The textual evidence shows that the MSS preserve three variant spellings of the name in each gospel. Archeology. evidence), Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were, &c. In this and the following verse the Apostle reminds his readers that so far from regarding the marvellous manifestations of the Spirit, such as speaking with tongues and prophesying, as the most wonderful miracles, the One day the prophet Samuel angrily told his king that God would not go back on His decision. He's converted. Therefore they should be taken as such. But if one cared to examine all of Gods Word, the only possible reason for Jesus to destroy the pigs in the exorcism seems to be connected to Gods opinion about ham. You know that because the people tell Him to leave. Unsurprisingly in such a place, Jesus finds a man possessed by unclean spirits. Basically, a vision told Peter three times to eat defiling animal meat (at least that was how it seemed to him) so Peter logically replied that he had never eaten anything , Once more, we have half of an unclear verse, that people use to make up a, Gods Word has to agree with Gods Word. Also, Orthodox Jews see a clear connection between Deuteronomy 12:32, do not add, and what happened in the Garden of Eden. They belonged to God. When He speaks, they obey. That is the exact opposite of other godly men (compare with 1 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:24). And if he missed one, he didnt do it perfectly.
Power over Demons: The Gerasene Demoniac Matthew For the sake of the argument, lets start by assuming that the pastors assumption is right and he is a Gentile (though we know he could have been Jewish). Even so, the Bible never puts the worth of animals on the same level as the worth of human And in Malachi 4:4, why did God say remember the Law of Moses if God had His own law? The Son of God mercifully cast thousands of. The demons freak out that Jesus is there because its not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. I would, however, be a little skeptical of stories about Jesus Himself visiting Spain. One can only imagine the insanity the demoniac suffered at the hands of these evil forces. If ever there was a small and weak proof-text, this is the one. It was situated some 30 miles southeast of Gadara, on the borders of Peraea and a little north of the river Jabbok. We are all responsible for our sins and so no demonic force can take control of a human life and make you sin unless you allow it. Instead, his conscious act of casting the demons into the swine resulted in the entire herds destruction. Rabbi, begone!
Gadarene Swine Jesus made him whole. However, it is anticipated that the following verses will be thrown up as excuses, as pat answers, and as proof that God has changed, the Law is fulfilled (a.k.a. If the pig farmers were Gentile, why would non-Jewish farmers be so gentle with a Jew (who was also an outsider) who was messing around with their farm animals? Luke doesn't think that it's an every day occurrence for a person to be possessed by a host of demons. Jesus was teaching the way to live life so demons would not have a place in us to possess. If the interpretation from one vague verse contradicts several unambiguous verses, which is wrong? No one cares where he sleeps when hes busy trying to keep himself from killing himself. ), No matter how you slice it, the Almightys negative view of ham and bacon cant suddenly switch from one day to the next. I will say that I struggled with the title to this sermon. WebBlog Uncategorized were the gerasenes gentiles Uncategorized were the gerasenes gentiles If you're carrying a sheep, is it still a "piggy" back ride? Connect the dots. 3. Being teachable is a great avenue for learning! Another title that didn't make it was Demons, Pigs, and a Request to Leave. Now I think actually that beautifully outlines what happens in this passage, but for a specific reason I've wanted to zero your attention in on this man, this nameless man, who is afflicted by demons and who is liberated by Jesus Christ because there is a Gospel message for all of us. Its true! (, But MacArthurs logical is funny for another reason. Jesus was wise to use what God gives us, for a teachable moment. Lastly, based on culture, human-nature and most importantly, on specific Scripture passages, we know the demoniac could not have been a Gentile but was most assuredly, Yet a complete interpretation of Mark 5 needs to clear up one last point: the pigs were forbidden but did they, Christ kept kosher and cleaned up the town, I can of Myself do nothing. He was completely in the thrall of sin. But the sad thing I want you to see at the end is the reaction of the majority of his countrymen, because unlike him, they do not beg to be with Jesus. (But that may sadly describe a good number of Christians.) But there is a message in this for all of us and it is simply this we may not be possessed by demons, but if we are possessed by what we want or by what we have and if what we want or what we have is not God in the Gospel of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, then we are no less in the thrall of sin that this man. Those famous four are sufficient to back up the Church's bias and with them one could pretend they say, Christ is the [dead] end of the Law [of Moses] (Luther and Calvin taught this), or maybe it means something very vague like, an end of a law is Christ. For a more advanced discussion of the vague quality of the text have a look at George Howards scholarly article. And His promise to make a new promise (covenant) with Israel and with Judah in Jeremiah 31:31-32 does not repeal the first promise (the covenant that Israel broke), it strengthens it. 1. A city in Transjordania, situated about thirty-five m. SE of the S end of the Sea of Galilee, one of the cities of the Decapolis; the inhabitants of the city. But what does Leviticus says about ham?
