Matthew 17:16

KJV

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} I brought {G4374} him {G846} to thy {G4675} disciples {G3101}, and {G2532} they could {G1410} not {G3756} cure {G2323} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I brought him to your talmidim, but they couldn't heal him."

Berean Standard Bible

I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

American Standard Version

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 17:16 recounts the frustrated plea of a father whose demon-possessed son could not be healed by Jesus' disciples. This pivotal moment, occurring immediately after the Transfiguration, starkly contrasts Jesus' divine power with the disciples' spiritual limitations, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching on the necessity of faith, prayer, and fasting for overcoming formidable spiritual strongholds.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a critical narrative sequence in Matthew's Gospel. It immediately follows the glorious [Transfiguration of Jesus](/matthew/17-1-8 "Matthew 17:1-8 - The Transfiguration"), where Jesus' divine glory was revealed to Peter, James, and John. As Jesus descends from the mountain, He is met by a distressed father, whose son is suffering from severe demonic oppression. The disciples' failure to heal the boy, despite their prior empowerment by Jesus, creates a dramatic tension that highlights the unique authority and power of Jesus, while also setting the stage for His teaching on faith and the nature of spiritual warfare in [Matthew 17:19-21](/matthew/17-19-21 "Matthew 17:19-21 - Faith and Prayer").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the 1st century Jewish world, illnesses, especially those with severe symptoms like seizures or muteness, were often attributed to demonic influence. While modern medicine provides alternative explanations for some conditions, the biblical narrative consistently presents this boy's affliction as a genuine case of demon possession, requiring spiritual intervention. The expectation for a rabbi's disciples to perform healings and exorcisms was common, as evidenced by Jesus' own commissioning of the Twelve in [Matthew 10:1](/matthew/10-1 "Matthew 10:1 - Jesus Empowers His Disciples"). The public failure of the disciples would have been a significant embarrassment, underscoring the profound spiritual challenge posed by this particular demon.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 17:16 contributes to several overarching themes in the Gospel. It underscores the **disciples' human limitations and spiritual immaturity**, contrasting sharply with Jesus' omnipotence, a theme explored further in their later failures and misunderstandings. It vividly illustrates the **reality and intensity of spiritual warfare**, emphasizing that not all afflictions are merely physical but can be manifestations of malevolent spiritual forces. Crucially, this incident serves as a powerful **foreshadowing of the absolute necessity of profound faith and dependence on God** for effective ministry, a lesson Jesus explicitly teaches in [Matthew 17:20](/matthew/17-20 "Matthew 17:20 - The Power of Faith") immediately following this event.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **brought (Greek, _prosphérō'_):** From G4374, meaning "to bear towards, lead to, tender." Here, it signifies the father's act of presenting his son to the disciples, seeking their intervention. It implies an act of hopeful presentation, a bringing forth for a specific purpose – healing.
* **could not (Greek, _ou dýnamai'_):** A combination of G3756 (_ou_, "not") and G1410 (_dýnamai_, "to be able or possible"). This phrase emphatically states the disciples' inability or lack of power. It's not that they chose not to, but that they were incapable, highlighting a significant spiritual deficiency in that moment.
* **cure (Greek, _therapeúō'_):** From G2323, meaning "to wait upon menially, to relieve (of disease), to heal." While it can refer to medical treatment, in this context, it specifically denotes spiritual healing or exorcism. The disciples' failure was not a medical one, but a spiritual inability to command the demon, indicating a deficiency in their spiritual authority or connection to God's power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I brought him to thy disciples":** This clause reveals the father's initiative and his trust, or at least hope, in Jesus' disciples. He had heard of Jesus' power and likely assumed His delegated authority extended fully to His followers. The "him" refers to his son, who was grievously afflicted.
* **"and they could not cure him":** This second clause delivers the devastating outcome. Despite the father's earnest plea and the disciples' prior empowerment, they were utterly unable to provide the desired healing. This failure is a stark and public demonstration of their spiritual limitations at this moment, setting the stage for Jesus' intervention and instruction.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Contrast** by juxtaposing the father's hope and the disciples' inability, which is further amplified by the immediate preceding narrative of Jesus' Transfiguration, where His divine power was on full display. The scene also utilizes **Foreshadowing**, as the disciples' failure here directly precedes and necessitates Jesus' teaching on the power of faith and prayer in the following verses. There is also an element of **Irony**, as those who had been given authority to cast out demons (e.g., [Matthew 10:8](/matthew/10-8 "Matthew 10:8 - Jesus Empowers His Disciples to Heal")) are now powerless in a critical moment, highlighting that spiritual authority is not a static possession but requires ongoing spiritual vitality and dependence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 17:16 is a profound theological statement on the nature of spiritual authority and the source of true power. It underscores that even those commissioned by Christ can face spiritual impasses when their faith is insufficient or when they neglect the spiritual disciplines necessary to wield divine power effectively. The disciples' failure serves as a crucial lesson not only for them but for all believers, reminding us that our effectiveness in ministry is not inherent but is derived from an active, dependent relationship with God. It highlights the reality that some spiritual battles require a deeper level of spiritual engagement than others, challenging believers to cultivate a robust and unwavering faith.

