Mark 9:28

KJV

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when he {G846} was come {G1525} into {G1519} the house {G3624}, his {G846} disciples {G3101} asked {G1905} him {G846} privately {G2596}{G2398}, Why {G3754} could {G1410} not {G3756} we {G2249} cast {G1544} him {G846} out {G1544}?

Complete Jewish Bible

After Yeshua had gone indoors, his talmidim asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

Berean Standard Bible

After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

American Standard Version

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following a public and humbling failure to cast out a demon, Jesus' disciples seized a private moment with their Lord to seek understanding. This pivotal verse captures their earnest inquiry, revealing their confusion and a genuine desire to comprehend why their previously effective spiritual authority had failed them in this specific instance. It sets the stage for Jesus' profound instruction on the nature of spiritual power, the conditions for its effective exercise, and the deeper requirements of faith and prayer.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 9:28 immediately follows a dramatic and deeply significant sequence of events. Jesus has just descended from the [Mount of Transfiguration](/mark/9-2-8 "Mark 9:2-8 - The Transfiguration"), where He revealed His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. This sublime moment of divine affirmation is starkly contrasted by the chaos and spiritual impotence awaiting them below. A desperate father had brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples, who, despite having been previously empowered by Jesus to cast out demons ([Mark 6:7](/mark/6-7 "Mark 6:7 - Jesus Sends Out the Twelve")), were utterly unable to deliver the boy. This public failure led to a dispute among the scribes and the crowd's astonishment, culminating in Jesus' swift and decisive intervention to heal the boy ([Mark 9:14-27](/mark/9-14-27 "Mark 9:14-27 - Jesus Heals a Demonic Boy")). The disciples' private question in [Mark 9:28](/mark/9-28 "Mark 9:28 - Disciples' Private Question") is a direct consequence of their embarrassment and confusion, prompting Jesus to offer crucial, intimate teaching.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, demon possession was a recognized and feared reality, often associated with physical ailments and spiritual oppression. Exorcism was practiced by various religious figures, but Jesus' authority in this realm was unparalleled, consistently demonstrating His unique power over evil spirits. Rabbis often engaged in private instruction with their closest disciples, a common pedagogical method that allowed for candid questions, deeper explanations, and the transmission of nuanced teachings away from the general public. The setting "into the house" underscores this intimate, private teaching environment, a common practice for Jesus and His inner circle, as seen in other instances where He explains parables or difficult concepts ([Mark 4:10-12](/mark/4-10-12 "Mark 4:10-12 - Purpose of Parables"), [Mark 7:17-23](/mark/7-17-23 "Mark 7:17-23 - What Defiles a Person")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Mark's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the **disciples' ongoing learning and spiritual formation**. Despite their privileged position and previous empowerment, they still had much to learn about the nature of spiritual authority and dependence on God. Their question is a testament to their humility and desire for growth. Secondly, it underscores the **supremacy of Jesus' authority** over all spiritual forces, contrasting His effortless power with the disciples' struggle. Thirdly, it introduces the theme of **the necessity of deeper spiritual discipline** (prayer and fasting, as revealed in [Mark 9:29](/mark/9-29 "Mark 9:29 - Jesus' Answer on Prayer and Fasting")) for effective spiritual warfare. Finally, the private setting emphasizes the theme of **intimate discipleship**, where Jesus provides tailored instruction to His followers, preparing them for future ministry and deepening their understanding of the Kingdom of God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **privately (Greek, _kat' idian'_):** This phrase combines the preposition `katá` (G2596), meaning "down" or "according to," and the adjective `ídios` (G2398), meaning "one's own" or "private." Together, they denote a setting "by themselves" or "apart," emphasizing the intimate and personal nature of the disciples' inquiry. It signifies a deliberate separation from the crowds, allowing for a candid and focused conversation with Jesus.
* **could not (Greek, _ouk edynēthēmen'_):** This phrase combines the absolute negative `ou` (G3756), meaning "no" or "not," with the aorist indicative form of `dýnamai` (G1410), meaning "to be able" or "to be possible." The disciples' question, "Why could not we...?" directly expresses their inability and lack of power in this specific situation, highlighting a significant spiritual deficiency or barrier they encountered.
* **cast him out (Greek, _ekbalein auton'_):** The verb `ekbállō` (G1544) means "to eject," "to cast forth," or "to drive out." It is consistently used in the Gospels to describe the forceful expulsion of demons. The disciples' inability to "cast him out" underscores their failure to exercise the spiritual authority they had previously demonstrated, prompting their urgent need for explanation from Jesus.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he was come into the house,"**: This clause establishes the setting for the private conversation. Jesus, having descended from the mountain and dealt with the public spectacle, retreats with His disciples into a private dwelling (`oîkos`, G3624). This transition from public ministry to private instruction is a recurring pattern in Mark's Gospel, signifying a shift to deeper, more intimate teaching moments reserved for His closest followers.
* **"his disciples asked him privately,"**: This highlights the initiative taken by the disciples and the confidential nature of their inquiry. The phrase "privately" (`kat' idian`, G2596 G2398) indicates their desire for an unhindered, personal explanation away from the ears of the curious crowds or scribes. Their act of asking (`eperōtáō`, G1905) demonstrates their humility and genuine desire to understand their failure and grow in their spiritual walk.
* **"Why could not we cast him out?"**: This is the core of their question, revealing their perplexity and frustration. They had previously been given authority to perform exorcisms ([Mark 6:7](/mark/6-7 "Mark 6:7 - Jesus Gives Authority to the Twelve")) and had successfully done so. Their inability to deal with this particular demon-possessed boy was a significant and humbling setback, leading them to seek an explanation from the ultimate source of spiritual authority, Jesus Himself.

