Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 5

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him, And all men did marvel.

This Famous piece of History hath the testimony of three Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We meeting with it in Matthew, did not only largely open what passages Matthew hath about it, but what both Mark and Luke have. See the Notes on Matth. 8.28, 29, 30. &c. We shall only annex here some short notes. Interpreters judge the country of the Gergasenes, and of the Gaderenes mentioned here to have been the same, sometimes receiving the denomination from one City, sometimes from another in it. Why the Devils are called Vnclean Spirits, in Opposition to the Holy Spirit, &c. We have formerly shewed, as also Why, they delight to be about Tombs, we have also shewed his Power, which (by Gods permission) he excerciseth upon Men, some he possesseth, and acteth the part of the Soul in them, (especially as to the locomotive faculty) these are properly called Demoniacks, [non-Latin text not transcribed], others he afflicteth more as a Forreign agent, offering violence to them. Others he more secretly influenceth, by Impressions, and Suggestions, thus he still ordinarily worketh in the Children of disobedience, Eph. 2.2. nor are the People of God free from this impetus, tho being succoured by Christ, they are not so ordinarily overcome. Of the mighty Power of the Evil Angels to break Chains and Fetters, we need not doubt, considering that tho fallen from their first righteousness, they yet have their natural Power as Spirits. I adjure thee by God, is no more then, I solemnly intreat thee, it hath not the force of, Swear unto me by God, (as some would have it.) Matthew mentioneth two of these Demoniaks, Mark and Luke but one; there were doubtless two, but probably one of them was not so raging as the others and therefore less taken notice of. Some think one of these Men, was an Heathen, the other a Iew. Because the term Legion which the Demoniack gives himself is an Heathen term, signifying a Squadron of Soldiers, about six thousand or more, as some reckon. 2. Christ was now in a Country full of Heathens. 3. The Woman of whose cure we next read was a Syrophenician. It is observable that a multitude of evil Spirits, is called by the name of the Devil; because tho considered as individual Spirits they are many, yet in their Malice and mischievous designs against mankind, they are as one. O that the People of God were as well united in designs for his Glory! Some Interpreters start a Question here, not very easie to be resolved, viz. What made the Devils so desirous that Christ would not send them out of the Country. Their Answer is not improbable. That it was a Paganish ignorant Sottish place, Where usually the Devil hath the best Markets, and the greatest Rule. For as it is said of Christ, that he could not do much in some places, where he came because of their unbelief: So neither can the Devil do much in some places, because of the Faith of the Gospel received by them. Hence it is observable, That as the Devil is not able to play his Game in any place amongst Christians, as he doth this Day amongst Heathens: So he hath much less Power at this day in places, where the Word of God is more generally known, and more faithfully Preached, than in other places where People are more Ignorant of the Scriptures, and have less faithful and frequent Preaching. In the latter he dealeth most by more inward Suggestions and Impressions. Our Learned Dr. Lightfoot observes it probable, that this City or Country was generally made up of Pagans, or Apostatized Jews, because they nourished so many Swine, which to the Jews were unclean Beasts. For other things relating to the Explication of this History, see the Notes on Matth. 8.24, 25, 26.

24 And Iesus went with him, and much people followed him, and thronged him.

This whole History also is recorded both by Matthew and Luke, and we have already in our Notes, upon Matth. 9.18, &c. fully opened the several Passages of it mentioned by all the Evangelists, to which we refer the Reader. Christ was now come over again into Galilee, where tho the Temple was not, yet there were Synagogues, where the People did ordinarily assemble to Worship God. Nor were they without order in these Synagogues, they had one whom they called the Ruler of the Synagogue, who directed, and ordered the Affairs of that particular Synagogue. It is more probable, that Iairus (here mentioned) was in that Sense so called, than because he was one of the Court of twenty three which the Iews are said to have had in every City.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made the whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

See the Notes on Matth. 9.18. upon this whole History; containing a passage which happened in the way betwixt the place, where our Saviour first heard of the Sickness of Iairus his Daughter and his House, whither our Saviour was now going; we shall in these Histories observe our Saviour propounding several Questions to Persons, of the matter to which they related, he could not be presumed to be ignorant, being as to his Divine Nature Omniscient, but he only propounded them for the bettering of the knowledge of those to whom or amongst whom he spake, that his Miracles might be more fully, and distinctly understood. So also he is said to have known many things (as here, that Vertue was gone out of him) which he only knew as he was God, and knew all things. It is also observable how Christ incourageth the first Rudiments of saving Faith in Christ. All that we read of this Woman, is, that she said, If I may but touch the Hem of his Garment, I shall be whole, this was much short of her owning and receiving him as her Lord, and Saviour. It amounted to no more, than a perswasion she had of his Divine Power, and goodness, and that with respect to the healing of a bodily Distemper, neither doth it import her believing him to be the Eternal Son of God, but one to whom God had Communicated a power of healing; in this confidence she cometh unto him, and toucheth the Border of his Garment, she is presently healed, Christ saith, her Faith had made her whole.Christ measureth her Faith by the light and means she had received, and accordingly rewards it, and if the Notion be true, that where he healed the Body, he also healed the Soul, this was the beginning of a greater Faith in her.

Marginal references: Chap. 10.52.

43 And he charged them straightly, that no man should know it: and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

There is nothing in this History needeth further Notes for Explication, than what we gave in the Notes on Matthew 9. to which I here refer the Reader. There is nothing more accountable in all the passages of our Saviours Life, recorded by the Evangelists. Then the Charges that he gave to several Persons healed by him. That no man should know it. Especially if we consider, 1. That he did not charge all so, he bid the Person possessed with the Devil, v. 29. of this Chapter, go home to his Friends, and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him. 2. That he could not expect to be concealed, had they yielded obedience, for his Miracles were done openly, and it was not like that all would keep silence, nay he commanded the Leper to go and shew himself to the Priests. 3. Few of those thus Charged, did keep silence. Nor do we ever find that Christ reflected blame on them, from which yet we cannot acquit them. But we must not think to understand the Reasons of all Christs Actions and Speeches, he had doubtless wise ends in doing it, tho we do not understand them.