In Marks thinking, the mans extraordinary strength is evidence of supernatural bondage. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. Obviously the man with the demon was Jewish or Jesus would not have gone there. This mother-baby law actually takes priority over another command which requires all first-born calves and lambs to be offered up to God on His altar (Numbers 18:17; Deuteronomy 15:19.) One unambiguous (but hotly debated) verse that supports this doctrine is, 1 John 5:7: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. So if we agree Messiah is part of the Godhead, then logically we agree Messiah also co-authored, with the Father, the Law of God. he has the power and the authority to ameliorate both. Well pretend with him that the folks in Gerasenes were placid Gentile farmers happily raising their gentle Gentile pigs. He prefers we stay laughing so no one can reflect on this coincidence. WebMany New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than. (, Still, Jesus was not in Gadarenes for judging; he was there, Not contrary, but consistent with Christs Character, Here is a prophesy that Christians love to quote: , The LORD has sworn it and He will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, after the nature of Melchizedek. The LORD is upon your right hand. Gadara). Because God is so steady, and doesnt reverse or repeal, He can be trusted to do what He promises; good or evil. In turn, they would have a vehicle wherewith to stay in their territory. The Psalmist states that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills Because to me belong every beast of the wood, every herd on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10, and were assuming Jesus the Second Person of the triune God had equal rights to those hills and those cattle.). Thus, in him, God found a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14 and 1 Samuel 16:1). Executive Committee of the Editorial Board. (Quite likely David would have let the lion and the bear free, if not for the fact that they came back at him: 2 Samuel 17:35). He's the friend of sinners. After a dramatic journey across the lake (Luke 8:22-25), Jesus steps for the first and last time into Gentile territory. And what about commands for married people (Exodus 21:10), or the command that a man gives his wife a bill of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1)? While foretelling death and doom was often, Fifth Fact: The True Author(s) of Scripture. (Please dont hide behind that sensational dispensational chart. Clearly, Luke is telling you this because he wants you to show the amazing power of Jesus Christ, even over demons. And holiness means salvation, as Paul wrote in two different letter, without holiness no man [or woman] shall see God (Hebrews 12:14 and Romans 6:22). He has stabbed the heads of many lands. What about cattle? So many beautiful verses and motivating passages are in Scripture. How and why did this happen in the first place? Jesus was a Jew. That amazing phrase, all of you be holy for I am holy did not start with Peter (1 Peter 1:16), because the apostle is quoting Leviticus. And he said that a good and virtuous man could not have allowed something like that to happen and therefore, Jesus was not the best and most virtuous of men and therefore Christianity was disproven. Thus, we are not surprised that there was "a great herd of pigs" feeding near the tombs where the Gerasene demoniac was living (5:11). One Bible expositor said the pigs the demons sought refuge in were black. That was a very large farming operation, even by the modern European and North American standards of today which typically do not have such giant herds. In a recent online essay on the Gospel of Mark, Peter Leithart wrote. It is repeated over and over. In either case, the theological point is not helped by a fictitious story. You can bet your bottom drachma there is. So now they don't even bother to read it.]. This solution is as old as Origen (Commentary on John, VI, 24) who, faced with the textual problem, suggested that the precise site of the healing of Legion was Gergesa, the small town in the territory of Gadara, but hardly in the more remote territory of Gerasa. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. Scripture also makes it abundantly clear that God Almighty cannot change, and no one, not even the Lord's Anointed Messiah can change the Law which they both wrote. three
