What was happening when the father brought his son to Jesus?

This scene takes place just after Jesus and three of his disciples came down from the mountain where his glory had been shown. They meet a large crowd, and out of that crowd a desperate father comes, kneels before Jesus, and begs for mercy for his son. The boy is described as suffering fits, falling into fire and water, and is under demonic power. The man had already brought the boy to the disciples, but they could not heal him. So the father turns directly to Jesus as his last hope, asking for compassion and help.

Why does Jesus call them a faithless and perverse generation?

When Jesus says, “O faithless and perverse generation,” he is rebuking the deep unbelief and twisted thinking around him. The people have seen many of his works, yet still lack trust in God. This includes the stubborn religious leaders, the doubting crowd, and even his own disciples who, at this moment, fail to act in steady faith. His cry, “How long shall I be with you?” shows his grief that, despite all his teaching and miracles, they are slow to rely on him. It is not a cold rejection, but a sorrowful warning about the danger of ongoing unbelief.

Why could the disciples not cast out the demon from the boy?

Jesus answers this directly when the disciples ask him in private, “Why could not we cast him out?” He says it was “because of your unbelief.” They had been given authority before and had seen God use them, but in this case their trust in God’s power had weakened. They were facing a strong form of evil, and instead of resting in God and seeking him earnestly, their faith wavered. Jesus explains that even faith as small as a mustard seed, if it is real and fixed on God, can see great things done according to God’s will.

What does it mean to have faith as a grain of mustard seed?

When Jesus speaks of faith like a grain of mustard seed, he is not praising weak faith that stays small. He is saying that even a very small, genuine trust in God is powerful when it looks to him and his promises. A mustard seed is tiny, yet it is alive and grows. In the same way, faith that truly leans on God, even if it feels small, can face what seems impossible, like “moving a mountain.” This is a picture of God working through believing prayer, not a promise that we can get anything we wish, but that nothing he calls us to is beyond his power.

What does Jesus mean by "this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting"?

Jesus’ words show that some spiritual battles are especially fierce and cannot be met with casual faith. “This kind” points to a particularly strong demonic power. Prayer and fasting do not earn power, but they show deep dependence on God and help strip away distraction and self‑reliance. By setting aside food for a time and seeking God in focused prayer, a person’s faith is stirred up and made more watchful. Jesus is teaching his disciples that real ministry against evil requires close, disciplined walking with God, not just a past experience or a quick word.

What does this passage teach about Jesus’ authority over demons and suffering?

In this passage, Jesus simply rebukes the demon and it leaves the boy at once. The child is healed from that very hour. This shows that evil spirits are not equal rivals to Jesus, but must obey his word. The boy’s terrible suffering, throwing him into fire and water, also shows how destructive the enemy is. Yet the story makes clear that no matter how long or how harsh the torment, Jesus has complete authority to set someone free. At the same time, the passage shows that people often respond with unbelief, while Jesus responds with mercy and power.

Why does Jesus speak about his betrayal and death right after this miracle?

While they are staying in Galilee, Jesus turns from the miracle to tell his disciples, “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again.” He wants them to know ahead of time that suffering and death are part of his path, not a failure of his power. The healing showed his authority over demons and disease, but he also came to give his life. By warning them early, he is preparing their faith so they will not lose heart when they see him arrested and killed.

Why were the disciples exceedingly sorry when Jesus spoke of his death?

When the disciples hear that Jesus will be betrayed and killed, they become very sad. They love him and cannot imagine their teacher, who heals the sick and commands demons, being handed over to enemies. They also had hopes of a visible kingdom and did not yet grasp how his death would bring salvation. Even though he tells them he will rise on the third day, their minds seem fixed on the pain of losing him. Their sorrow shows how hard it was for them to accept that the way of God’s plan goes through the cross before glory.

How does this passage speak to parents who are worried about their children?

The father in this passage is a simple but strong picture for parents. His son is in deep trouble, harmed by something the boy himself cannot control or fix. The father does not hide his need or pretend to be strong. He kneels before Jesus and begs, “Lord, have mercy on my son.” This shows that parents are right to bring their children’s needs to Christ, especially when the problems feel too heavy or too dark. It reminds us that even when we are powerless, we can cry out for mercy, trusting that Jesus cares and has more power than we do.

What does this passage teach about how believers should face hard spiritual battles?

This passage shows that hard spiritual battles are real and sometimes overwhelming to human strength. The disciples’ failure warns us not to trust in our past success or our own efforts. Instead, believers are called to real, living faith in God, even if it feels small. Jesus points to prayer and fasting as ways to seek God earnestly when facing stubborn problems. Together, these truths say that we do not fight in our own strength, but in dependence on Christ, who has full authority. Our part is to trust him, seek him, and obey what he says, even when the struggle is long.

Matt.17.14

Matthew 17:14

KJV

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

The Boy with a Demon

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Cross References

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