Matthew 8:31The demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs."
The setting
Eastern shore of Sea of Galilee, modern-day Jordan/Syria. Jesus has just crossed the lake and encountered a man possessed by a legion of demons...
The emotion here: terrified desperation knowing their defeat is certain
The original word
parakaléō (παρεκάλεσαν) — to beg earnestly, the same word used for the Holy Spirit as 'Comforter'
Why it matters
Pigs were unclean to Jews but valuable to Gentiles - this was Gentile territory
Read with care
What most readers miss in Matthew 8:31
Even demons must ASK PERMISSION from Jesus - they cannot act without His consent
Common misconceptionPeople think demons have independent power, but this shows they're completely subject to Jesus' authority - they can't even choose where to go next.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Matthew 8:31
Bible Genome reading
Matthew 8:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Matthew 8:31 comes from the book of Matthew, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to demons. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include spiritual warfare, desperation. Notable phrases: demons begged; cast us out; permit us to go.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Matthew 8:31 mean to you, today?
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