ACC ~ Matthew 8 v28 - 34

OVERVIEW:

Those possessed by demons were being held in captivity to idolatry. They were living apart from the worshiping community (CHROMATIUS). The demons claimed that the Son of God had come in an untimely way (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Plunging from the sky, they are commanded to enter into the swine (PETER CHRYSOLOGUS), which are a ready residence for the demons (CHROMATIUS). The demons entered the swine to show how savage they have become against humans who by their vices have permitted their intrusion into human freedom (PETER CHRYSOLOGUS). They begged Jesus to leave their neighborhood. Even they knew they were unworthy of the Lord’s presence (JEROME). The Holy Spirit will not enter a perverse soul or dwell in a body enslaved to sin (CHROMATIUS).

8:28-29 | Two Demoniacs Come from the Tombs

THE OTHER SIDE

CHROMATIUS: The “other side” must first be understood according to its plain sense. Yet according to an allegorical interpretation, the demoniacs who met the Lord in the country of the Gerasenes, that is, the country of the Gentiles, might be understood to have the appearance of the descendants of Ham and Japheth, Noah’s two sons, as distinguished from the Jewish people, who take their origin from Shem the firstborn son of Noah. Or they might be understood as all of those held captive by the devil in the error of idolatry. They are burdened by the chains of their offenses and the fetters of their sins. They were not living in the town, that is, in the covenant community where the law and the divine precepts were in force. Rather, they dwell in the tombs, worshiping idols and venerating the memories of potentates or images of the dead. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.4. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:407-8.

THE DEMONS CRIED OUT

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The divine nature of the only begotten Son was already scorching the demons in unspeakable flames. Christ was shutting up the fiercest demons in blocked roads. He was undoing the devil’s tyranny. “You have come before the time,” they cried out. For they knew from the Scriptures that Christ was going to come and would judge them. Treating the incarnation as if it had happened at the wrong time, they pled that he had come in an untimely way. This misrepresentation is not surprising. In their deceptiveness, they did not hesitate to say even this. Yet, although they know that vengeance is to fall upon them, they still say haughtily, “What have you to do with us?” They know that the final Judge in fact has a score to settle with them, inasmuch as they had broken his commandments. FRAGMENT 101. [1]

[1] MKGK 184-85.

THE DEMONS’ PLEA

CHRYSOSTOM: For [the demons] said, “Did you come here to torment us before the time?” You see, they could not deny that they had sinned, but they demanded that they not suffer their punishment before the time. Because [Jesus] had caught them in the act of perpetrating those horrors so incurable and lawless and deforming and punishing his creature in every way, and because their crimes were so excessive they supposed that [Jesus] would not delay in punishing them, they besought and entreated him. They who had not even endured bands of iron came bound. And they who ran about the mountains went forth into the plain. And they who hindered all others from passing stood still at the sight of [Jesus] blocking the way. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 28.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:352-53; NPNF 1 10:191*.

8:30 | The Herd of Swine

AT SOME DISTANCE

CHROMATIUS: The swine to which the demons fled symbolize the unfaithful and unclean people who, feeding at some distance by the sea, were living according to the sins of the world. Thus the swine showed themselves to be a ready residence for the demons. Living nearby this worldly sea they are steeped in error and inordinate desire. This made it easy for them to be overcome by the demons. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.5. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:408.

8:31 | The Demons Possess the Swine

FROM HEAVEN TO TOMBS TO FILTH

PETER CHRYSOLOGUS: Slaves ask for suitable indignities: “Send us into the swine.” Foulness begs to be sent from the tombs into the swine, so that it does not think of getting rid of its bad odors but of changing odors. “Send us into the swine.” Plunging from the sky, they seek filth. After living in the upper world, they look for the sloughs of pigs. “Send us into the herd.” A herd is sent into the herd, so that a gang of demons is brought forth, and it seems that two men have caused what a great number of pigs could not endure. SERMONS 16.7. [1]

[1] CCL 24:101.

8:32 | The Swine Destroyed

WHY THE DEMONS ENTERED THE SWINE

PETER CHRYSOLOGUS: “He said to them, ‘Go!’” The foul-smelling animals are delivered up, not at the will of the demons but to show how savage the demons can become against humans. They ardently seek to destroy and dispossess all that is, acts, moves and lives. They seek the death of people. The ancient enmity of deep-rooted wrath and malice is in store for the human race. Demons do not give up easily unless they are forcibly overcome. They are doing the harm they are ordered to do. Therefore the foul-smelling animals are delivered up that it may be made clear to the demons that they have permission to enter the swine but not to enter humans. It is by our vices that we empower them to do harm. Similarly, by our power of faith we tread on the necks of demons. They become subject to us under Christ who is triumphant. SERMONS 16.8. [1]

[1] CCL 24:101.

8:33 | The Herdsmen Tell What Happened

THE FLIGHT OF IDOLATERS

CHROMATIUS: The herdsmen fled at the sight of the divine power and reported to the town what had happened. The people entreated the Lord to depart from their district. This may symbolize the leaders of the Jews or the priests of idols, who, dispensing the food of their errors to unclean and unfaithful people, are feeding them like swine to perpetual death. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.5. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:408-9.

THE MIGRATION OF HERETICAL TEACHING

CHROMATIUS: Or this may be understood in another way, for there may be more than one spiritual meaning, [1] namely, we can look upon these two demoniacs in a larger sense as two [Gentile] peoples (as we noted before) [2] who by the word and grace of Christ were freed from the bond of the demons. Perhaps we may interpret the swine as heretics who, driven from the community of believers, are known to have migrated. If so, the herdsmen could be viewed as architects of heresies and teachers of falsehood who are feeding these heretical swine as it were with the foul and unclean food of disreputable teachings, feeding them not for life but for death. For these wayward teachers are feeding them, not the heavenly bread nor the food of a wholesome life but the most foul and unclean teachings of falsehood. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.6. [3]

[1] Following Origen, Chromatius points out that while the literal meaning of a scriptural passage is unique, more than one spiritual (i.e., allegorical) interpretation can be found for it.

[2] Descendants of Ham and Japheth (see 8:28 above).

[3] CCL 9a:409.

8:34 | They Begged Jesus to Leave

UNWORTHY OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE

JEROME: They entreat him to leave their district, not out of pride on their part (as many believe) but out of humility. They judge themselves unworthy of the Lord’s presence, just as Peter after the catch of fish fell before the Savior’s knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.8.34. [1]

[1] CCL 77:53.

BEGGING THE LORD TO LEAVE

CHROMATIUS: The town from which they came to meet the Lord, asking him to leave their district, represents the synagogue, which did not want to receive the Lord and Savior of the human race even after witnessing his divine power. He therefore returned to his own town. Because he was rejected by the synagogue, he came to his church, which is properly called the city of Christ. On seeing him, the Gerasenes entreated the Lord to depart from their district. Such people are also found among us. Out of faithlessness they compel the Lord and Savior of the world to depart from the district of their hearts, for according to Scripture, “the Holy Spirit will not enter a perverse soul or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.” [1] TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.7. [2]

[1] Wis 1:4.

[2] CCL 9a:409-10.