Matthew 8: 28-34

(Matthew 8: 28-34)

『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. 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?  And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. 』

This is the case when Jesus went to the area of Gardara (Garasa) across the lake of Galilee. The Gadara region was a wealthy city consisting of ten small cities (Degaboli) because there were small cities in this area allied with Hella. At the time, the Gadara region was a land of Judea, with Roman troops stationed, and the atmosphere was decadent and harsh. There was also a mix of religions, cultures and ideas. The land of decadent culture of consumption and aggression was the Gadara region. There for, those who lost their faith were bound to get sick, tired, and wander.

Jesus and his party arrived at a seaside area in Gadara. There, however, "two demonic men" appeared to Jesus. These were living among the tombs, so fierce that no one could go there. When this man saw Jesus, he cried out, “Son of God, what has we to do with you?” And asked Him not to dismiss them but to send them to the nearby swine. As soon as Jesus sent them, many swarms of pigs died, and the people asked Jesus to leave.

The word "ghosted" means one who is not under God's guidance and is under Satan's control. Those who live in this world are under Satan's power. In the Gospel of Luke (8:30), the ghost that entered the swine was represented as an army ghost. The province of Gadara is a small area where many of the Gentiles lived in a large area called Degaboli.

The Bible says in Matthew (12: 43-45).『 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 』Israel was delivered from Egypt. Egypt symbolizes the world (sin). Pharaoh means Satan. God delivered Israel from Satan in the world. And God gave Israel the law (the law of wrath).

“When a dirty ghost went out of a man, he went to a place without water.” A place without water is a wilderness. There is no word of God. Gentiles are without the word of God. The ghosts went into the waterless (the Gentiles). The ghost goes out when the word of God comes in. The Bible says in Matthew (17:18).『And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.』

The Bible says in Luke (4:35).『And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.』

God allowed Israel to be exodus, and gave the law to the people at Mount Sinai, " When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none," where man means "Israel." As the Word of God entered Israel, demons entered the Gentiles. Israel escaped from Pharaoh (Satan) and lived by the words of the law. But if Israel does not live according to God's Word, demons will enter again.

God described Israel as "my army." The Bible says in Exodus (7: 4).『But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 』However, since the demons were in the Israelites when they were in Egypt, the demons still express themselves as an army. Army demons say "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none."

Dry places are places without the word of God. It is the Gentiles.The army ghost came out because Jesus told the ghost to come out. The Bible says in Mark (5:10).『And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.』 But in Luke (8:31)『And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.』 In other words, it was not time for judgment, so he asked to allow army ghosts to enter swine, not to judge. Jesus allowed it.

By the way, 『Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.』Lake symbolizes the law. To die in a lake is to be judged by the law. So the lake is also where the dead are under the law. In connection with this, the Egyptian army was all headed and died.

Who is the pig? Pigs are legalists. They are those who fail to find Christ and who believe in the law. The Bible says in Matthew (7: 6).『Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 』 God allowed Israel to be exodus, but there was nothing to eat in the wilderness, and they complained that they would return to Egypt. This is how dogs and pigs behave. God allowed no one to enter the land of Canaan except Joshua, Caleb, and the children born in the wilderness.

The Bible says in Matthew (24:16).『 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 』 It is time for Jesus to return. Those in Judea are still those who live legally. The law is until the time of the prophet John. So the demons went out to the waterless (the Gentiles) and were driven out by Jesus, “Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. The house was in the same state as Israel without the law and without the word of God. Since the law was until John's time, the law was over. Army ghosts entered the swine. And it was buried under the sea. All are dead because they do not have the word of God. It is said that they believe in Jesus today, but those who live legally are those who have entered the swine. Not only is Israel speaking, but Jesus also speaks of military demons to those who think and believe legally in the church.

The Bible says in Romans (2: 12-13).『For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.』 He who tries to keep the law is judged by it. All who live according to the law are judged. So legal people die as swarms of pigs die in lakes.