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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 17:14-21

We have here the miraculous cure of a child that was lunatic and vexed with a devil. Observe, I. A melancholy representation of the case of this child, made to Christ by the afflicted father. This was immediately upon his coming down from the mountain where he was transfigured. Note, Christ's glories do not make him unmindful of us and of our wants and miseries. Christ, when he came down from the mount, where had conversation with Moses and Elias, did not take state upon him, but was as easy... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 17:14-20

17:14-20 When they came to the crowd, a man came to him and fell at his feet and said, "Sir, have pity on my son, for he is an epileptic, and he suffers severely; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water; and I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to cure him." Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me!" And Jesus spoke sternly to him, and the demon came out of him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief ,.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "because of your little faith", or "the smallness of your faith"; and so does one Greek manuscript; and which is what is doubtless meant by their unbelief; for they were not altogether destitute of faith, but their faith was very low, and their unbelief very great. Christ says, not because of the unbelief of the parent of the child, and those that were with him, though that also was a reason; but... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:14-21

Healing of the demoniac boy. ( Mark 9:16-29 ; Luke 9:37-42 .) The account of the miracle is much curtailed in our Gospel; the fullest narrative is given by St. Mark, to whom we must refer for the complete details. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:14-21

The maniac boy. I. THE FAILURE OF THE NINE APOSTLES . 1 . The descent from the mount . The morning had come, and the Lord with the three chosen apostles came down from the Mount of the Transfiguration to rejoin those whom he had left behind. As he drew near to them he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them ( Mark 9:14 ). It was a strange contrast. He had just left the peace of the mountain side and the glory of the heavenly radiance.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:14-21

The lunatic lad. This incident is memorable chiefly on account of three truths it impresses on the mind. I. THE APPARENTLY UNLIMITED RANGE OUR LORD GIVES TO FAITH . Promise, rebuke, and surprise are mingled in his reply. "if thou canst, all things are possible," etc. As if he said, "You do not surely question my power; it is no question of power, it is a question of faith; have you faith to receive, to evoke the power?" As clearly as possible he says to this man, "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:14-21

The secrets of faith. A blended good and evil characterizes the present state of man. Ever since our first parents ate of the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" their children have been eating of it. The hovel is found under the very shadow of the palace. What a scene of glory was that of the Transfiguration! What a scene of misery is this at the foot of the mountain! "And when they were come to the multitude," etc. Learn— I. THAT THE POWER OF FAITH IS UNLIMITED . 1 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:20

Because of your unbelief. The Revised Version adopts the reading, little faith, in accordance with the best authorities; but it looks like a softening of the original term "unbelief," which corresponds better with Christ's own censure, "faithless generation." Jesus gives two reasons for the apostles' failure, one connected with their own moral condition, and one ( Matthew 17:21 ) derived from the nature of the demons exorcised. They had, indeed, shown some faith by making even the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:20

The power of faith. This was the comment of our Lord on the failure of the disciples to cure the lunatic boy, and on his own subsequent success. The difference was accounted for by the fact that the disciples had not faith, while Christ possessed it. On another occasion, when there was no question of any attempt of his disciples, our Lord answered the amazement caused by one of his miracles by pointing in a similar way to the power of faith ( Matthew 21:21 ). I. THE FAITH . 1 .... read more

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