Matthew 17:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The disciples experienced fear, wondering if they had forfeited the grace they had received over the evil spirits. In their concern, they inquired privately.

According to Mark, upon Christ's arrival in the house, they inquired about their concern that they might have forfeited the authority they had acquired over impure spirits.

The apostles were justifiably astonished by their inability to expel the demon, prompting them to inquire, “Why?” Previously, Jesus had bestowed upon them the authority to drive out unclean spirits, enabling them to heal every ailment and disease (Matthew 10:1). They contemplated whether the grace for performing miracles had been revoked from them. It was not that they hesitated out of shame to question Him openly; rather, they addressed Him privately because the matter was profound and beyond words (Zlat. in conversation). From this, we can deduce two points: first, those endowed with the gift of prophecy do not always prophesy about every situation, just as those granted the grace to perform miracles do not always accomplish miraculous deeds.

The disciples, recognizing their inadequacy, reflected on the reasons behind their defeat. St. Chrysostom observes that they were concerned they might have forfeited the grace that had been granted to them. Thus, when they entered the house, the disciples, who up to that moment had not approached Jesus, inquired of Him: "Why were we unable to drive him out, when previously the demons had obeyed us?"

Later, the disciples privately inquired of Him why they were unable to drive out the demon. The Lord clarified that their inability stemmed from their unbelief and also from a deficiency in fasting and prayer. Fasting is essential for fortifying prayer.

In the account provided by Mark the Evangelist, after Jesus had healed the boy, He went into the house, and the disciples accompanied Him. Once they were alone together, they inquired, "Why were we unable to drive him out?" Jesus responded, "It is due to your lack of faith" (Matt. 17:20).

Before Jesus empowered His disciples to drive out demons, individuals who were not part of His inner circle occasionally utilized this authority on His behalf (Mark 9:38). They succeeded in their endeavors. Therefore, it is understandable that the disciples seized the chance to inquire about the reason for their recent failure. Jesus candidly informed them that their lack of faith was to blame. Perhaps the awareness of His absence diminished their trust; maybe they felt less equipped to face challenges without Peter and the sons of Zebedee at their side; or it could be that the distressing news of their Master’s rejection and impending death weighed heavily on the spirits of the most vulnerable among them.

"Why were we unable to drive him out?" They were likely concerned that they might have forfeited the grace they had previously received, as they had been given authority over impure spirits. Thus, they approached Christ privately, unashamedly, because they sought to discuss a significant and confidential issue. Once the situation was made apparent and they were in the open, there was no reason for them to feel embarrassed about confessing verbally."

Following this, Jesus Christ and His disciples entered a house, where the disciples asked Him privately, "Why were we unable to drive it out?" Blessed Theophylact notes that the apostles feared they had lost the authority granted to them over demons, which prompted them to approach Jesus with anxiety in a secluded setting. The Lord responded to their concerns about their lack of faith, saying, "Amen, I say to you: if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you." This illustrates the remarkable strength of faith, beginning within the human spirit as a small seed yet growing to an extent where nothing is insurmountable. According to St. John Chrysostom, the Apostles did not consistently possess such unwavering faith; there were moments when they exhibited weakness, as they were not entirely perfected before the Cross.