Matthew 17:15

13 ^aThen the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

A Boy Is Healed

14 ^aAnd when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,

15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is¹ an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O¹ faithless and ^aperverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

18 And Jesus ^arebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your¹ unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, ^aif you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Matthew 17:15

My son - is lunatic - . 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, and oft into the water - The paroxysms of his disorder frequently recurred; and among his numerous falls, some were into the fire and some into the water: so that, on this account, his life was in continual danger. Those who are under the influence of the devil are often driven to extremes in every thing. Such are often driven into the fire of presumption, or the waters of despair. Satan takes advantage of our natural temper, state of health, and outward circumstances, to plague and ruin our souls.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 17:15:**

Matthew 4:24
Luke 9:42

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Matthew 17:16 >>

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