PER196

A demon difficult to drive out

The article explores the disciples’ failed attempt to cast a demon out of a young boy, which required Jesus’ intervention after the Transfiguration. The accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke point to the weakness of their faith as the reason for their failure.

12 min exorcism disciples faith transfiguration Synoptic Gospels 15 verses 3 books

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Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew 17.14-18 (King James Version)

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Mark
Mark 9.14-27 (King James Version)

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Luke
Luke 9.37-45 (King James Version)

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
John
John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Year AD 32

Location: Near Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon

Date: August AD 32

Method: We continue with Mark

Note on the method: Matthew and Luke also report these words

Mount Hermon

Jesus had to deal with the inability of his disciples, who had stayed behind, to perform a miracle.

A demon difficult to drive out

The child is healed

Summary of the texts

After the transfiguration, Jesus the Messiah and his disciples, Peter, James and John, according to the account in Matthew 17.9, come back down from the mountain and find a large crowd. The sick come in numbers, as always. But the healing of this epileptic child highlights the disciples’ failure.

Despite their prayers for this child’s deliverance, no improvement was seen. Faced with this unexpected situation, the father decides to seek the help of Jesus the Messiah and begs him to intervene. These events take place the day after the transfiguration, still at Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon.

The expression “the next day” in Luke 9.37 may indicate that the transfiguration took place at night and that Jesus and his apostles came down in the morning. Alternatively, they may have stayed there for several days.

The texts show that the apostles were not merely passive observers under the Master’s guidance; they also played an active role in bringing healing to the sick. Jesus had given his disciples the power to cast out demons and to heal the sick (Matthew 10.1, Luke 9.1-2, Mark 16.18 and Matthew 10.8). In this particular situation, however, their intervention proves insufficient and the intervention of Jesus the Messiah is essential.

The crowd recognized their authority and also appealed to the disciples (Matthew 17.16, Mark 9.18, Luke 9.40).

These three passages of the Synoptic Gospels recount the disciples’ failure to heal a child possessed by an evil spirit, which compels Jesus the Messiah to act. Here is a comparative analysis:

Summary of the texts

  • Matthew 17.14-18: A man begs Jesus to heal his epileptic son, because the disciples failed to do so. Jesus the Messiah expresses his exasperation at the prevailing unbelief, then casts out the demon, healing the child immediately.
  • Mark 9.14-27: This account is more detailed. Jesus returns to his disciples and finds a crowd debating with them. The child’s father describes the symptoms of possession: convulsions, muteness, foaming at the mouth. Jesus the Messiah stresses the importance of faith and, after an exchange with the father, drives out the spirit after a violent fit.
  • Luke 9.37-45: The account is more concise. The day after the Transfiguration, a man implores Jesus the Messiah on behalf of his son, who suffers convulsions caused by a demon. Jesus the Messiah expresses his irritation at the unbelief, drives out the spirit and heals the child.

Comparison of the accounts

Contexte narratif :

Matthew and Mark place the event after the Transfiguration, whereas Luke specifies that it happens the next day.

Mark adds an interaction between Jesus the Messiah and the crowd, which is absent from Matthew and Luke.

Description of the symptoms:

Matthew speaks of epilepsy.

Mark gives more detail about the physical manifestations and stresses the muteness.

Luke mentions the convulsions but remains more concise.

Réaction de Jésus :

In all three accounts, Jesus expresses his exasperation at the unbelief.

Mark highlights the dialogue between Jesus the Messiah and the father, who expresses a wavering faith (“I believe; help my unbelief!”).

Healing:

In Matthew and Luke, the healing is immediate.

Mark describes one last convulsion before the child is raised up by Jesus the Messiah.

Mark stands out for his attention to detail and his emphasis on the father’s faith, whereas Matthew and Luke offer more condensed accounts. This diversity reflects the theological sensitivities of each evangelist.