not one would allow Satan to have control over their lives. They would rather be dead than filled with demons.

Verse 32 “Go” the power of the Jesus word. Framed the world with the spoken word

Verses 33-34 The prayer of the city people. They were more concerned over the loss of the pigs than they were the souls and well-being of these two men.

Today are we more concerned over the condition of our buildings than the souls of men, women and children? Are we more concerned about our convenience or our feelings than we are the souls of men?

Are we more concerned about men or pigs?