But the Jews were promised and re-promised their land by God throughout the Law: Genesis 15:7, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 33:52-53, Deuteronomy 1:8 are just a few examples. HDB, II, p. 158, 159 for a detailed description.). His sermon should have given us some point, some excuse, or some logical explanation for it all. Looking back over the entirety of Gods Word, we do indeed notice many plagues rained down on the wicked in other books. Wed also have to confess that the farmers were not Gentile. Many New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than Who were the gerasenes in the bible? Such a pat answer to such a serious question is as irritating as it is ridiculous. p. 102. II. War I. iv. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Wed obey Him. Worse yet, dont trust one who says Scripture evolves. And Jews are forbidden by God and His eternal commands to own pigs. Amen, and thus ends this reading of God's holy, inspired, and inerrant Word. The Law of God states that the Sabbath is a day of rest for all livestock (Deuteronomy 5:14).
Commentary on Luke 8:26-39 - Working Preacher from Luther After this long, careful study, it should be crystal clear that the heartless Bishop of Hippo was mistaken, as were our two good pastors. WebThe name Gergesa has led to the supposition that the Girgashites, one of the seven Canaanitish nations, originally occupied this territory. But are these good pastors on the right track? When Jesus asked the mans name always a good way to start a conversation the demons replied, We are Legion, for we are many. A legion is a Roman military unit consisting of four to six thousand soldiers. Such a statement is irresponsible because the Law was not written for a single person. The prophet Jonah is held up as the merciless messenger of God; not a great title. The man howled day and night and cut himself with stones. Paul talked about going to Spain in Rom 15:24-28, so part of this is certainly within the realm of possibilities. The real-estate on the east side of the lake of Galilee where Jesus met the demons and the swine was also part of Israel-proper. (eds.). It was like, Read my lips, Saul! Why? Two thousand pigs dead for one person to live is not an even tradeand that is the point. The good pastor actually believes that a Jewish man can rationally decide the best sleeping quarters , In the end, the good pastors assumptions keep us, Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? Now the big-mouth irking this Greek artisan was our good friend, the Apostle Paul. Mark 5 is truly very simple: being a righteous Jew, the Law commands Jesus to abhor pigs as food. In 2 Samuel 17 we read of the young boy who would be king risking everything for one lamb. (, Field hay dries. If our faithful, unchanging Heavenly Father God made a straightforward decisive yet divisive decision and repeated it over and over and over, then why cant the good pastors connect the dots and figure out Jesuss real relationship to the pigs? And he was the one who said that the Father doesnt miss the , Everyone's wondering why the pigs got the raw end of the deal. Peter, the thick-headed captain of the Tedious Twelve, needed a hammer of a vision to get it across to him that Gentiles not ham and back bacon are clean and Jews could fellowship with them. The real irritation is people saying the Law was impossible to obey, when Scripture says the opposite it true. B. vii. And her addition to Gods commandment led to her disobedience and to Adams, and then God added some amazing plagues to mankind, just as John says (Revelation 22:18) will happen to those who add to His Word (and not just the book of Revelation). It was exactly due to his righteousness and his love for God that he killed two thousand pigs. Without a doubt, both men know God never came up with the line, Put pork on your fork.
