In the Gospel the first things we note is the courage of Jesus. He stopped and spoke to the man. We, also, must have that same courage to speak to men and women even when they may be violent and abusive and mocking at our religion. The second things we notice is the rudeness and ingratitude of the hersdmen and others, requesting Jesus to go away. Their concern was for their pigs, not that a man had been healed. We must be careful that we do not put things and property before people, that we do not value goods more than persons.

According to the Hebrews the heroes of Israel did what was right, and they took chances on the promises of God, even though the evidence of the fulfilment of God's promise was weak. They took God at His word and were ready to give up position and security to do what God had commanded them. The writer of the Hebrews mentions all this in order to urge his readers - and us - to follow the example of the heroes of old.