Mark 9:29

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

And {G2532} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, This {G5124} kind {G1085} can {G1410} come forth {G1831} by {G1722} nothing {G3762}, but {G1508} by {G1722} prayer {G4335} and {G2532} fasting {G3521}.

He said to them "This is the kind of spirit that can be driven out only by prayer."

Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”

And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.

Commentary

Mark 9:29 (KJV) records Jesus' crucial response to His disciples after they failed to cast out a demon from a boy. This verse highlights the spiritual power required for certain spiritual battles, emphasizing the role of prayer and fasting.

Context

This verse follows a significant event where Jesus' disciples were unable to deliver a demon-possessed boy, leading to public embarrassment and a challenge to their spiritual authority. When the boy's father brought him to Jesus, Jesus immediately rebuked the unclean spirit and cast it out, demonstrating His supreme power over evil. Privately, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why could not we cast him out?" (see Mark 9:28). Jesus' answer in verse 29 provides the direct explanation for their failure and the necessary spiritual disciplines for success in such formidable spiritual encounters.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Authority and Power: Jesus indicates that not all spiritual opposition is overcome with the same level of spiritual readiness. Some demonic influences are particularly entrenched or powerful, requiring a deeper connection to God's authority and a greater measure of spiritual power.
  • The Necessity of Prayer: Prayer is presented as the primary means of accessing divine power. It signifies dependence on God, acknowledging that victory in spiritual warfare comes not from human strength or technique, but from God's intervention (compare with John 15:5, "without me ye can do nothing").
  • The Role of Fasting: Coupled with prayer, fasting is a discipline that helps to subdue the flesh and heighten spiritual sensitivity. It demonstrates earnestness, consecration, and a willingness to make personal sacrifice to seek God's face and power. While some ancient manuscripts omit "and fasting," its inclusion in the KJV and many other texts underscores its historical significance in Christian spiritual practice, particularly for challenging spiritual situations.
  • Dealing with Stubborn Spiritual Oppression: The phrase "This kind" suggests a category of spiritual entity that is unusually resistant. Jesus teaches His followers that certain spiritual strongholds require extraordinary spiritual measures from those who desire to see deliverance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "This kind" (Greek: touto to genos) refers to a specific type or category of evil spirit. It implies that some demonic oppressions are more deeply rooted or resistant than others, necessitating a greater spiritual exertion on the part of the deliverer. The verb "come forth" (Greek: ekporeuetai) means to go out or depart, specifically referring to the expulsion of the demonic entity.

Practical Application

For believers today, Mark 9:29 serves as a profound reminder of the spiritual nature of many challenges we face. It teaches that while we have been given authority in Christ (as seen in Luke 10:19), exercising that authority effectively, especially against stubborn spiritual opposition like addictions, strongholds, or persistent negative patterns, often requires dedicated spiritual disciplines.

The verse encourages us to deepen our commitment to earnest prayer, and when led by the Holy Spirit, to incorporate fasting into our spiritual walk. These practices align our wills with God's, sharpen our spiritual discernment, and empower us to participate in His work of deliverance and transformation in our lives and the lives of others, understanding that some spiritual battles require a higher level of spiritual engagement.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • James 5:15

    And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

  • 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.

  • Daniel 9:3

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

  • Ephesians 6:18

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

  • 1 Kings 17:20

    And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

  • 1 Kings 17:22

    And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

  • Luke 11:26

    Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first.
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