gerasenes So why did the meek n merciful Son of Man cast countless defiling demons into two thousand piglets, sows and boars? Still, Jesus was not in Gadarenes for judging; he was there for mercy and for judgement. But Jesus still ministered to them: crowds from Tyre and Sidon came to see and listen to Him ( Mark 3:78 ). What do you want? The power and the person of Jesus Christ. Inhabitants of Gadara, known from an alleged miracle of Jesus ( Matthew 8; Mark 5; Luke 8) in which he transferred the demons Now the big-mouth irking this Greek artisan was our good friend, the Apostle Paul. WebThey land in the country of the Gadarenes which is on the North-east shore of the Sea of Galilee about 6 miles southeast across the sea from Capernaum. And you know what the most frightening thing of all is? This leads the third observation: just as the disciples had been terrified by both the storm and Jesus calming of it on the way over to the Gerasenes, the local people here respond with fear. Now that's interesting isn't it?
were the gerasenes This food is unclean and defiling for you. It deeply disturbed Bertrand Russell that Jesus allowed a herd of two thousand pigs to be destroyed. Such alternative readings include arguments that the swine were meant to represent the Roman army or "unclean and unfaithful" people; that pigs were considered "unclean", so destroying them might be consistent with care for other animals; and that Jesus did not actually "send" the devils into the pigs. GotQuestions has three articles alone on the subject: here is their best. Who were the gerasenes in the bible? So why did the meek n merciful Son of Man cast countless defiling demons into two thousand piglets, sows and boars? Instead they joke around and give pat answers. Matthew 12:43 and Luke 11:24 mention demons going to a dry place. And what about just sending the killers into the air (Ephesians 2:2)? Marks Jesus is a warrior who conquers Gods enemies. Let's pray. Regrettably, what were about to study the, And he answers him, saying, My name is Legion because there are many of us. Also he begs Jesus many times that he'd not send them away, out of the. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Gentile Next, what if our imaginary Jew damaged a ton of Gentile property under their very noses. This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). But when the pigs need to be explained, he immediately seems lost and turns to heartless comedy. The conversation showed that the illness had a will, a coherent sense of past, present and future, knowledge of the supremacy and authority of Jesus Christ, and a compulsion to worship Jesus. in which he transferred the demons afflicting a man to a number of swine, that thereupon rushed down a steep hill and perished. Problem was, not even the pigs could withstand the madness these demonic forces manifested. What about sheep? This curse should deter makers of dispensational charts from chopping up Scripture because having my share taken from the Book of Life, or my name wiped out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5) doesnt sound very cool. He is the strong man who binds Satan and plunders his house. At least Im man enough to admit possible weaknesses in my arguments and to talk about the elephants in the room. Did Jesus really sacrifice the swine for the man? Saying God reverses a verdict or compromises a promise soils His Name. Its architecture was of the Corinthian order, quite lavish and imposing, with columns from three to four ft. in diameter and about thirty ft. high. Such alternative readings include arguments that the swine were meant to represent the Roman army or "unclean and unfaithful" people; that pigs were considered "unclean", so destroying them might be consistent with care for other animals; and that Jesus did not actually "send" the devils into the pigs. He also makes excursions into Gentile territory, such as when he exorcizes the Gerasene/Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20). Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with: Gerasene. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gerasene. Now Jesus grants this permission. Sadly, the rest of the verse is not quoted in GotQuestions best article and preachers rarely preach it, though it reveals more about the true character of the Messiah. I remember my boyhood pastor, Gordon Reed, preaching through a sermon series on the gospel on Mark coming to a passage about demon possession saying, I don't know much about demon possession, but I've read a lot of books about people on demon possession and they don't know much about demon possession either. Well, before you give counsel to Jesus about what He has done in this passage you may want to take stock about how much you know about demon possession. Besides, each of the synoptic gospels quotes the demons saying out loud that Jesus had the power to torture them all at will (Matthew 8:29, Mark 5:7 and Luke 8:28). The account occurs in all three Synoptic gospels; in Mark (the shortest gospel) the story is in the longest and most detailed version; Matthew 8.2834 is the shortest, Not that I believe my case has holes. The fact that Matthew places the healing of Legion in the country of the Gadarenes whereas Mark and Luke place it in the country of the Gerasenes may be harmonized on the historical grounds that geographical boundaries overlapped, and on the exegetical consideration that country embraced a wide area around the cities.
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