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Explanation for:
Matthew
8
:
29
And behold they cried out, saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God by the demons is not a voluntary admission rewarded with favor but rather a compelled declaration arising from necessity. They resemble fugitives who, after a long absence, encounter their master once more, but instead of seeking anything, they plead for relief from punishment. Similarly, when the demons behold the Lord walking among them, they perceive his presence as a foreboding of judgment. For them, the Savior’s presence is a source of anguish. Some might jestingly argue that while the demons recognize the Son of God, the devil himself does not. This suggests a lesser awareness among them compared to the one they follow. However, we must remember that all knowledge possessed by the disciples is derived from their Teacher, thus their understanding of the devil and the demons should be seen as a suspicion of recognizing the Son of God, rather than a definitive knowledge. For no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him (Matt. 11:27)."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Upon encountering the Lord, the demoniacs, akin to malevolent outcasts, exclaimed, “What is it to You, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come here before the appointed time to torment us?” While the crowd recognized Him as merely a man, the demons acknowledged His divine nature. Those who were unaffected by the turmoil of the sea were awakened to the truth through the demons’ cries, revealing what the sea had signified in its tranquility. To demonstrate that their acknowledgment was not mere flattery, they substantiated their claim through their own experience: “You have arrived before the appointed time to afflict us.” Their confession of hostility was intended to ensure their plea was taken seriously. Indeed, tormented and inflamed by merely being in Christ's presence, they suffered profoundly, more so than the turbulent sea. How could anyone approach them? Yet it was Christ Himself who drew near. According to Matthew, the demons voiced their concern, stating, “You have come before the time to torment us.” Additionally, others relate that the demons implored Him, beseeching not to be cast into the abyss. They feared that the moment of their punishment had arrived, and they dreaded being subjected to torment. Unable to deny their sins, they entreated Him not to exact punishment prematurely. Recognizing their extreme wickedness, which led them to inflict distress upon His creation, the demons believed that due to their iniquity, the time of their reckoning would not be postponed. Thus, they begged and entreated Him. Those who could not be restrained by iron chains came bound, those who fled to the mountains came forth into the fields, and those who obstructed others paused upon seeing Him obstructing their path."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The divine essence of the Only Begotten scorched the evil spirits with an indescribable intensity, similarly to how He accomplished other wonders in a hidden manner, confining the most formidable demons to unyielding paths and dismantling the oppression of Satan. They exclaimed, “You have come before the appointed time,” for they were aware from the Scriptures that Christ would arrive to judge them. It is not astonishing that, in their malevolence, they would dare to ridicule the timing of the Incarnation, asserting it was not at the appropriate moment. Even while understanding they face impending punishment and that the Just Judge will hold them accountable for their violations of His commandments, they hubristically challenge Him, asking, “What do You want with us?”"},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In this passage, they announce Him as the Son of God after having acknowledged their hostility towards Him. They perceive it as a torment that they are prevented from causing harm to humanity. The phrase \\"before the time\\" implies that the demons believed Christ, having not experienced significant malice from them, would not delay their punishment. In truth, there is no such postponement, as they are permitted to contend with us until the culmination of the age."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Although both the disciples and the crowd referred to Him as a man, the demons proclaimed His Divinity upon encountering Him. Confronted by the divine light, they instantly recognized Him and, unable to endure the unseen yet searing force of His presence, they cried out, \\"What do You want with us? You are an intolerable fire, and we are like combustible straw.\\" Aware that they perpetually tormented and afflicted God's creation (humankind) in every conceivable manner, they could not deny their transgressions but attempted to offer a defense, asserting that they should not face punishment at that moment but rather at the time of the Final Judgment. In their deep anguish, they lamented, \\"You have come to this earth to torment us before the appointed time.\\" They knew from the prophets that Christ would return to earth at the end of days to judge the world and mete out punishment to the demons."},{"author-name":"Markos Eugenikos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c894ea2f261030b5a2aa3b_Markos%20Eugenikos.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":15,"exegesis-text":"\\"You have come to torment us before the appointed time\\" (Mt. 8:29) indicates that the torment has not yet begun, as that time has not arrived. If even the malevolent spirits and the original instigators of wickedness, for whom a specific punishment has been designated, have yet to experience the proper retribution—remaining free to roam as they please—what rationale could persuade us that the souls who leave this world in sin are immediately subjected to the flames and sufferings reserved for others?"