In Matthew 8 the demons wanted Jesus to drive them into pigs. Why?

[Guest1]

Why did the evil spirits want to be put into the swine? Is there any spiritual meaning behind this story commented by Church fathers or anything?

Matthew 8:28-33
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
28 And when he was come on the other side of the water, into the country of the Gerasens, there met him two that were possessed with devils, coming out of the sepulchres, exceeding fierce, so that none could pass by that way.

29 And behold they cried out, saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was, not far from them, an herd of many swine feeding.

31 And the devils besought him, saying: If thou cast us out hence, send us into the herd of swine.

32 And he said to them: Go. But they going out went into the swine, and behold the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea: and they perished in the waters.

33 And they that kept them fled: and coming into the city, told every thing, and concerning them that had been possessed by the devils.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

Fr. Hezekias & Fr. Sebastian Carnazzo (iirc, he used to post on CAF) explain it. Here you go:

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - God With Us

 

[Vico]

Why did the evil spirits want to be put into the swine? Is there any spiritual meaning behind this story commented by Church fathers or anything?
…

One opinion is so that “the inhabitants of that country might be ill affected towards our Saviour, and refuse to receive him.” Also note in the commentary why Jesus would allow that anyway.

Haydock Commentary

Ver. 31. “Send us into the herd of swine.”
According to S. Luke, they begged of him two things; the first, that they might not be sent into hell, there to be tormented with more grievous torments, as they will be at the end of the world; the second, that they might be permitted to go into the herd of swine, that these being destroyed, the inhabitants of that country might be ill affected towards our Saviour, and refuse to receive him. The event seems to confirm this opinion. M.

Ver. 32. Many reasons might be brought why our Saviour suffered the devils to enter into the swine:
1. To shew that the devils had no power even over swine without his permission.
2. That such as were freed from their power, might acknowledge the greatness of the favour done them, by seeing from how great a multitude they were liberated.
3. To punish those Jewish citizens, who fed upon swine’s flesh contrary to their law. And,
4. To shew how willingly the devils dwell in the hearts of those who are addicted to the voluptuous and carnal life, aptly designated by the swine. M.
— S. Chrysostom says that our Saviour permitted the devils to enter the swine, not for their own sakes, but for our instruction.
1. That we might know how very desirous the enemy of our salvation is to bring upon us the greatest evils.
2. That the devil has not any power, even over swine, without the permission of God. And,
3. That these cruel fiends would, if the Almighty allowed them, inflict still more grievous torments on their unhappy slaves.
Hom. xxix. Jesus Christ here confutes the Sadducean doctrine, which denies the existence of spirits, good or bad. A.

 

[bsy]

What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Because swines were considered unclean. The demons must have thought that they would escape judgment (before the appointed time) by possessing the unclean. They thought Jesus would leave them be…and Jesus did let them enter the swines…

But when they possessed the swines, the herd became mad, and violently rushed to the steep bank and was drowned.

so by their own estimation, they were not able to escape judgment after all.

 

[brown_bear]

The question is not “why does Jesus consent?” but “why do the demons want?”.

In my opinion, demons know that going back to hell is bad, and they want to avoid it.

Moreover, they know they are many, and they see that there are many pigs.

Of course, they can’t know that the pigs would take it badly.

 

[graciew]

Swine were what the people depended on to eat and live…they were probably gentiles.And demons picked to harm the people anyway through their swine. And killed them jumping down the cliff.Demons are demons…
And the people , the swineherd who had Jesus the Good Shepherd there right in front, fled…only to return to ask Him to leave the district.
How hard it is to recognize Him ,with all our attachments that we choose the status quo.
I ve usually kind of seen it that way…I don’t know…

 

[Hodos]

Because Bacon is amazing.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

He didn’t eat bacon.

 

[Gorgias]

The question is not “why does Jesus consent?” but “why do the demons want?”.

Maybe they knew that the people would be well-disposed to an exorcist, but not to a guy who just ruined their pork-based economy?