Matthew 8:29

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 {G2532}, behold {G2400}, they cried out {G2896}, saying {G3004}, What {G5101} have we {G2254} to do with {G2532} thee {G4671}, Jesus {G2424}, thou Son {G5207} of God {G2316}? art thou come {G2064} hither {G5602} to torment {G928} us {G2248} before {G4253} the time {G2540}?

They screamed, "What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

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

In Matthew 8:29, we witness a dramatic encounter between Jesus and two demon-possessed men in the region of the Gergesenes (or Gadarenes, as in parallel accounts). The KJV text reads, "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?" This verse powerfully illustrates Jesus' divine authority and the spiritual realm's immediate recognition of His identity.

Context

This verse follows Jesus' powerful demonstration of authority over nature by calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27). Upon arriving on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, He is immediately confronted by two exceedingly fierce demon-possessed men who lived among the tombs. Their cry in this verse is their initial, desperate reaction to Jesus' presence, revealing their knowledge of His person and their impending judgment. Similar accounts are found in Mark 5:7 and Luke 8:28.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Divine Authority: The most striking theme is the absolute authority of Jesus. Even malevolent spirits immediately recognize Him and are compelled to acknowledge His power. Their fear demonstrates that no force, spiritual or physical, can stand against Him.
  • Demonic Recognition of Christ: Unlike many humans, the demons instantly identify Jesus as "the Son of God." This highlights their supernatural knowledge and the undeniable truth of Jesus' divine identity, which they cannot deny.
  • Anticipation of Future Judgment: The demons' question, "art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" reveals their awareness of a predetermined time for their final judgment and eternal punishment. They fear Jesus' ability to initiate this torment prematurely, underscoring the certainty of divine justice.
  • Spiritual Warfare: This encounter vividly portrays the reality of spiritual conflict, where forces of evil are active but ultimately subservient to Christ. It affirms that Jesus has triumphed over all principalities and powers, as seen in Colossians 2:15.

Linguistic Insights

  • "What have we to do with thee?" (Greek: Ti hēmin kai soi?) This is an idiomatic expression that literally means "What is there to us and to you?" It conveys a strong sense of hostile disassociation, essentially meaning "Leave us alone!" or "Why are you interfering with us?" It's a plea for non-interference from a position of acknowledged inferiority.
  • "Son of God" (Greek: huios tou Theou): This is a profound theological title affirming Jesus' divine nature and unique relationship with God the Father. It is significant that this confession of His divine identity comes from the mouth of demons, who possess knowledge beyond human understanding.
  • "torment" (Greek: basanizō): This word implies severe suffering, torture, or distress. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the suffering of the wicked in eternal judgment, as seen in Revelation 20:10.
  • "before the time": This phrase indicates that the demons are aware of a specific, appointed time for their ultimate and final judgment. They fear that Jesus has come to inflict this punishment ahead of schedule, acknowledging His power to do so.

Practical Application

For believers today, Matthew 8:29 offers profound reassurance. It reminds us that Jesus Christ is absolutely sovereign over all spiritual forces, including those of evil. We do not need to fear demonic power because it is ultimately subject to Him. This verse strengthens our faith in Jesus' ultimate victory and the certainty of future justice. It also encourages us to recognize and trust in Jesus' authority in our own lives, knowing that He has power to deliver us from all spiritual oppression.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 1:24

    Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

  • Luke 4:34

    Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, [thou] Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

  • James 2:19

    Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

  • Mark 5:7

    And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

  • Luke 8:28

    When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

  • 2 Peter 2:4

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • Matthew 4:3

    And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

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