And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The father's plea highlights a crucial, often overlooked point: the disciples had already been given authority over demons, yet they failed here. This wasn't a simple lack of power, but a stark illustration that even delegated authority can falter without a deeper connection and reliance on Christ himself.
And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just after descending from a glorious transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, Jesus and the remaining disciples are met by a desperate father whose son is suffering terribly from what appears to be a severe seizure disorder, likely demonic possession. The father explains that he brought his son to the disciples while Jesus was away on the mountain, but they were unable to cast out the spirit troubling the boy. This failure of the disciples to heal the child immediately follows Jesus' earlier commissioning of them with authority over demons, highlighting a critical moment of spiritual struggle and spiritual limitation.
Jesus had given his disciples authority over demons. So why did they fail when faced with this particular case? The answer reveals a crucial truth about spiritual power.
The disciples had indeed been given authority over demons by Jesus (Luke 9:1). They had even successfully cast out demons before. However, this specific incident highlights that spiritual authority isn't automatic or inexhaustible. It is directly tied to their faith and reliance on God's power, not just a delegated ability. Their attempt failed because their faith was insufficient for this particular spiritual warfare.
The boy's condition was severe, described as 'lunatic' and causing him to fall into fire and water. What does this tell us about the spiritual and physical realities at play?
The description of the boy's suffering points to a severe spiritual oppression, often understood as demonic possession. The term 'lunatic' likely indicates symptoms similar to epilepsy, but the context here clearly attributes the cause to an 'unclean spirit.' This wasn't just a natural illness; it was a battle against a malevolent spiritual force that manifested in physical torment and danger, deeply affecting the child and his family.
Understand the original words
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mathētais · Greek Noun
The followers of Jesus who were commissioned by Him to perform miracles, including healing and casting out demons, acting as His representatives.
ekballōsin · Greek Verb
The act of commanding a spiritual entity to leave a person, demonstrating the authority of the kingdom of God over the spiritual realm and demonic forces.
This event highlights a critical moment where the disciples' initial commission and power from Jesus were tested and found wanting, revealing a spiritual gap that Jesus himself had to bridge.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus commissions the Twelve Disciples
Jesus grants his twelve closest disciples authority over demons and the power to heal. This would have been a known and established period of their ministry.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' transfiguration
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where he is transfigured. This event immediately precedes the healing narrative.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Disciples fail to heal a boy
A father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus' disciples while Jesus is on the mountain, but they are unable to cast out the demon. This is the specific event described in the verse.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus rebukes disciples' unbelief
Upon returning, Jesus heals the boy and explains to his disciples that their failure was due to their lack of faith.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' second prediction of death
Shortly after this event, Jesus predicts his own death and resurrection for the second time, which the disciples struggle to understand.
This passage directly follows the account of the same event, with Jesus explaining to the disciples that their inability to cast out the demon was due to their 'little faith,' highlighting the crucial role of faith in spiritual power.
Mark 9:18Mark's Gospel provides further detail on the boy's affliction and the disciples' failed attempt, emphasizing the severity of the spiritual struggle and the disciples' helplessness without Jesus' direct intervention.
2 Kings 4:31In this Old Testament account, Elisha's servant could not revive a child, mirroring the disciples' inability to heal, until the prophet himself intervened, showing a pattern of divine power working through chosen servants.
Acts 19:15This New Testament example demonstrates a similar failure where the 'evil spirit' recognized Jesus and Paul but attacked the sons of Sceva, showing that spiritual authority is not something to be trifled with or assumed without true connection to Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:28Paul's explanation of spiritual gifts highlights that God has appointed different roles and abilities within the church, suggesting that the disciples' temporary inability in this instance might have been a moment where their specific gift of casting out demons was not fully operational, underscoring reliance on the Spirit's timing and empowerment.
pulpitLuke 9:40: "And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not."
Verse 40. - And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. This appears to have been a case of the deadliest kind of epileptic lunacy. Our Lord distinctly assumes here that the disease in this case was occasioned by an unclean spirit who had taken possession of the suffering child. The whole question of demoniacal possession, its extent, its cause, whether or no it still survives in some of the man…
bengelLuke 9:40: "And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not."
[40. Οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν , they were not able ) This demon was one of a peculiar kind. For in Luke 9:1 , the disciples are said to have received power over all demons.—V. g.]
The father's plea highlights a crucial, often overlooked point: the disciples had already been given authority over demons, yet they failed here. This wasn't a simple lack of power, but a stark illustration that even delegated authority can falter without a deeper connection and reliance on Christ himself.
Just after descending from a glorious transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, Jesus and the remaining disciples are met by a desperate father whose son is suffering terribly from what appears to be a severe seizure disorder, likely demonic possession. The father explains that he brought his son to the disciples while Jesus was away on the mountain, but they were unable to cast out the spirit troubling the boy. This failure of the disciples to heal the child immediately follows Jesus' earlier commissioning of them with authority over demons, highlighting a critical moment of spiritual struggle and spiritual limitation.
Just after descending from a glorious transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, Jesus and the remaining disciples are met by a desperate father whose son is suffering terribly from what appears to be a severe seizure disorder, likely demonic possession. The father explains that he brought his son to the disciples while Jesus was away on the mountain, but they were unable to cast out the spirit troubling the boy. This failure of the disciples to heal the child immediately follows Jesus' earlier commissioning of them with authority over demons, highlighting a critical moment of spiritual struggle and spiritual limitation.
"And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”" — The father's plea highlights a crucial, often overlooked point: the disciples had already been given authority over demons, yet they failed here. This wasn't a simple lack of power, but a stark ill…
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Last reviewed October 2026