Luke 9:38-40

Luke did not identify the boy’s condition as epilepsy, as Matthew did (Matthew 17:15). He probably wanted his readers to understand clearly that it resulted from demonic influence (Luke 9:42). Demons produced the symptoms of epilepsy in this boy, though not every case of epilepsy is the result of demon affliction, of course. Unfortunately through history some people have equated epilepsy with demon possession because of the similar symptoms. Doctor Luke described this boy’s symptoms more fully than the other Gospel writers, and he alone mentioned that the boy was the only (Gr. monogenes, cf. Luke 8:42; John 3:16) son of his father (Luke 9:38). The failure of the disciples (Luke 9:40, cf. 2 Kings 4:31) set the stage for a great demonstration of Jesus’ unique power and authority (Luke 9:42).