PASSAGE: Matthew 8:28-34

SERIES SUMMARY 

As Jesus steps onto the scene of history, Matthew paints a picture of him that invites our participation in what Jesus is doing. The portrait is that Jesus is the True King who is bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. This good news is not reserved for especially religious people in a distant future; it’s good news, right now, for ordinary people who come to Jesus in faith. 

And while Jesus inaugurated the kingdom among us through teaching and serving in dozens of ways, he ultimately brought heaven to earth by embracing the cross as his throne and wearing thorns as his crown. In doing this, he broke the powers of the kingdom(s) of this world and opened up God’s new world through his resurrection. Now, because of these things, discipleship to Jesus is about praying and living “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” It is about whole-life transformation and embodying kingdom realities. It is about becoming people who naturally live out what Jesus taught. Today, because of Matthew’s witness and Jesus’ ministry, the kingdom is coming in our own lives, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

PASSAGE GUIDE

The boat reaches the other side, but in a real sense, the storm is not over. Matthew has moved from the King’s authoritative teaching in chapters 5–7 to his authoritative deeds in chapters 8–9. Jesus has already displayed his authority over sickness, uncleanness, and the natural world. Now he enters a place marked by isolation, death, violence, and spiritual oppression. Two demon-possessed men come from the tombs so fierce that no one can pass that way. Evil has not merely inconvenienced them. It has dehumanized them, separated them from community, and left them living among the dead. Yet Jesus deliberately enters this place of bondage. The kingdom of heaven is coming into territory claimed by chaos and evil.

At the end of the previous scene, the disciples asked, “What sort of man is this?” The demons answer by calling Jesus the “Son of God.” They recognize what the disciples are still learning: Jesus possesses divine authority. Their question, “Have you come here to torment us before the time?” reveals that they know their power is temporary and their final judgment is certain. The kingdom has not yet come in its fullness, but its King is already present.

The demons do not confront Jesus as equals. They beg him for permission to enter a nearby herd of pigs, and Jesus responds with a single word: “Go.” There is no struggle, ritual, or contest of strength. His word is enough. The demons enter the pigs, and destruction follows. The men, however, are released from the powers that enslaved them. Jesus uses his authority not to exploit or dehumanize the vulnerable but to bring freedom and restoration.

The herdsmen flee and report everything, especially what happened to the men. The whole city then comes to meet Jesus. Surprisingly, they do not celebrate the men’s freedom or invite Jesus to remain. They beg him to leave their region. Matthew does not explain why they respond this way. Whatever their motives, they would rather have Jesus leave than remain among them. Both the demons and the townspeople are confronted by Jesus’ authority, but neither welcomes his presence. The demons are forced to yield, while the townspeople ask him to go. Their response warns us that we can recognize Jesus’ power even as we resist the disruption of his presence.

The authority revealed here points forward to the cross and resurrection. Jesus ultimately brings heaven to earth by embracing the cross as his throne, breaking the powers of sin and death, and opening God’s new world through his resurrection. His authority is not cruel or dehumanizing. It is the authority of the King who enters places of bondage to bring freedom, healing, peace, and life. We may want Jesus close enough to solve our problems, but not close enough to disturb our control. This passage invites us to trust that his authority is good and to welcome his gracious rule into every part of our lives.

*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jesus has authority over the evil that dehumanizes and enslaves people, and he uses his authority to restore and set people free.
• Recognizing Jesus’ authority is not the same as trusting and welcoming his rule.
• The kingdom of heaven doesn’t come to a blank canvas; it enters territory claimed by chaos, bondage, and death.
• The disciples ask, “What sort of man is this?” The demons answer: he is the Son of God.
• One word is enough: “Go.” Jesus does not struggle to establish his authority.
• The demons beg Jesus to send them into the pigs; the townspeople beg Jesus to leave. The freeing authority of Jesus can disrupt the life we know.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS    

These are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. Remember: the text is the focus; the sermon is a commentary. Discuss and apply in the group.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (Read Matthew 8:28-34)

1. What stood out to you from the passage?
2. What details in verse 28 describe the men, their surroundings, and their effect on the community? What picture do these details give us of their condition?
3. The disciples ended the previous scene by asking, “What sort of man is this?” What is significant about the demons immediately identifying Jesus as the “Son of God”?
4. What does the demons’ question, “Have you come here to torment us before the time?” reveal about what they know concerning Jesus’ authority and their own future?
5. What stands out about the demons begging Jesus for permission and Jesus responding with the single command, “Go”? What does this interaction reveal about his authority over them?
6. What do the demons’ departure, the destruction of the pigs, and the release of the men help us understand about the destructive work of evil and the liberating authority of Jesus?
7. The herdsmen report “everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men,” yet the city begs Jesus to leave. What does their response reveal about the different ways people may react when Jesus’ work disrupts familiar life?
8. How does Jesus’ willingness to enter a place marked by uncleanness, isolation, and death shape our understanding of God’s heart toward people experiencing bondage or exclusion?
9. Matthew later shows Jesus defeating sin and death through his cross and resurrection before declaring that all authority belongs to him. How does the gospel help us trust that his authority is both powerful and good?
10. Where might you want Jesus close enough to help you but not close enough to disturb your control? How can this group pray for and encourage you as you receive his grace and welcome his rule in that area?

LIFE ON MISSION THIS WEEK

• Pray: Ask God to give you eyes to see the people others overlook or avoid, and courage to move toward them with the compassion of Jesus.
• Serve: Our local partner, David’s Table, needs 5 volunteers for their weekend camp on Saturday, September 12, in Brevard. Camp David is a weekend designed for connection, belonging, and joy for adults with disabilities and their families. Consider serving as a camp buddy or as part of their work crew!