Matthew 17:21 - Printer Friendly

Most modern translations don't include these words in book of Matthew. The phrase does not appear in the most reliable manuscripts available. A reference to prayer is included in Mark's account, with a comment on fasting also appearing as a later footnote (Mark 9:29).

Jesus' words, from Mark, imply that some demons require additional effort to exorcise. In the prior verse, from Matthew, Jesus said faith was the heart of the issue for the disciples' failure to cast the demon out (Matthew 17:17). He did not say their primary issue was a lack of prayer and fasting. The true error—the foundation of their failure—was they did not sufficiently trust the power of God to work through them. Jesus was clear that nothing would be impossible for them if they had faith even as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32; 17:20).

Still, prayer and fasting are expressions of faith. It would never be wrong for a Christian to pray or even to fast when trying to accomplish the will of God. It would be wrong, however, to believe that the actions of prayer and fasting are themselves sources of power. Those things are merely expressions of faith in God. His power is what accomplishes the will of God, such as for demons to be removed.

Matthew 17:14–21 finds Jesus and three of the disciples returning from the mountain, to find a crowd gathered around the remaining nine. A desperate father pleads on behalf of his demon-afflicted son who has seizures and often falls into water or fire. The disciples could not cast the demon out (Mark 9:14–29). Jesus, exasperated by the doubt of His disciples, rebukes the demon and heals the boy. When they ask, Jesus tells the disciples their faith was too small to cast out the demon. Even faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to move a mountain. Verse 21 nearly duplicates Mark 9:29 but is not found in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain. There, they see Him "transfigured" into a shining, divine form. They also see Christ speaking with Moses and Elijah but are commanded not to speak of this event until later. Jesus heals a demon-afflicted boy after the disciples cannot cast the demon out. Jesus very clearly tells the disciples He will be delivered into the hands of men, killed, and raised on the third day. After explaining why He is exempt from a temple tax, Jesus agrees to pay it and tells Peter to find the money in the mouth of a fish.

Matthew 17 begins with the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction at the end of the previous chapter: that some of those present would not die before seeing Him coming in His kingdom. Jesus casts out a demon, predicts His death, and commands Peter to pay a temple tax with a coin from the mouth of a fish. This leads Matthew back to extensive records of Jesus' teachings, continuing through chapter 20.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.