Are Swines Good?

[Nyams]

I am wondering why Jesus sent the demons to swines instead of destroying them all. Are swines unholy and does this mean that up-to-date swines possess demons?

Matthew 8:30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31 The demons begged him, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ 32 And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water.

 

[HEisGoodalways]

The story of Jesus casting the legion of demons into a herd of pigs is found in Matthew 8:30-37; Mark 5:1-20; and Luke 8:27-38. Only Matthew mentions the more prominent of the two demoniacs involved. Demoniacs were persons whose minds came under the control of an evil spirit or spirits. That such phenomena were especially prominent during the days of Christ’s earthly ministry is consistent with Satan’s efforts to counteract God’s program. It also allows us to witness the spiritual warfare in which our Savior was constantly engaged. Demons knew exactly who Jesus was—"Son of God"—and were aware of their ultimate doom (Matthew 8:28-29).

As Jesus was traveling in the hilly region east of the Jordan River, the path of this man who was controlled by demons and lived among the tombs crossed that of Jesus. Because of the physical strength the demons gave the man, he was able to break and throw off the chains with which people tried to bind him. When the demons begged Jesus to let them go into a herd of pigs, He gave them permission. They entered the pigs, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. Jesus thereby made known His authority and thwarted whatever evil purpose the demons had.

Why the demons begged to be allowed to enter the swine is unclear from the account. It could be because they didn’t want to leave the area where they had been successful in doing their mischief among the people. Perhaps they were drawn to the unclean animals because of their own filthiness. The demons may have made this strange request because it was their last chance to avoid confinement in the Abyss, the place of confinement to which evil spirits are doomed (Revelation 9:1-6). Whatever their reasoning, it is clear from the account that demons had little power of their own and were unable to do anything without Jesus’ permission. As Christians, we can take comfort in the knowledge that the forces of the enemy of our souls are under the complete control of God and can only act in ways He allows.

The Bible doesn’t explain to us Jesus’ reasoning, but displaying His sovereign power over demons could be one reason why Jesus sent them into the pigs. If the pigs’ owners were Jews, Jesus could have been rebuking them for violating Mosaic law which forbids Jews from eating or keeping unclean animals such as swine (Leviticus 11:7). If the swineherds were Gentiles, perhaps Jesus was using this miraculous event to show them the malice of evil spirits under whose influence they lived, as well as displaying His own power and authority over creation. In any case, the owners were so terrified to be in the presence of such spiritual power that they made no demand for restitution for the loss of their property and begged Jesus to leave the region. The people were awe-struck but unrepentant—they wanted no more of Jesus Christ. This shows the hardness of their hearts and their desire to remain in sin. The healed demoniac, on the other hand, demonstrated the true faith and repentance of a changed heart and begged to be allowed to follow Jesus. Perhaps the unmistakable difference between the saved and the unsaved was an object lesson for the disciples and all who witnessed the event. Jesus sent the healed man away, giving him a commission that he joyfully obeyed: "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you" (Mark 5:17-20).

 

[tm2cruz]

I am wondering why Jesus sent the demons to swines instead of destroying them all. Are swines unholy and does this mean that up-to-date swines possess demons?

Hi there,

actually that's not the reason why the swines are unholy or possessed demons based on the story in Matthew, Mark and Luke. (HEisGoodalways)http://www.christianforums.com/users/220764/answered the reason in the story. But if it is about the issue of eating pigs/swines, God said those are unclean animals, but He didn't say it is a sin if you eat it. Not all the word "unclean" in the bible means "sin". Because God knows all these animals and because of His love for us, He told us in advance that these animals are not good for our body if we eat it. We will suffer health problems if we eat this unclean animals, but that doesn't mean you sinned against God by eating those animals.

 

[KM Richards]

We will suffer health problems if we eat this unclean animals, but that doesn't mean you sinned against God by eating those animals

If we do something that damages the Temple of the
Holy Ghost...why shouldn't we repent and quit doing it?

Otherwise, this is saying it's OK to go ahead and damage
our body and no need to concern thy self with it because
it's OK with God if you damage your body...

After God told us that our bodies should be offered unto
Him as a living sacrifice...it's OK to put stuff in it that can
and will cause damage???

I don't get this line of thinking...

 

[tm2cruz]

If we do something that damages the Temple of the
Holy Ghost...why shouldn't we repent and quit doing it?

Otherwise, this is saying it's OK to go ahead and damage
our body and no need to concern thy self with it because
it's OK with God if you damage your body...

After God told us that our bodies should be offered unto
Him as a living sacrifice...it's OK to put stuff in it that can
and will cause damage???

I don't get this line of thinking...

If you eat sea shells, are you going to hell?

 

[bugkiller]

Hi there,

actually that's not the reason why the swines are unholy or possessed demons based on the story in Matthew, Mark and Luke. (HEisGoodalways)answered the reason in the story. But if it is about the issue of eating pigs/swines, God said those are unclean animals, but He didn't say it is a sin if you eat it. Not all the word "unclean" in the bible means "sin". Because God knows all these animals and because of His love for us, He told us in advance that these animals are not good for our body if we eat it. We will suffer health problems if we eat this unclean animals, but that doesn't mean you sinned against God by eating those animals.

