Matthew 8:30-31 - Exposition

And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding. So (and, Revised Version) the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out (Matthew only), suffer us to go away ( send us away , Revised Version). This is distinguished from Matthew 8:29 as expressly the utterance of the evil spirits. In the true text there is no thought of permission, but only of command ( ἀπόστειλον ) . They recognize his mastery. Into the herd of swine; and not into the place of torment—"the abyss" of the parallel passage, Luke 8:31 . If he did not send them there, they might hope for a long respite, and one perhaps spent in various tenements. Further notice: