Mark 5:8

8 For he said to him, Come forth, unclean spirit, out of the man.

Mark 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 5:8

For he said unto him
Or he had said unto him, as soon as he came up to him, and fell before him; even before he had confessed, and adjured him; and which indeed drew out the confession from him, that he was superior to him, and therefore became his supplicant:

come out of the man, thou unclean spirit;
which was said with so much authority and power, that there was no withstanding it: the devil knew he was not a match for him; that he must, at his command, quit his possession, and therefore fell to confession and entreaty. Christ will not dwell where Satan does; when therefore he is about to take up his residence in the hearts of any, he outs with Satan; he binds the strong man armed, and dispossesses him; he causes the spirit of uncleanness to depart; he sanctifies the heart by his grace and Spirit, and so makes it a proper habitation for him to dwell in by faith; and this is done by mighty power: a man cannot deliver himself out of the hands of Satan, or cause him to quit his hold of him, or the unclean spirit to depart; nor can he sanctify and cleanse himself, and make himself meet for the master's use: this is all owing to efficacious grace.

Mark 5:8 In-Context

6 But seeing Jesus from afar off, he ran and did him homage,

7 and crying with a loud voice he says, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.

8 For he said to him, Come forth, unclean spirit, out of the man.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he says to him, Legion is my name, because we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.