Matthew 17:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Scriptures indicate that this man struggled significantly with his faith. This can be observed in several aspects: Christ stated, "all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23); the man himself expressed, “Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24); moreover, Christ instructed the evil spirit to never enter him again, and additionally, the man questioned Christ, saying, "If you can do anything." You might wonder, if his lack of faith was the reason the evil spirit did not depart, why does Christ rebuke the disciples? He demonstrated that they had the ability to heal the sick through faith without intermediaries.

‘Oh, a perverse generation ... and unfaithful.’ This was expressed due to the father of the boy, specifically the man possessed by a demon, who criticized His disciples, stating, ‘they were unable to heal him’ (Matthew 17:16), believing they lacked sufficient training in their master's teachings. Yet the master approached, drawing the disciples into a tumult of challenges. They sought His guidance, asking, ‘Why were we unable to heal?’ (cf. Matthew 17:19). Their attempts at healing were obstructed by the slanders of the nonbelievers. ‘This man,’ they proclaimed, “casts out demons through Beelzebub, the ruler of demons” (cf. Luke 11:15). They contended that the disciples were not adequately equipped in His practices, questioning their failure to effect a cure.

Regarding the statement, I presented him to Your disciples, yet they were unable to cure him. Through this, he directly charges the apostles, even though the inability to heal can often be attributed not to the weakness of the healers, but to the faith of those receiving healing, as the Lord stated: Thy faith hath saved thee.

They were unable to do so due to the lack of faith of the one who had brought him. Even though he had come with the afflicted man, he did not fully trust that they could drive out the demon. This is evident from Christ's exclamation: O unbelieving generation, as well as from the plea of the righteous: If thou canst do anything, help us (Mark 9:22), and from Christ's inquiry to the one who had brought him: If thou canst believe anything. The response of the man encapsulates his struggle: I believe, Lord: help my unbelief (Mark 9:24). Mark provides a more comprehensive account of these events.

Did the father speak these words out of disbelief regarding the new moon of the demon-possessed, undermining the disciples of Christ, or was it a matter of simple-heartedness, indicating that since they were unable to assist, he approached Christ, the Almighty, for help? He came to Jesus with meager faith, more out of desperation than conviction, as he exclaimed, “If you are able, help us” (Mark 9:22). Had he possessed a steadfast and passionate faith, he would not have made such a statement but would have believed wholeheartedly that Jesus possesses the power to accomplish all tasks, as God Almighty. Moreover, Jesus’ response reveals His awareness that the father was dismissive of the disciples and lacked confidence in their ability to heal. The Lord Jesus replied, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me this day.”

I presented him to Your disciples, requesting that they expel the unclean spirit, and though they made the attempt, they were unable to heal him. It is clear that the father's faith was quite frail; he later admits to this himself. However, if the father's doubt was the cause for the evil spirit's inability to depart, why then does the Lord reproach the disciples? Saint Chrysostom poses this question and provides an answer: He indicates that the disciples had the capacity to heal the afflicted through their faith, even without intermediaries. Often, the belief of one who mediates is adequate to achieve desired outcomes, even from those with lesser faith, just as the miracle worker’s authority can sometimes accomplish a miracle, regardless of whether those seeking help possess faith.

Jesus descended from the mountain and encountered His disciples, along with the other nine apostles, amidst a crowd that included scribes. A debate arose between the disciples and the scribes. In this situation, a man tormented by a demon was brought to the disciples during Jesus' absence, but they were unable to heal him. The scribes ridiculed Jesus' followers and disparaged Him as well, leading the disciples to feel humiliated by their inability to assist. At that moment, Jesus arrived, and the crowd rushed to welcome Him. From a distance, the father of the afflicted boy pleaded with Him to notice his suffering son. Approaching Jesus and kneeling before Him, he elaborated on the boy's agony, imploring His compassion and mentioning that Jesus' disciples had been unable to bring about a cure.

He presented the afflicted individual to his disciples, yet they were unable to expel the evil spirit. Their inability became a reason for the scribes to ridicule them.

He experiences the influence of evil during the new moons, indicating a state akin to sleepwalking. The illness afflicting the boy was a manifestation of an unclean spirit, suggesting that the sleepwalker was, in fact, possessed (Mark 9:17; Luke 9:39). In addition to his episodes of sleepwalking, the afflicted individual endured severe bouts of demonic torment. While the Lord remained on the mount during the Transfiguration with three of His disciples, the father of the tormented boy approached the other disciples seeking relief. However, they were unable to expel the evil spirit and restore the boy’s health, prompting the father to voice his frustrations to the Lord.

The day following the magnificent transfiguration, Jesus Christ descended from the mountain and encountered His disciples amidst a crowd of people and scribes who were in dispute with them. His unexpected presence astonished the multitude, or perhaps it was that "His very appearance, enhanced by the radiant light of the transfiguration" (Blessed Theophylact), captivated their attention; many rushed to greet Him. As the Lord approached, He questioned the scribes, “What is the cause of this contention?” At that moment, a man from the crowd stepped forward, knelt before the Lord, and pleaded, “O Master, I have brought my son to You, for he is possessed by an unclean spirit. Please, look upon my son, for he is my only child.