The Gardarene Demoniacs

Matthew then recounts that two were possessed with demons, whereas Luke reports only one (see Luke 8.27). Being himself a physician, Luke is often found giving more detail in his Gospel record, especially when his narrative turns to the cases of the sick. For instance, Matthew speaks of a leper (8.2) but Luke says a man full of leprosy (5.12). Again, Matthew tells here of the two possessed; Luke, on the other hand, reports the man as being possessed with legions of demons (Luke 8.30). Being a professional man, Luke has his own observations of the sick.

The reasons why Luke records only one demon-possessed man are as follows:

(1) Since the two cases are alike, a report on one is sufficient.

(2) Since Luke has not personally followed the Lord on earth, his writing is done through careful investigation of eyewitnesses and ministers of the word: he therefore narrates only that which he has researched.

(3) Because Matthew presents the Lord as King, he frequently reports two instead of one inasmuch as a plurality adds a tinge of majesty to the event being described. Luke on the other hand presents the Lord as man; hence the presentation of one evidence is quite adequate.

(4) Because Matthew writes to the Jews, he has in mind the Jewish custom of requiring the presence of two witnesses to an event. But Luke writes to the Gentiles, among whom there is no such rule; therefore, it is not necessary for him to report more than one demon-possessed man as being present.

(5) Since Matthew writes from a doctrinal and didactic point of view, he does not concern himself so much with what happens “afterwards” in the life of a person who has been touched by the Lord. Luke, however, writes from a moral or ethical stance, and so he is very much interested in singling out one individual and giving the details of his life and the “afterwards” of his walk.