“The man,
From whom
The demons had gone,
Begged
That he might be
With Jesus.
However,
|Jesus sent him away.”
ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ’ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων
Luke said that the man, from whom the demons had gone out (ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ’ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια), begged Jesus (ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ) that he might be with him (εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ). However, |Jesus sent him away (ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων). There is something similar in Mark, chapter 5:38, while there is nothing like this in Matthew. Mark said that as Jesus was getting into his boat, the man, who had been possessed by demons begged or entreated Jesus to let him go with him. This formerly possessed man wanted to be a follower of Jesus, which seems like a reasonable request. However, Mark said that Jesus refused this former demoniac. Do you think that Jesus would refuse some people from being his follower?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 