 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
More Matthew commentaries
Matthew 14:1-12
Herod Antipas’ False Assumption
Matthew 14:13-21
Steps to Problem Solving
Matthew 14:22-36
The Storms of Life
Matthew 15:1-20
Ritual over Relationship
Matthew 15:21-28
The Persistant Gentile Woman
Matthew 15:29-39
Caring for the Gentile Crowd
Matthew 16:1-12
The Religious Leader’s Demand
Matthew 16:13-20
Peter’s Confession
Matthew 16:21-28
Surrender to the Cross
Matthew 17:1-13
The Transfiguration
Matthew 17:14-23
Healing of the Epileptic Son
Matthew 17:24-27
Jesus Pays the Temple Tax
Matthew 18:1-9
The Need for Humility
Matthew 18:10-14
New Babes in Christ
Matthew 18:15-20
Steps to Church Discipline
Matthew 19:1-8
Is Devorce Permisable?
Matthew 19:9-15
Divorce and Adultery
Matthew 19:16-30
The Rich Young Ruler
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Healing of the Epileptic Son
Matthew 17:14–23
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Faith in God makes great optimists. Over in Burma, Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, “Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heather?", with a sneer on his … More
When the disciples inquired why they had not been able to heal the boy, Jesus said it was because of their little faith (vv. 19-20). They should have been able to cast out the demon because Jesus had given them this power and authority. He told them they had lost their power because of their lack of faith (v: 20), their lack of prayer, and their lack of discipline (v. 21).
Perhaps during the Lord’s absence, they began to neglect prayer and their faith had weakened. Then when the crisis came they were unprepared. Like Sampson they had gone out to battle, not realizing that their power was gone.
Again we find the Lord reminding his disciples that He would be betrayed and that He would be killed (vv. 22-23). He goes on to explain to them how the grave will not hold Him but He will rise on the third day (v. 23). One wonders if they heard the whole message or just the part about His death because it says they were filled with grief.
Application
Just as the disciples had neglected to spend time in prayer and had become powerless the same can happen in my life. It is so easy to try to do things in my own strength and fall flat on my face because I didn’t depend on the Lord to do it.
Matthew 17:14-23 (English Standard Version)
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
Post your comment or question below.