Matthew 8:26-30

 

Mat 8:26 (KJB)

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

 

Fearful - Cowardly or timid

 

They awaken Jesus and He asks them why they are being so timid? They still did not understand the higher calling of the ministry of Jesus and that He could not perish while in the boat. He also chides them for having so little faith, especially after seeing the miracles He did just a few hours before they got into the boat. They are just like us. How many times God does something for us in a big way or even something small, and yet how quickly we forget what He has done for us. So Jesus arises from sleep and then proceeds to rebuke the wind and the rain. Then as they obey Him, a great calm comes over the sea. This is what happens to our situations when Jesus becomes involved, where we had great turmoil in our lives, He brings a great calm.

 

Mat 8:27 (KJB)

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

 

The men were amazed because they had never seen anything like this. In one moment the seas were raging and in the next it was quiet. (Isa 17:12 KJV) Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! One day, on the last day, the Lord is going to quell all the noise in the world and there shall be silence when He returns on the clouds of glory. Like the disciples who marvelled when Jesus quieted the sea, the world will also marvel when they see Him return on the last day. The disciples still had no clue who they were with. If the devils in people and the diseases in people had to flee upon the command of the Lord, it should not be any much harder to believe that the winds and the rain had to obey also.

 

Mat 8:28 (KJB)

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

 

The country of the Gergesenes was located on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. When they had exited the boat, two devil possessed men, who because of their possession, were extremely violent which goes with possession. Incredible strength also goes with possession and that is why no one would have been able to pass that way because maybe the strength of these two men could have killed some or possibly beat some people up who went that way. Matthew tells us that there were two of these men who met Jesus whereas Luke and Mark mention only one. It could be they only mention one because only one of them spoke. They had lived among the tombs which in those days were caves which were cut out of the hillsides whether they were natural or man-made. This area was avoided because of the possession of these two men.

 

Mat 8:29 (KJB)

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

 

The reason these men ran to meet Jesus was because they immediately knew who He was and that is because they were up in Heaven with Him before the rebellion of Satan. They knew that Jesus was the Son of God and they asked Him if He came to torment them before the time. They also knew their fate and that was going to be eternal damnation. (Mat 25:41 KJV) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Even though they knew their impending doom, they still tried to taunt Jesus by asking Him what they had to do with Him. Their attempts to divert the conversation was futile and no matter what they did, their doom was settled.

 

Mat 8:30 (KJB)

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

 

There was a great number of pigs, which Mark states at about two thousand. (Mark 5:13 KJV) And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. In the area where they were, were Gentiles so the owners may have been Gentiles because pigs were an unclean animal under the law and no Jews would own pigs. (Lev 11:7 KJV) And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

Back