Matthew 8:29

‘And behold, they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with you, you Son of God? Are you come here to torment us before the time?” '

And on seeing Jesus they had no alternative but to react with horror. Men might not know that He was One who was close to God, but they were conscious of it immediately. They recognised the power of His Kingly Rule and His very holiness tormented them because of the demons within them. Notice how they and the demons are seen as one and yet many. And they called out to Him as the ‘Son of God'. Yet even they probably did not realise quite how right they were. For in Mark's account they tried to outface Jesus, something that they would not have done had they been aware of the full truth. (Calling themselves ‘a legion' was probably with the hope of frightening Jesus off, as they had no doubt frightened off exorcisers before Him). Matthew gives us the Jewish title ‘Son of God', Mark the title as it would be used among Gentiles, ‘Son of the Most High God' (compare Genesis 24:19; Genesis 24:22; Daniel 3:26).

‘And behold.' The phrase brings out the unexpectedness of what follows. It was not the normal way in which they approached people.

‘What have you and we in common, you Son of God?' Suddenly recognising what they were unexpectedly up against, they tried to go into retreat and withdraw. This was not what they had wanted at all. They recognised a heavenly quality about the One Whom they were addressing, which they did not like. They now recognised that here was no ordinary man that they could frighten off at will. Here was One from Heaven, something that they had not expected that they would have to encounter for a long time to come.

Their purpose in questioning Jesus may also have been in order to try to involve Him with themselves. By such questions their hope may have been that their adversary would become involved with them, thus lessening His ability to act against them. Those who have had experience of dealing in such matters in a sensible way know that it is dangerous to be drawn in by the questions of evil spirits spoken through the mouths of their victims, often in awesome voices, or to be drawn into a two way relationship with them. Rather the questioning must be kept under the control of the exorciser, so that he can demonstrate God's authority over them (compare Jude 1:9). It was with the same aim of avoiding direct involvement that Jesus never touched a demon possessed person, but dealt with them by a word of command. It is a reminder to us not to get involved in the occult or in spiritism in any way. By doing so we too could become possessed.

Their questioning was illuminating. It revealed that, like men, they recognised that they had a limited time span before the time came for their judgment. ‘Are you come here to torment us before the time?' This revealed that they were aware of what fate lay in store for them, the awful and tormenting judgment of God, but that they were not anticipating it at that time (compare 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; and Jewish apocalyptic literature). They knew that that final judgment awaited the future and they had thought that they had at least ‘a little time' before that. It also revealed that this encounter had shaken them. Why had this Heavenly One come to earth (‘here') out of His normal sphere? Being confident that they still had quite some time before God stepped in to judge them, it was outside their reckoning to have to suddenly face up to the Son of God. It was not what they had been given to expect at all.

So while Matthew does not give us the same details as are found in Mark, he does tell us enough to recognise something of what Jesus was dealing with. On the whole men think that spiritually speaking they are alone on this planet, just as Adam and Eve had thought that they were alone in the Garden. But Scripture reveals that often unknown to us events are taking place which are outside our knowledge. Forces are at work of which we know little, and it is only occasionally that we are made cognisant of them (Genesis 3; Genesis 6:1; Job 1-2; 2 Kings 6:17; Daniel 3:25; Daniel 10:1; Zechariah 3; 1 Corinthians 11:10; Ephesians 6:10; and especially in Revelation). Evil spirits cannot directly interfere with us unless we open ourselves to them through indulging in the occult or the worship of idols. And in Jesus Christ, and especially under the protection of His death on our behalf, we can find full protection against them. But the arrival of Jesus on earth had thrown them into confusion, for He interfered in their world as none other did. They recognised His authority as God's beloved Son (Matthew 1:17). This was something new to them and they did not know how to deal with it. They did not know what God was now planning to do. Suddenly they knew that they could remain undetected no longer.

Indeed Satan later thought that if he could only get men to crucify Jesus it might solve the problem (Luke 22:3; John 13:2). He was unaware that he was unsuspectingly carrying forward God's plan to his own destruction. For it was at the cross that he would suffer the crucial defeat that would guarantee his final end (Colossians 2:15). From then on things have gone backward for him and he is now on the retreat although still powerful, especially in deceiving mankind. But he will fight on to the end. And it is only through God's truth, and God's word, and through prayer that we can overcome him (Ephesians 6:10). Meanwhile the world unconsciously sleeps in his arms (1 John 5:19), and by him many so-called ‘Christians' are led off into spurious ideas and activities (2 Corinthians 2:11; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2Co 11:14; 1 Timothy 4:1; etc).