Mark 9:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

NIV: He replied, 'This kind can come out only by prayer.'

NASB: And He said to them, 'This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer.'

CSB: And he told them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer."

NLT: Jesus replied, 'This kind can be cast out only by prayer. '

KJV: And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

NKJV: So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

Less-credible manuscripts contain a version of this statement indicating this type of demon could only be expelled with prayer "and fasting." However, those words are not in the older or more reliable manuscripts. Further, Jesus has already established that fasting is inappropriate while He is present (Mark 2:18–20). In Matthew 17:20, Jesus explains the disciples do not have enough faith. Prayer and faith are completely entwined. It is faith that drives us to talk to God, to tell Him our needs, and to express to Him how we rely on Him.

Many wonder why we should pray at all if God knows everything we need. That's a selfish view of prayer, as if it is only to compel God to give us what we want. It is often noted that prayer doesn't change God, it changes us. Especially in cases like this, where Jesus' followers are expected to act with the power of God, we need prayer to maintain and strengthen our relationship with God.

This emphasis on prayer shows that faith only works in the context of a relationship with God. We can't make a single decision to follow Him and then forever enjoy the benefits of His empowerment. We don't have the capacity to hold that much strength, like some kind of spiritual capacitor. We must be renewed every day.

Jesus here affirms there are different types of demons with different characteristics, but He does not give details. Passages such as Daniel 10 and Mark 5:10 hint that some demons may be assigned or restricted to a specific geographical location. The mute boy shows that certain demons have specific effects on their victims. But neither apocryphal and pseudepigraphal books on demons nor grimoires and occultic books are to be trusted. Most names given to demons, such as Lucifer, or "Day Star" (Isaiah 14:12–18), and Beelzebub/Beelzebul (Mark 3:22) are metaphors of Satan. "Legion" was so named because it was a group of demons (Mark 5:9). Abaddon or Apollyon is the demonic leader of the demons which are currently imprisoned in the Abyss (Revelation 9:1–3, 11). But reliable information about the specifics of demons is scarce; it's not something Christians should concentrate on.

Mark 9:14–29 follows the transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John went up a mountain with Jesus and saw a display of His glory as God. They also saw Moses and Elijah and heard God affirm Jesus as His Son. Now the three disciples and Jesus return from the mountain and find the remaining disciples arguing with Jewish scribes. The disciples have tried to expel a dangerous demon from a young boy but have been unable despite having performed exorcisms before (Mark 6:7–13). Jesus explains that to do God's work, we need faith in Him and to be empowered by Him. This section is parallel to Matthew 17:14–20 and Luke 9:37–43.

Mark 9 continues Jesus' efforts to teach the disciples who He is, what He has come to do, and what their role is in His mission. The chapter begins with the transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John catch a glimpse of Jesus' glory, and ends back in Capernaum. Jesus spends most of that time teaching. Although the disciples do quarrel with the scribes, the misconceptions and errors Jesus addresses come from the disciples, themselves, not outsiders. In the next chapter, He will leave Galilee and travel toward Jerusalem and the cross.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.