},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"O Lord, your might is tremendous! The demons recognized and acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They exclaimed, \\"What do we have in common with you? What is our business with you? What do we seek from you, or you from us?\\" A similar sentiment can be found in 2 Kings 6:10, 2 Chronicles 35, and John 2. The demons shouted these words out of fear that Jesus Christ, through the authority of His divinity, might cast them into the torments of the abyss. They asked, \\"Have you come here to punish us before the appointed time?\\" This reveals two significant truths: first, that not only the unrighteous who died unrepentant, but also the demons themselves, have not yet experienced the full extent of their torment that awaits on the dreadful day of judgment. This was made clear by the two apostles as well. Peter wrote, \\"For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell, committing them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment\\" (2 Pet. 2:4). Similarly, Jude stated, \\"And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day\\" (Jude 1:6). Secondly, the anguish is so extreme that even demons, filled with dread of it, would rather endure the company of unclean swine than face this dreadful condemnation, as the subsequent words of the Gospel illustrate:"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"What do You care about us?\\" expresses a deep inquiry into the intentions behind divine concern. The phrases \\"What do You wish to do with us?\\" and \\"What concern do You have for us?\\" echo this sentiment (2 Sam. 16:10, 4 Sam. 9:18, 1 Ezra 4:3). In recognition of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the demons acknowledge Him as the Son of God, perceiving Him as both their adversary and sovereign (Lk. 8:31), fully aware that He has come to vanquish their deeds. The phrase \\"before the time\\" refers to the impending dreadful judgment of Christ (Matt. 25:41). The notion of \\"to torment us\\" relates to the servants of Satan who are destined to be cast out and into the abyss for punishment (cf. Lk. 16:23, Rev. 14:10, Rev. 20:10). Holy Scripture conveys that malevolent spirits in this present age, until the moment of the final reckoning, are not as restrained as they will be afterward. During this interim, they are permitted to tempt and, at times, afflict humanity. However, on the Day of Judgment, they will face ultimate condemnation to everlasting suffering alongside the wicked (2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 1:6). The spirits are aware of their fate and, in essence, express discontent at the prospect of premature torment by Jesus, asking Him not to cast them into the abyss (Luke 8:31), which signifies hell. Blessed Theophylact interprets their plea as a lamentation over being denied the ability to torment humans. Furthermore, the term \\"before the time\\" reflects the demons' belief that Christ would not tolerate their intense malice and would hasten their judgment, an outcome that has not yet transpired, as they continue to be allowed to oppose humanity until the culmination of the age."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"St. Matthew recounts the healing of two men tormented by demons, intentionally leaving out certain particulars. He notes that the demons cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus, Son of God? What is your purpose for us? Do you care about our fate?” It raises the question of whether those in a pagan region could truly address an unfamiliar figure they had just encountered by name, even recognizing Him as the Son of God. Clearly, these spirits were not themselves; the Scriptures affirm that the evil spirits “believe and tremble” (James 2:19), and they foresaw that the Lord would exorcise them from the afflicted individuals. However, they were commanded by God not to lead the suffering souls into isolation but to confront the Lord by the sea, thus acknowledging Him with their cries.\\n\\nWhile the crowds regarded Him merely as a man, as St. Chrysostom observes, the demons came forth to affirm His divinity. Those who remained oblivious during the calming of the storm now heard the demons proclaim what the silent sea had already declared. Their recognition of Christ as the Son of God was not born from reverence; rather, His presence inflicted unbearable torment upon them. St. Chrysostom vividly describes how they were “pierced, inflamed, and invisibly tormented more intensely than the sea.” Through the voices of those they plagued, the demons exposed their animosity, as Chrysostom notes, admitting their sins, recognizing that the time of final judgment and their eternal punishment loomed over them. They reproached the Lord Jesus, lamenting that He was prematurely stripping them of their power to afflict humanity, pleading, “Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” \\n\\nChrysostom also recounts their desperate pleas, urging Him not to cast them into the abyss, presuming that the moment of their eternal condemnation was upon them. Seeing the Savior confront their dreadful cruelty as they tormented His creation, they feared that He would not delay their punishment. Thus, those who could not be restrained by chains approached bound; those who roamed the mountains emerged into the fields; those who obstructed others’ paths paused upon encountering the One who had come to remove their hold. St. Mark notes that “they asked Him many things, that He should not send them out of that country” (Mk. 5:10), referring to the land of the Gergesenes, where these demons exercised significant authority over the populace. Likewise, St. Luke recounts that the demons begged the Lord not to command them to enter the abyss, the depths of hell, where eternal punishment awaited them. Their fear of such torment illustrates how dreadful the sufferings of hell truly are. These cries and complaints from the demons, alleging that the Lord came to torment them, serve to refute the absurd blasphemy of the Pharisees, who claimed that He expelled demons by the power of the prince of demons."