About the Text
(15) What kind of seizures did the boy have? They were similar in appearance to natural epilepsy. According to the parallel account in Mark 9:17-18, the boy bit down hard on his teeth, his body became rigid, he foamed at the mouth, and he went into convulsions. Matthew also records that the boy would jump into water or fire.
The seizures, however, were caused by demons, not epilepsy.
The word translated as the English word ''seizure" literally means
"moonstruck," and implies that the boy experienced these symptoms only once a
month. This is evidence that these seizures were not of natural origin.
(17) By calling this generation "unbelieving and perverse," did Jesus
mean that His disciples had no faith at all? No. His disciples had faith, but it
was mixed with unbelief too.
Our own faith in Christ, no matter how genuine, is never perfect (in this life). "Saving faith" does not mean "perfect faith." It is always mixed with the remnant of unbelief. This is why in Mark 9:24, the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" You have "saving faith" if you believe with certainty in all that Jesus Christ claimed about Himself and in all that He did - you can be sure you're saved. Yet you may still lack a "working faith" if you often worry and lack prayer in your life. It is concerning this imperfect faith of ours that Jesus teaches.
(20) Does Jesus mean that if we pray and believe hard enough, that He'll give us anything we want? No. We must also keep in mind James 4:3 (pray with godly motives), and 1 John 5:14 (pray according to God's will). A mature, strong faith prays for not what our selfish nature desires, but only what God desires. Such a Christian who seeks after God's desires will then experience great power in prayer.
(21) Why do some Bible versions and not others have the words, "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting"? The earliest ancient manuscripts of the Bible, especially those from the fourth century, A.D., do not have this verse. In fact, in one fourth century manuscript, this verse was an addition by a later scribe, rather than being part of the original writing. Scholars are in disagreement as to whether the original writing of the Bible contained this verse, but most conclude that the original probably did not contain this verse.
Insights
Believers still lack the faith to effectively serve God. (14-17)
Jesus Christ is the reason why a few Christians can do the impossible. (18-21)
The Bottom Line
Put your trust in Jesus, not yourseff, to do God's work. God's work for you often seems impossible" to do: leading your Frrst Bible study, trying to be loving and kind in a cruel world, resisting drugs, etc. But God didn't abandon us. Although Christ died and ascended back to heaven, His Holy Spirit is still with us, empowering us to do His work in this world.
Key Memory Verses
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a
mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matt. 17:20)