#### Literary Devices
Mark employs several literary devices in this verse. The immediate **Juxtaposition** of the glorious Transfiguration with the disciples' humiliating failure highlights the vast chasm between divine power and the limitations of human effort, even among those commissioned by Christ. The disciples' question itself is a form of **Inquiry**, serving as a narrative device to prompt Jesus' crucial teaching in the subsequent verse. The setting "into the house" functions as a **Symbol** of intimate discipleship and a place where deeper truths are revealed, contrasting with the public arena where the disciples' weakness was exposed. There is also an element of **Irony**, as those who had been given authority to cast out demons found themselves powerless, underscoring that spiritual power is not merely a given ability but requires ongoing spiritual alignment and dependence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 9:28 serves as a profound theological lesson on the nature of spiritual authority and the conditions for its effective exercise. It reveals that while Christ grants authority to His followers, the manifestation of that power is not automatic or dependent solely on a past commission. Instead, it requires a continuous, deepening reliance on God, a humble acknowledgment of human limitation, and often, specific spiritual disciplines. The disciples' failure, therefore, becomes a crucial teaching moment, underscoring that genuine spiritual power flows from an intimate, dependent relationship with the Father through the Son, rather than from a mere delegated ability. This incident reminds believers that spiritual warfare is not fought on human terms but through divine enablement, emphasizing the need for persistent prayer and faith.

