Mark 9:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When he remarked, 'since childhood,' and, 'If you are able to do anything, please help us,' the Savior responded, “All things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:20-22), offering a gentle correction. When the leper declared, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean,' affirming His capability, the Lord praised him and confirmed his statement by replying, 'I will, be cleansed' (Lk. 5:12-13). In contrast, the man in question did not express faith in a manner befitting Christ’s authority, merely stating, 'If you can do anything, please help us,' prompting the Lord to address his misunderstanding. What did He say?

He goes beyond mere rebuke; He offers restoration, demonstrating through the healing of the boy not arrogance but profound humility. Observe that He credits the healing not to His own might but to the man’s faith, declaring, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”

When the holy Fathers are called upon to intercede during times of trial, what do they seek from God? Is their prayer for freedom from sinful desires or for some overall benefit to humanity? Consider how Abba Sisoy and the other Fathers implored God on behalf of their disciples, asking for liberation from these passions. How do we interpret that all things are possible for the one who believes? And once more, is this temptation ultimately for good? Do the prayers of the Saints have efficacy? My dear brother, as we both find ourselves idly distracted, we often abandon our own struggles and instead request one thing rather than another. Regarding your inquiry, I propose the following: the wise Fathers pray that God will do what is beneficial for mankind.

He speaks this not out of ignorance of the man's doubt, but rather to guide him on a journey towards belief while simultaneously demonstrating that it was his lack of faith that hindered the Disciples from driving out the demon. It is important to closely consider the words of the Evangelist: he does not report that the Lord addressed the father of the boy by saying “If you can believe,” as a general requirement for those seeking healing to possess faith. Instead, He articulated this particular statement because, as the Lord and Shepherd of souls, He aimed to bring about their healing through faith.

The father of the afflicted child cried out in anguish, "I believe, Lord, help my unbelief." Eager for his son's healing yet acutely aware of his faltering faith, this distraught father, in a moment of deep emotional turmoil, earnestly confesses to the Lord his struggles with faith. "I do believe, O Lord! I am ready to trust entirely, but I find myself unable: doubt overwhelms me and invades my spirit against my will, diminishing my faith; assist me in overcoming this doubt, cast it from my heart, and do not allow it to lead me into sin; then I will trust in You with all my being." The father sought Jesus to perform a miracle to bolster his faith, essentially requesting a sign; the Pharisees similarly sought a sign.

Christ proclaimed with assurance that "all things are possible to him that believeth." When the distressed father, desiring to eliminate any uncertainty within himself, cried out, "I believe, Lord, help my unbelief," the Savior immediately bolstered his faith by restoring his son’s health. To the afflicted boy, He commanded with authority, "spirit dumb and deaf! I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." A louder outcry followed, and the tormenting spirit caused the poor boy to convulse in even more agony; ultimately, he collapsed to the ground, motionless and appearing as if he were dead. Some witnesses declared that he had indeed passed away. However, Christ took him by the hand and, to the amazement of the crowd, restored him to his father, now whole and at peace.

"If you are able to believe," etc.: This means that the restoration of your son is contingent upon your faith; if you can trust, your son will be restored, for with faith, all things are possible (cf. Matt. 17:20).

The punctuation in the Greek text is inaccurate. It should read: ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ - εἰ δύνασαι πιστεῦσαι, which translates to: "But Jesus said to him: If you can believe, all things are possible for the one who believes." The misplacement of the clause led translators of the Gospel into the Slavonic and Russian languages to mistakenly interpret it as an indefinite reference, translating it to mean: "if any amount you can believe."