Mark 5:8

8 For He had said to him, "Foul spirit, come 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 And when he saw Jesus in the distance, he ran and threw himself at His feet,

7 crying out in a loud voice, "What hast Thou to do with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? In God's name I implore Thee not to torment me."

8 For He had said to him, "Foul spirit, come out of the man."

9 Jesus also questioned him. "What is your name?" He said. "Legion," he replied, "for there are a host of us."

10 And he earnestly entreated Him not to send them away out of the country.