* [Mark 9:29](/mark/9-29 "Mark 9:29 - Jesus' Answer on Prayer and Fasting"): Jesus directly answers their question, stating, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting," revealing the spiritual prerequisites.
* [Matthew 17:19-21](/matthew/17-19-21 "Matthew 17:19-21 - Parallel Account of the Disciples' Failure"): The parallel account in Matthew reinforces the same lesson, with Jesus emphasizing the role of faith, even a small amount, in moving mountains.
* [Luke 10:17-20](/luke/10-17-20 "Luke 10:17-20 - The Seventy-Two Return"): Later, the seventy-two disciples rejoice that even the demons are subject to them in Jesus' name, showing that their authority was indeed real, but its exercise was contingent on their spiritual state and reliance on Christ.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The disciples' private question in Mark 9:28 resonates deeply with the experiences of believers today. We, too, often encounter situations—spiritual, personal, or communal—where our efforts fall short, and our perceived abilities seem insufficient. This verse encourages us to adopt the disciples' posture of humble inquiry rather than despair or self-condemnation. When we face spiritual obstacles that seem insurmountable or when our ministry efforts yield no fruit, the appropriate response is not to give up but to retreat with the Lord, just as the disciples did "into the house," and ask, "Why could not we...?" This moment of honest self-assessment and direct appeal to Christ is crucial for spiritual growth. It reminds us that true power for ministry and overcoming spiritual opposition does not originate from our own strength, past successes, or even a general commission, but from a profound and ongoing dependence on God through prayer, faith, and a lifestyle of spiritual discipline. Our failures can become the very catalysts for deeper revelation and a more robust reliance on the Lord's inexhaustible power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you experienced a spiritual setback or failure that prompted you to ask "Why?"**
* **How do you typically respond to perceived failures in your spiritual life or ministry? Do you approach the Lord in humble inquiry?**
* **What does this passage teach you about the source of true spiritual power, and how might you cultivate a deeper dependence on it?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry do you need to seek private, candid instruction from the Lord, just as the disciples did?**

### FAQ
**Why did the disciples ask Jesus "privately" about their failure?**

Answer: The disciples asked Jesus privately because their failure to cast out the demon had been a very public and embarrassing event, leading to a dispute among the scribes and a crowd's astonishment. Retreating "into the house" provided a safe, intimate space, away from public scrutiny and potential misunderstanding, where they could candidly express their confusion and seek a direct, unhindered explanation from Jesus. This private setting was characteristic of Jesus' teaching method for His closest followers, allowing for deeper, more personal instruction on critical spiritual truths, as seen in other instances like His explanation of parables in [Mark 4:10-12](/mark/4-10-12 "Mark 4:10-12 - The Purpose of Parables").

**Did the disciples lose the authority Jesus had previously given them to cast out demons?**

Answer: No, the disciples did not lose their authority. Jesus had indeed given them authority over unclean spirits in [Mark 6:7](/mark/6-7 "Mark 6:7 - Jesus Sends Out the Twelve"), and they had successfully exercised it. This incident in [Mark 9:14-27](/mark/9-14-27 "Mark 9:14-27 - Jesus Heals a Demonic Boy") highlights that while the authority was given, its effective exercise was contingent upon certain spiritual conditions, particularly for "this kind" of demon, which Jesus later explains requires prayer and fasting ([Mark 9:29](/mark/9-29 "Mark 9:29 - Jesus' Answer on Prayer and Fasting")). It was not a revocation of authority but a deeper lesson on the spiritual prerequisites for wielding that authority in challenging situations.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 9:28, with the disciples' bewildered question, points profoundly to Christ as the ultimate source and embodiment of all spiritual power. Their inability to cast out the demon, contrasted with Jesus' immediate and effortless deliverance of the boy ([Mark 9:25-27](/mark/9-25-27 "Mark 9:25-27 - Jesus Rebukes the Spirit")), underscores that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")). The disciples' failure serves to highlight the absolute sufficiency of Christ alone; He is the one in whom "all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily" ([Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of God in Christ")), and it is from His inexhaustible power that believers draw their strength. Their question, "Why could not we cast him out?" is ultimately answered in the New Covenant by the believer's union with Christ, for it is only "in Him" that we have been given "fullness" ([Colossians 2:10](/colossians/2-10 "Colossians 2:10 - Fullness in Christ")) and are enabled to do "all things through Christ who strengthens me" ([Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - Strength in Christ")). The lesson is not about increasing our own power, but about deepening our dependence on the One who has already triumphed over "all rule and authority and power and dominion" ([Ephesians 1:21](/ephesians/1-21 "Ephesians 1:21 - Christ's Supremacy")). Thus, the disciples' moment of weakness becomes a powerful testament to the necessity of abiding in Christ ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in Christ")) for any true spiritual effectiveness.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:19

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 13:10

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Mark 7:17

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

Matthew 15:15

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

Mark 4:10

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

Matthew 13:36

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.