God gave every living thing to Noah for food. If you read the Levitical law given to Israel and no one else you will find the words for you with those commands or laws about food. This makes it specific to Israel and has nothing to do with health. This is part of God making Israel a picular people seperating them from the rest of the world (mankind) as unique.

bugkiller

 

[tm2cruz]

God gave every living thing to Noah for food. If you read the Levitical law given to Israel and no one else you will find the words for you with those commands or laws about food. This makes it specific to Israel and has nothing to do with health. This is part of God making Israel a picular people seperating them from the rest of the world (mankind) as unique.

bugkiller

I disagree with that because if that's for Israel only, we can't include that in our own Bible. God put those in the Bible on purpose. If you want you can make a study on your own about health benefits of those God declared clean and unclean. There's a reason why He declared it.

 

[visionary]

Yeshua allowed the demons to possess the swine. It was the demons that chose the swine and also drove the swine off the cliff. Why did the demons choose the swine?

 

[tm2cruz]

Yeshua allowed the demons to possess the swine. It was the demons that chose the swine and also drove the swine off the cliff. Why did the demons choose the swine?

In my view, they just don't want to leave the place (Mark 5:10) and they were afraid to be tormented.
Do you have another view about this one?

 

[visionary]

It could be for political reasons... Yeshua's popularity vote went way down after that incident in that area.

 

[KingZzub]

God told Peter don't call unclean what He has made clean. Mmm, pork chops...

 

[tm2cruz]

God told Peter don't call unclean what He has made clean. Mmm, pork chops...

God was referring to the gentiles, not the foods literally...

 

[KingZzub]

I think it was a double reference.

Not only that, Timothy says the source of doctrines that causes us not to eat certain foods is demons.

 

[tm2cruz]

I think it was a double reference.

Not only that, Timothy says the source of doctrines that causes us not to eat certain foods is demons.

About the Peter's vision, I believe it's not. The meaning is in the context.

But the danger is using scriptures that seemingly "proves" that God allowed us to eat all foods and see our bodies getting destroyed. I believe that's how Satan do it, through deception. Using scriptures to show it's ok, just like Matthew 4.

remember, New Testament books cannot really stand by itself without the Old Testament. In Paul's day, they don't have any New Testament books, especially Jesus. All they quote is from "Old Testament" verses.

About the letter of Timothy (not me), read the context and you'll notice what Paul was really pointing out. Verse 3... "forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.". I dunno if you noticed, "forbidding to marry" and he includes "commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received..." so that emphasizes they ordered not to eat the foods God declared clean in Old Testament and it confirms by mentioning "...those who believe and know the truth..." and in verse 5 "for it is sanctified by the word of God..." Word of God, scriptures includes Old Testaments.

Like I mentioned before, God still declared the unclean foods unclean, but it doesn't mean if you eat it you're sinning or you're going to hell. Not all unclean in the Bible means sin and not all meat in the New Testament means all meat, clean and unclean. We have to understand the background of some passages and books and not to take everything literal. God loves us that's why He declared it in advance that it's not going to be good for our body but our misinterpretation of verses caused us to destroy our own bodies... Following food laws doesn't make you more saved or more righteous or more Godly but it just understanding that God knows it's not good for our body so we follow it and watch our own bodies get healthier without any help of medicines or suffering from many diseases.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me but I believe this is the truth.

 

[CindyisHis]

About the Peter's vision, I believe it's not. The meaning is in the context.

But the danger is using scriptures that seemingly "proves" that God allowed us to eat all foods and see our bodies getting destroyed. I believe that's how Satan do it, through deception. Using scriptures to show it's ok, just like Matthew 4.

remember, New Testament books cannot really stand by itself without the Old Testament. In Paul's day, they don't have any New Testament books, especially Jesus. All they quote is from "Old Testament" verses.

About the letter of Timothy (not me), read the context and you'll notice what Paul was really pointing out. Verse 3... "forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.". I dunno if you noticed, "forbidding to marry" and he includes "commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received..." so that emphasizes they ordered not to eat the foods God declared clean in Old Testament and it confirms by mentioning "...those who believe and know the truth..." and in verse 5 "for it is sanctified by the word of God..." Word of God, scriptures includes Old Testaments.

Like I mentioned before, God still declared the unclean foods unclean, but it doesn't mean if you eat it you're sinning or you're going to hell. Not all unclean in the Bible means sin and not all meat in the New Testament means all meat, clean and unclean. We have to understand the background of some passages and books and not to take everything literal. God loves us that's why He declared it in advance that it's not going to be good for our body but our misinterpretation of verses caused us to destroy our own bodies... Following food laws doesn't make you more saved or more righteous or more Godly but it just understanding that God knows it's not good for our body so we follow it and watch our own bodies get healthier without any help of medicines or suffering from many diseases.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me but I believe this is the truth.

I agree with you fully on this one. I'm absolutely convinced of this, and have been for a number of years.

You did an excellent job of explaining it all throughout the thread.

 

[KingZzub]

Well, I won't condemn you or try to push it anymore. Romans 14.1 won't let me!

Blessings all,
|ZZ|

 

[tm2cruz]

Well, I won't condemn you or try to push it anymore. Romans 14.1 won't let me!

Blessings all,
|ZZ|

Yeah sorry... I'm also familiar with Romans 14. Same application how to understand 1 Timothy... The hint there is in verse 2...

Have a great day

 

[CindyisHis]

Well, I won't condemn you or try to push it anymore. Romans 14.1 won't let me!

Blessings all,
|ZZ|

Amen! I am generally very quiet on this topic unless one asks so as not offend anyone. If it's discussed at all it should be handled delicately because love for the brethren far outweighs bantering around whether we should or should not eat it. Let each man ask the LORD and eat, or not eat, in faith. Do all as unto the LORD.