And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The demons' question, "Have you come here to torment us before the time?" reveals their dread not just of punishment, but of their time being cut short. They understood Jesus' presence as an invasion of their established domain, an unwelcome disruption of their reign of terror, even if it meant facing their ultimate judgment sooner than they anticipated.
And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just calmed a fierce storm at sea and now, upon landing in a new territory, encounters two men violently possessed by demons. The demons within the men, recognizing Jesus' divine authority, cry out in fear, demanding to know why He has come to torment them before their appointed time of judgment.
Demons, the ultimate enemies of God, tremble at Jesus' presence. Why does their cry reveal His supreme authority?
These demonic spirits, described as fierce and uncontrollable, recognize Jesus immediately. Their question, 'What have you to do with us?' isn't just a plea to be left alone; it's an acknowledgment of His power over them. They know He is the 'Son of God,' a title that signifies His divine nature and authority. Even though they are powerful beings dedicated to destruction, they are utterly subject to Christ's command. Their recognition of Him as the Son of God, even in terror, is a powerful testimony to who Jesus truly is.
Demons fear 'torment before the time.' What does this reveal about their understanding of judgment and God's plan?
The demons' plea, 'Have you come here to torment us before the time?', shows they understand there's a divinely appointed time for their final judgment and punishment. They aren't denying their guilt or the justice of punishment; they are asking for a delay. They know their ultimate fate is destruction, but they believe that time hasn't fully arrived yet. This reveals that even evil spirits are subject to God's sovereign plan and timing, and they fear His justice and the predetermined moment of their final condemnation.
Understand the original words
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hyios tou Theou · Greek Noun phrase
The Greek title for the promised Messiah and the second person of the Trinity. It signifies Jesus' divine nature, His unique relationship with the Father, and His authority over the spiritual realm.
basanos · Greek Noun
Severe suffering, distress, or judicial punishment. In the context of the spiritual realm, it refers to the ultimate judgment and destruction that evil beings know awaits them because of Christ's victory.
kairos · Greek Noun
Refers to the final day of judgment (eschaton) when God will execute final justice upon the world and spiritual powers, a timeline known to demonic entities.
This encounter highlights the clash between Jesus' divine authority and the realm of demonic power, revealing the demons' awareness of a future judgment they dread.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus Christ
The birth of Jesus marks the beginning of His public ministry and the unfolding of God's plan for salvation, setting the stage for encounters like this one.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins teaching, healing, and casting out demons, demonstrating His authority over spiritual forces and revealing the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Crosses the Sea of Galilee
Jesus deliberately travels to the region of the Gergesenes (or Gadarenes), an area primarily inhabited by Gentiles, a significant move beyond his typical Jewish audiences.
c. AD 28
Healing of the Two Demoniacs
Jesus encounters and powerfully liberates two men intensely oppressed by demonic spirits, an event recorded across all three Synoptic Gospels.
c. AD 28
Demons Sent into Swine Herd
Jesus permits the expelled demons to enter a nearby herd of swine, leading to the tragic loss of the entire herd and a significant reaction from the local population.
c. AD 28
Jesus Departs the Region
The fearful inhabitants of Gergesa/Gadara request Jesus to leave their territory, showing a rejection of His power and presence despite the evident miracle.
This verse uses a similar expression, 'What have I to do with my coming?' when a king questions Samuel's intentions, highlighting a common ancient idiom for expressing a desire to avoid involvement or confrontation.
Luke 8:31The demons in this parallel account entreat Jesus not to 'command them to depart into the abyss,' directly echoing their fear of premature torment and judgment expressed in Matthew 8:29.
2 Peter 2:4This passage speaks of God casting angels who sinned into 'Tartarus' and keeping them in 'chains of gloom to be kept until the judgment,' directly correlating with the demons' fear of punishment before the appointed time.
Jude 1:6Similar to Matthew 8:29, this verse mentions angels who 'did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling' and are now 'kept eternally in the dark under judgment for the great day,' underscoring the concept of fallen spirits awaiting a final judgment.
Revelation 20:10This verse describes the devil being 'thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur,' which is the eternal torment the demons in Matthew 8 fear is being prematurely inflicted upon them by Jesus.
calvinMatthew 8:28-34: "And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way."
- And when he had come to the opposite bank, [542] into the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs, who had come from among the tombs, met him: and they were fierce beyond measure, so that no man could pass along that road. 29. And, lo, they cried out, saying, What have we to d…
barnesMatthew 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?"
What have we to do with thee? - This might have been translated with great propriety, What hast thou to do with us? The meaning is "Why dost thou trouble or disturb us?" See 2 Samuel 16:10 ; 2 Kings 9:18 ; Ezra 4:3 . Son of God - The title, "Son of God," is often given to Christ. People are sometimes called sons, or children of God, to de…
The demons' question, "Have you come here to torment us before the time?" reveals their dread not just of punishment, but of their time being cut short. They understood Jesus' presence as an invasion of their established domain, an unwelcome disruption of their reign of terror, even if it meant facing their ultimate judgment sooner than they anticipated.
Jesus has just calmed a fierce storm at sea and now, upon landing in a new territory, encounters two men violently possessed by demons. The demons within the men, recognizing Jesus' divine authority, cry out in fear, demanding to know why He has come to torment them before their appointed time of judgment.
Jesus has just calmed a fierce storm at sea and now, upon landing in a new territory, encounters two men violently possessed by demons. The demons within the men, recognizing Jesus' divine authority, cry out in fear, demanding to know why He has come to torment them before their appointed time of judgment.
"And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”" — The demons' question, "Have you come here to torment us before the time?" reveals their dread not just of punishment, but of their time being cut short. They understood Jesus' presence as an invasion…
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Last reviewed October 2026