14 When they came back to the disciples , they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately , when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16 And He asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher , I brought You my son , possessed with a spirit which makes him mute ; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it." 19 And He answered them and said , "O unbelieving generation , how long e shall I be with you? How long e shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!" 20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion , and falling to the ground , he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And He asked his father , "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said , "From childhood . 22 "It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything , take pity on us and help us!" 23 And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can ?' All things are possible to him who believes ." 24 Immediately the boy's father cried out and said , "I do believe ; help my unbelief ." 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering , He rebuked the unclean spirit , saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit , I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again ." 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions , it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said , "He is dead !" 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28 When He came into the house , His disciples began questioning Him privately e , "Why e could we not drive it out?" 29 And He said to them, "This kind cannot e come out by anything but prayer ."
30 From there they went out and began to go through Galilee , and He did not want anyone to know about it. 31 For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, " The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men , and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed , He will rise three days later ." 32 But they did not understand this statement , and they were afraid to ask Him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 9:14-32
Commentary on Mark 9:14-29
(Read Mark 9:14-29)
The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains.
Commentary on Mark 9:30-40
(Read Mark 9:30-40)
The time of Christ's suffering drew nigh. Had he been delivered into the hands of devils, and they had done this, it had not been so strange; but that men should thus shamefully treat the Son of man, who came to redeem and save them, is wonderful. Still observe that when Christ spake of his death, he always spake of his resurrection, which took the reproach of it from himself, and should have taken the grief of it from his disciples. Many remain ignorant because they are ashamed to inquire. Alas! that while the Saviour teaches so plainly the things which belong to his love and grace, men are so blinded that they understand not his sayings. We shall be called to account about our discourses, and to account for our disputes, especially about being greater than others. Those who are most humble and self-denying, most resemble Christ, and shall be most tenderly owned by him. This Jesus taught them by a sign; whoever shall receive one like this child, receives me. Many have been like the disciples, ready to silence men who have success in preaching to sinners repentance in Christ's name, because they follow not with them. Our Lord blamed the apostles, reminding them that he who wrought miracles in his name would not be likely to hurt his cause. If sinners are brought to repent, to believe in the Saviour, and to live sober, righteous, and godly lives, we then see that the Lord works by the preacher.