And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "multitude" Jesus encounters isn't just a random gathering; it's a mix of expectant followers and critical scribes, highlighting the constant tension between genuine faith and religious opposition that often surrounds God's work. The man's act of kneeling, a posture of deep humility and earnest entreaty, immediately signals the desperate nature of his plea and his profound respect for Jesus.
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just come down from the glorious Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, only to find the remaining disciples struggling with a crowd and a heated dispute with some scribes. As Jesus approaches, a distressed father pushes through the crowd, falling to his knees before Him in a desperate plea for help for his son who is tormented by an evil spirit.
Imagine the scene: Jesus descends from a glorious mountain encounter, and what awaits Him? Not silence, but a gathering crowd, full of expectation.
The text highlights a significant gathering, a 'multitude' that had 'collected' while Jesus was away on the mount. This wasn't a random assembly; they were waiting, eager to hear Christ's words and experience His healing.
A Thirst for More
Amidst the crowd, one man steps forward, not with casual curiosity, but with an action that speaks volumes.
This man's approach to Jesus is marked by deep humility and earnest entreaty. He doesn't just speak; he acts.
The Language of Kneeling
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The encounter occurs immediately after Jesus' Transfiguration and highlights a dramatic contrast between the glory on the mountain and the earthly struggles below, emphasizing the disciples' struggle with faith and Jesus' ultimate authority.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus commissions disciples
Jesus grants his twelve disciples authority over unclean spirits and empowers them to heal diseases, sending them out to preach the kingdom of God.
Early 1st century AD
Disciples fail to heal a boy
After the Transfiguration, Jesus' disciples are unable to cast out an evil spirit from a boy, despite having been given authority previously.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus descends from Transfiguration
Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down from the mountain of Transfiguration to rejoin the other disciples and a waiting crowd.
Early 1st century AD
Man pleads for his son
A desperate father approaches Jesus, kneeling and pleading for mercy for his son who is afflicted by a spirit causing seizures.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus rebukes faithless generation
Jesus addresses the crowd, particularly the scribes who were arguing with his disciples, calling them a faithless and perverse generation.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus heals the boy
Jesus commands the spirit to leave the boy, instantly healing him and restoring him to his father.
This passage describes the same event immediately after Jesus descended from the mountain, highlighting the waiting crowd and the man's approach.
Mark 9:14Mark's account emphasizes the scribes questioning the disciples in the crowd, providing context for the spiritual opposition Jesus faced upon returning.
Matthew 15:22This verse shows another Canaanite woman approaching Jesus with a similar posture of humble supplication, demonstrating a repeated pattern of desperate faith seeking divine help.
John 11:32Mary's reaction upon seeing Jesus at Lazarus' tomb, falling at his feet and saying 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,' echoes the deep sorrow and urgent plea seen in Matthew 17:14.
clarkeMatthew 17:14: "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,"
When they were come to the multitude - It appears that a congregation had been collected during our Lord's stay on the mount: how great must have been the desire of these people to hear the words of Christ! The assembly is self-collected, and no delay on the preacher's side discourages them - they continue to wait for him. In the present day how rare is this zeal! How fe…
barnesMatthew 17:14: "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,"
And when they were come to the multitude - This took place on the day following the transfiguration, Luke 9:37 . This multitude was probably composed of persons who had attended on his ministry, many of whom were his real disciples. With them, as Mark Mar 9:15 informs us, were "scribes questioning with them." That is, they were probably professedly making inquiries about…
The "multitude" Jesus encounters isn't just a random gathering; it's a mix of expectant followers and critical scribes, highlighting the constant tension between genuine faith and religious opposition that often surrounds God's work. The man's act of kneeling, a posture of deep humility and earnest entreaty, immediately signals the desperate nature of his plea and his profound respect for Jesus.
Jesus has just come down from the glorious Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, only to find the remaining disciples struggling with a crowd and a heated dispute with some scribes. As Jesus approaches, a distressed father pushes through the crowd, falling to his knees before Him in a desperate plea for help for his son who is tormented by an evil spirit.
Jesus has just come down from the glorious Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, only to find the remaining disciples struggling with a crowd and a heated dispute with some scribes. As Jesus approaches, a distressed father pushes through the crowd, falling to his knees before Him in a desperate plea for help for his son who is tormented by an evil spirit.
"And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him," — The "multitude" Jesus encounters isn't just a random gathering; it's a mix of expectant followers and critical scribes, highlighting the constant tension between genuine faith and religious oppositio…
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Last reviewed October 2026