Matthew 17:14-21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:14

When they were come to the multitude - It appears that a congregation had been collected during our Lord's stay on the mount: how great must have been the desire of these people to hear the words of Christ! The assembly is self-collected, and no delay on the preacher's side discourages them - they continue to wait for him. In the present day how rare is this zeal! How few by the most pathetic invitation can be brought together, even at the most convenient times, to hear the same doctrines,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:15

My son - is lunatic - Σεληνιαζεται . One who was most affected with this disorder at the change and full of the moon. See on Matthew 4:24 ; (note). But this lunacy was occasioned by a demon, see Matthew 17:18 , and Mark 9:17 ; Luke 9:38 . In this case, the devil intended to hide himself under the appearance of a natural disorder, that no supernatural means might be resorted to for his expulsion. See a remarkable account on Luke 9:39 ; (note). Falleth ofttimes into the fire,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:16

Thy disciples could not cure him - No wonder, when the cure must be effected by supernatural agency, and they had not faith enough to interest the power of God in their behalf, Matthew 17:20 . A spiritual disorder must have a spiritual remedy: natural means, in such cases, signify just - nothing. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:17

O faithless and perverse generation! - These and the following words may be considered as spoken: To the disciples, because of their unbelief, Matthew 17:20 . To the father of the possessed, who should have brought his son to Christ. To the whole multitude, who were slow of heart to believe in him as the Messiah, notwithstanding the miracles which he wrought. See Kypke. Perverse, διεστραμμενη , signifies - Such as are influenced by perverse opinions, which hinder them from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:18

Jesus rebuked the devil - Deprived him of all power to torment the child; and obliged him to abandon his present usurped habitation. There are some souls whose cure God reserves to himself alone, and to whom all the applications of his ministers appear to be utterly ineffectual. He sometimes does all without them, that they may know they can never do any good without him. Quesnel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:19

Why could not we cast him out? - They were confounded at their want of success - but not at their want of faith, which was the cause of their miscarriage! When the ministers of the Gospel find their endeavors, with respect to some places or persons, ineffectual, they should come, by private prayer, to Christ, humble themselves before him, and beg to be informed whether some evil in themselves have not been the cause of the unfruitfulness of their labors. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:20

Because of your unbelief - Are we preachers of the Gospel? Do the things of God rest upon our minds with a deep and steady conviction? Can we expect that a doctrine which we do not, from conviction, credit ourselves, can be instrumental in our hands of begetting faith in others? So we preached, end so ye believed. The word preached generally begets in the people the same spirit which the preacher possesses. Instead of απιϚιαν , unbelief, the famous Vatican MS. and Cod. Cyprius, six others,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:21

This kind goeth not out but by prayer, etc. - Τουτο το γενος , this kind, some apply to the faith which should be exercised on the occasion, which goeth not out, doth not exert itself, but by prayer and fasting; but this interpretation is, in my opinion, far from solid. However, there is great difficulty in the text. The whole verse is wanting in the famous Vatican MS., one of the most ancient and most authentic perhaps in the world; and in another one of Colbert's, written in the 11th or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:17

Verse 17 Matthew 17:17.O unbelieving and rebellious nation. Though Christ appears to direct his discourse to the father of the lunatic, yet there can be no doubt that he refers to the scribes, as I have lately explained; for it is certain that the reproof is directed, not against ignorant and weak persons, but against those who, through inveterate malice, obstinately resist God. This is the reason why Christ declares that they are no longer worthy to be endured, and threatens that ere long he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:19

Verse 19 Matthew 17:19.Then the disciples coming. The disciples wonder that the power which they once possessed has been taken from them; but they had lost it by their own fault. Christ therefore attributes this want of ability to their unbelief, and repeats and illustrates more largely the statement which he had previously made, that nothing is impossible to faith It is a hyperbolical mode of expression, no doubt, when he declares that faith removes trees and mountains; but the meaning amounts... read more

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