The story of Jesus allowing demons to enter a herd of pigs is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Here is the account from Luke 8:26-39 (ESV):
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
This intriguing episode raises the question – why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the herd of pigs, leading to the death of the animals? Here are some potential reasons that have been suggested:
1. To show Jesus’ power and authority over the demons
By permitting the demons to enter the pigs, Jesus demonstrated His absolute power and authority over the demonic realm. The demons had to beg and plead with Jesus to avoid being cast into the abyss (Luke 8:31). They could only enter the pigs once Jesus allowed them to do so. This encounter displayed that Jesus was more powerful than a host of demons that had completely possessed a man.
2. To reveal the destructive intentions of the demons
By immediately rushing the pigs off the cliff to drown, the demons displayed their malevolent intentions. They were willing to destroy the livelihood of the pig herders simply to create chaos and damage. Jesus allowed this to happen to expose the true evil and destructive goals of demonic powers.
3. To release the man from long-term demonic control
The account reveals the man had been tormented by demons for a long time (Luke 8:27, 29). By allowing the demons to enter the pigs, Jesus freed the man from this long-term oppression and restored him to wholeness. Though the pigs were lost, the freedom of a man was eternally gained.
4. To activate faith in the region
Though initially the people were afraid and asked Jesus to leave, the delivered man then spread the news of what Jesus had done far and wide (Luke 8:39). This led many people to marvel and activated faith in the region. The cost of the pigs paved the way for greater blessings for many more people.
5. To prevent further harm to the man
By immediately entering the pigs, the demons were prevented from returning to the man or perhaps entering into other people. Jesus may have allowed this to protect the man and region from any further harm the demons could have caused if they remained in the area.
6. To illustrate how unclean spirits prefer unclean vessels
Pigs were considered unclean animals to Jews. The fact that the demons begged to enter the swine may demonstrate that unclean spirits prefer vessels that are also unclean and compromised. Just as the man’s body had become a vessel for demons, the pigs became the same.
7. A lesson for people to avoid compromise
Some propose the episode served as a lesson for people to avoid compromise and things that are unclean. Just as the swine rushed to destruction, those who compromise with sin or demonic influence will suffer loss and ruin. The fate of the pigs served as a vivid object lesson.
8. To send a warning about meddling with the demonic
This dramatic episode demonstrated the dangers ofInteraction with demonic powers for those who are unprepared or outside of divine protection. The destruction of the pigs showed the peril of blithely meddling with the demonic without thought of the consequences.
9. A practical resolution to the situation
On a practical level, once the demons had left the man they had to go somewhere. Either back to the abyss or into the pigs. There were no other groups of people or animals around according to the account. So the pigs may have been the only viable option.
10. To prefigure the Atonement of Christ
Augustine saw the death of the swine as prefiguring the death of Christ as a sacrificial atonement offering. Just as the pigs died through no fault of their own, so too Jesus died innocently to carry away the sins of humanity.
While we do not know definitively why Jesus chose this particular course of action, we do know that Jesus is perfectly loving, wise and just. He would not have permitted the demise of the swine without good purpose. The deliverance of the demoniac was central, but Jesus likely had multiple reasons for allowing the demons’ entry into the pigs that day.
Whatever his reasons, the outcome was liberation for the man, faith in the community, and glory for God. Even in its strangeness, this passage reveals Jesus’ complete authority over the demonic realm and his power to transform lives.
11. To show compassion on the demons
Though an unconventional view, some see Jesus’ allowing the demons to enter the pigs as actually an act of mercy towards the demons. Vincent Cheung writes, “It seems that Jesus allowed the demons to possess the swine out of compassion for the demons…He did not predestine them to be demons, but now that they have fallen and become what they are, he shows compassion even on the devils.” Even in the act of delivering the man, Jesus had care not just for humanity but for all creation, including fallen angels.
12. To protect the demons’ free will
Similarly, theologian Origen argued Jesus allowed the demons access to the swine because their free will had to be respected. Jesus could not force the demons directly into the abyss against their will without violating their ability to choose. So he influenced them towards pigs through permission rather than force as a way to respect their current will while steering them toward self-destruction.13. A symbolic anticipation of the Last Judgment
Ambrose viewed Jesus’ allowing demons into the swine as symbolic of the Last Judgment. The abyss awaiting the demons represented punishment. The lake the pigs drown in represented eternal destruction. And the pigs represented those who will face eternal consequences for their sins when Jesus returns to judge the world.
14. To limit collateral damage
Since the demons had begged not to be sent to the abyss, they likely would have tried to inhabit human bodies again if pigs were unavailable. Using the swine localized the damage to animals rather than allowing the demoniac or others to be repossessed. This minimized collateral human harm once the disciples failed to cast the demons out.
15. To illustrate spiritual warfare dynamics
When Jesus asked for a name, the demons replied “Legion” to indicate there were many (Mark 5:9,15). Showing the pigs scatter wildly downward also visually illustrated the scattered-yet-destructive nature of demonic powers set loose and allowed free reign.
16. To reinforce Jesus’ mission to Israel
Since Jesus said he was initially only sent to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24), allowing demons into unclean pigs reinforced this exclusive mission to Israel by illustrating unclean spirits departing Israel for unclean animals outside Israelite territory.
17. Contrast between the Savior and the demons
Chrysostom notes the Savior’s care for the man is contrasted with the demons’ destructive willingness to drive the pigs to drown. This highlights Jesus’ compassion against the demons’ malicious nature by their different treatment of creatures under their influence.
In summary, while the passage presents some difficulties, there are many potential reasons why Jesus allowed the demons to enter the herd of pigs. By analyzing the event in context, we can gain insight into Jesus’ compassionate deliverance of the tormented man along with His supreme authority over the demons.