Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Matthew

[Sarah Rose]

Hey- why did Jesus send the demons into the pigs? He killed the pigs for seemingly no other reason than to do what the demons were begging him to do, which makes no sense?

[jimwalton]

Why pigs?

1. It’s an indication of the totally pagan environment of the story. Pigs were forbidden to Jews, so they were a symbol of godlessness.

2. Pigs were unclean (ritually) animals, a suitable place for unclean spirits. They were a symbol of godlessness.

3. All of Jesus’s actions, and especially his miracles, have a deeper symbolic meaning. With Jesus, there’s always another layer. Jesus has been railing against the total inadequacy of religion and Judaism. The pigs may also symbolize (1) how corrupt Judaism has become, and (2) how inadequate Judaism is to bring salvation. It may be another statement, especially in Luke, or Jesus’s rejection of religion and Judaism. The pigs (symbolic of a religion gone bad) continue their destructive work in the world, but not in Jesus’s realm.

[Sarah Rose]

So interesting! So it wasn't to just be nice to Legion, which is what it kinda sounded like?

[jimwalton]

Right. It was not. Usually when Jesus cast out demons, they were just out. We don't know anything else about it or them. But in this particular case we are specifically told about the pigs, which means there was a symbolism behind that. Jesus was making a point other than that he had the power to cast out demons and other than that he could help people who were otherwise hopeless. As I said, with Jesus, there's ALWAYS more to it. We learn to look for those extras.

[Sarah Rose]

Every time I've heard the story in church I've always wondered about it. Last night it came up in my devotions so I thought I would ask. It makes a lot more sense!