The two demon-possessed men coming out of the tombs are described as fierce
because they typically blocked anyone’s passage along the road there (Matthew 8:26). Jesus and his disciples now face a demonic threat on land, just as they had at sea—part of Satan’s power during Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Matthew 8:28 highlights that these were two very dangerous men, and that Jesus and his disciples now face a threat on land which follows the threat at sea (Matthew 8:26). These two men block the path that Jesus wants to travel by, allowing no one to journey along that route.1 These demon-possessed men were very wild, threatening all who travelled along this way (to the sea), so that no one could pass by. Here we see how active and powerful the work of demons was in that area during the time of Jesus’ ministry.2
27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”