And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Their urgent plea for Jesus to leave wasn't just about fear of further damage to their property; it was a stark choice to reject the divine presence and its blessings in favor of their material wealth. The intensity of their request reveals how deeply they prioritized their possessions, even their livelihood represented by the swine, over the profound healing and salvation Jesus offered.
And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus powerfully delivered two men from demonic possession, the people of the surrounding city came out to see what had happened. However, instead of welcoming Jesus, the news of their destroyed livelihood—the herd of pigs—made them fearful and they begged Him to leave their region.
Jesus performed an incredible miracle, freeing two men from demonic possession. Yet, the townspeople's reaction was not awe, but a plea for Him to leave. What does this tell us about their hearts?
The people of the Gerasene region were more concerned about their financial loss than the profound spiritual deliverance that had just occurred.
The Cost of the Miracle
The destruction of the herd of pigs represented a significant economic blow to the local community. These weren't just animals; they were property and a source of income.
A Twisted Priority
Instead of recognizing Jesus as a healer and deliverer, they saw Him as a threat to their material well-being. Their fear was not of God's power, but of losing their livelihood. This starkly reveals how deeply avarice can grip the human heart, making people prefer their possessions over the presence of the Savior.
The World's Valuation
This episode highlights a timeless human tendency: to prioritize earthly gains and comfort over spiritual realities. The Gadarenes chose their property over the possibility of experiencing God's presence and grace.
The people weren't just disappointed by the loss of their pigs; they were seized with 'great fear.' Why would such a display of divine power lead to such a reaction?
The people's response was driven by a profound fear, not of demons, but of the divine power they witnessed in Jesus. This fear led them to reject Him.
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Awe and Terror
When the people saw the man, now clothed and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus' feet, they saw undeniable proof of Jesus' power. However, this power also terrified them. It was a disruptive force that challenged their status quo and their understanding of the world.
Misinterpreting God's Intentions
Instead of seeing Jesus as a bringer of good, they viewed Him as a potential source of further disaster. Their fear stemmed from a misunderstanding of God's character and purpose. They associated His power with judgment and destruction, rather than with liberation and restoration.
Rejecting the Healer
This fear led them to actively ask Jesus to leave. They preferred their familiar world, even with its spiritual brokenness, to the unsettling presence of divine intervention. This rejection shows how fear can blind people to the blessings God offers.
Understand the original words
Iesoun · Greek Proper Noun
The incarnate Son of God, the Messiah and Savior who possesses divine authority over the physical and spiritual realms, including nature, sickness, and the demonic world.
horion · Greek Noun
A geographical or political territory; in the New Testament, it often refers to a district or region, sometimes carrying the connotation of a place where a particular influence or mindset prevails.
The people of Gadara, more concerned about their economic loss (the pigs) than the spiritual deliverance of their neighbors, rejected Jesus' presence, highlighting how material concerns can blind people to divine opportunities.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus conducted his public ministry in the region of Galilee, performing numerous miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Heals the Demoniacs
Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men near the Sea of Galilee, and after a significant exorcism resulting in the death of a herd of pigs, the local population became fearful.
c. AD 28-30
The Gadarenes' Fear and Request
The inhabitants of the city, witnessing the destruction of their property and Jesus' power, begged him to leave their region due to fear and their preference for material possessions over spiritual matters.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus Departs Gadara
Jesus complied with the request and left the region, sailing back across the Sea of Galilee to Galilee.
c. AD 30-33
Continued Ministry and Opposition
Jesus continued his ministry, facing increasing opposition from religious and political authorities in Judea.
Peter's reaction to encountering Jesus' power mirrors the fear and awe of the Gadarenes, but Peter's response is one of humble reverence and recognition of his sinfulness, contrasting with the Gadarenes' fear that led them to reject Jesus.
John 6:15Just as the crowd in Matthew 8:34 wanted Jesus to leave, the people in John 6:15, after Jesus fed them, wanted to make Him king by force, revealing a common human tendency to react with fear or political ambition rather than true discipleship when faced with divine power.
Acts 16:39This passage shows the jailer asking Paul and Silas to leave, similar to the Gadarenes, but it's followed by Paul and Silas staying, demonstrating that not all requests for Jesus to depart are granted, especially when the divine purpose involves further ministry or a change of heart.
Revelation 6:16-17The fear expressed by the people in Matthew 8:34 who begged Jesus to leave finds a parallel in the terror of the unrighteous in Revelation, who would rather hide from God than face His judgment, highlighting a deep-seated human aversion to divine presence when not aligned with His will.
barnesMatthew 8:34: "And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."
The whole city came out - The people of the city probably came with a view of arresting him for the injury done to the property; but, seeing him, and being awed by his presence, they only besought him to leave them. Out of their coasts - Out of their country. This shows: 1. That the design of Satan is to prejudice people against the Saviour, and…
clarkeMatthew 8:34: "And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."
The whole city came out - Probably with the intention to destroy Jesus for having destroyed their swine; but, having seen him, they were awed by his presence; and only besought him to depart from their borders. Many rather chose to lose Jesus Christ than those temporal goods by which they gratify their passions at the expense of their souls. They…
Their urgent plea for Jesus to leave wasn't just about fear of further damage to their property; it was a stark choice to reject the divine presence and its blessings in favor of their material wealth. The intensity of their request reveals how deeply they prioritized their possessions, even their livelihood represented by the swine, over the profound healing and salvation Jesus offered.
After Jesus powerfully delivered two men from demonic possession, the people of the surrounding city came out to see what had happened. However, instead of welcoming Jesus, the news of their destroyed livelihood—the herd of pigs—made them fearful and they begged Him to leave their region.
After Jesus powerfully delivered two men from demonic possession, the people of the surrounding city came out to see what had happened. However, instead of welcoming Jesus, the news of their destroyed livelihood—the herd of pigs—made them fearful and they begged Him to leave their region.
"And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region." — Their urgent plea for Jesus to leave wasn't just about fear of further damage to their property; it was a stark choice to reject the divine presence and its blessings in favor of their material wealt…
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Last reviewed October 2026