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What transpired when the afflicted men spotted Jesus and His disciples disembarking from the boat? Matthew, the Evangelist, briefly recounts that upon seeing Jesus, the two men possessed by demons cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” The Evangelist Mark provides a similar account, stating, \\"But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him, and cried out with a loud voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!' Mark further reveals that Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to leave the man. Luke's account aligns closely with Mark’s, describing how the demon-possessed man fell before Jesus, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me” (Luke 8:28). Luke also adds that Jesus ordered the unclean spirit to come out (Luke 8:29). Acknowledging the veracity of all three Evangelists' narratives, we can outline the unfolding events as follows: when the men saw Jesus from afar, they called out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Then, one of the two men, whom no one could subdue, ran up, fell before Jesus, and worshipped Him. Jesus commanded, “Come out, unclean spirit, from this man.” The afflicted man then loudly proclaimed, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you by God, do not torment me.”\\n\\nHaving established this sequence of events, we must consider: can we attribute the words and actions of the demon-possessed man to him as a person acting freely? The man, who had long retreated to desolate coastal cliffs, living in caves and isolated from others, would have had no discernment of Christ’s arrival or identity. Yet, upon seeing Him, he addressed Him as Jesus, the Son of God, accusing Him of coming to torment him too soon. He then approached Jesus, fell to his knees in worship, as if pleading for deliverance from some dread.\\n\\nWhen Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to depart, the man did not express gratitude but instead shouted, “What do you care for me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you, do not torment me!” This behavior, contradictory to his worship, reveals a conflict within him: he approached Jesus, worshipped Him, and in doing so acted as one seeking salvation from calamity or a fierce adversary. He needed only to articulate his desires and supplications. However, his words conveyed thoughts and wishes entirely contrary to the humble adoration he displayed, suggesting they could not originate from him alone. It becomes clear that the afflicted man was not voicing his own sentiments; rather, he was unwittingly expressing another’s will—someone else’s fears and desires. In essence, another entity was speaking through him, that of the spirit which had driven him to such torment and savagery.\\n\\nThe reality of the man's possession by evil spirits is underscored by Jesus’ command for the unclean spirit to exit him. For those who doubt the existence of such spirits, it is essential to reflect on the incongruity between the man’s words and his actions, alongside the desires he ought to have expressed to Jesus. This contemplation may lead one to recognize that another voice was articulating through the mouth of the demon-possessed man. The pivotal question arises: who was that voice? What answer, apart from the gospel truth, could they provide? Jesus inquired, “What is your name?” Was this question directed at the man prostrate before Him or the evil spirit? Some interpreters contend that the question was meant for the evil spirit, while others suggest it was posed to the man. However, since the evil spirit answered through the afflicted man's lips, we must conclude that the question was directed towards the evil spirit. “Legion is my name, for we are many.” A legion, typically comprising 6,000 soldiers, in colloquial use signifies a vast multitude. The evil spirits possessing the tormented man, upon seeing Jesus from a distance, recognized Him as the Son of God, possessing authority over them. Aware of their impending judgment for their rebellion against God, they likely feared immediate punishment, hence their cry of reproach about Jesus coming to torment them prematurely. Clinging to their belief in an untimely fate, they pleaded with the Lord not to expel them from that region. Further elaborating on Mark’s account, Luke notes that the evil spirits begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss, which represents an endless void devoid of human presence."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Then, as if speaking on behalf of unclean spirits, he implored the Savior with a loud and terrified voice not to torment him before his appointed time. The compassionate Lord, desiring to liberate the suffering man from the oppressive influence of darkness surrounding him, inquired about his name. “Legion,” replied the demonic force that had extinguished any sense of personal identity within him. The presence of Roman legions had introduced him to this term for a multitude, and since he perceived himself to be afflicted by six thousand evil spirits (the number of soldiers in a legion), he responded using this Latin term, well recognized by every Jew."}]}
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