* [Mark 9:18](/mark/9-18 "Mark 9:18 - Disciples' Failure to Cast Out Demon")
* [Luke 9:40](/luke/9-40 "Luke 9:40 - Disciples Unable to Heal")
* [Matthew 21:21](/matthew/21-21 "Matthew 21:21 - The Power of Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 17:16 serves as a sobering reminder that even in our earnest desire to serve God and help others, we will encounter situations where our own strength, wisdom, or past successes prove insufficient. The disciples, despite their close proximity to Jesus and previous empowerment, found themselves utterly powerless before a formidable spiritual adversary. This should humble us, prompting us to recognize that true spiritual power is not a commodity we possess, but a divine enablement we receive through active, dependent faith in Christ. When we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles—whether in our personal lives, our ministries, or the lives of those we seek to help—this verse calls us to examine the depth of our faith, our reliance on God, and our commitment to spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting, which Jesus later highlights as essential for such breakthroughs. It encourages us to shift our focus from our own capabilities to the infinite power of God, trusting Him to accomplish what is impossible for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "impossible" situations are you facing that might require a deeper reliance on God's power rather than your own?**
* **How does the disciples' failure here challenge your understanding of spiritual authority and personal spiritual growth?**
* **In what ways might a lack of faith or neglect of spiritual disciplines be hindering your effectiveness in ministry or personal life?**

### FAQ
**Why were the disciples unable to cure the boy, despite having been given authority by Jesus?**

Answer: The disciples' inability to cure the demon-possessed boy, as stated in [Matthew 17:16](/matthew/17-16 "Matthew 17:16 - Disciples Unable to Cure"), stemmed from a deficiency in their faith and a lack of understanding regarding the spiritual nature of this particular battle. Jesus later explains in [Matthew 17:20](/matthew/17-20 "Matthew 17:20 - Faith as a Mustard Seed") that their failure was due to their "little faith." He further elaborates in [Matthew 17:21](/matthew/17-21 "Matthew 17:21 - Prayer and Fasting") (though this verse is absent in some ancient manuscripts, its thematic truth is supported elsewhere) that "this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting." This suggests that while they had been given general authority, certain spiritual strongholds require a heightened level of spiritual discipline, dependence, and unwavering faith, which they lacked in that moment. Their previous successes may have led to a degree of self-reliance rather than absolute dependence on God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 17:16, highlighting the disciples' failure, powerfully underscores the unique and absolute authority of Jesus Christ. Their inability to cast out the demon serves as a dramatic foil, setting the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His unparalleled power and compassion. Unlike His disciples, Jesus never fails in the face of spiritual darkness. He is the ultimate Healer and Deliverer, the one who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")). This incident points forward to Christ's ultimate victory over all demonic powers and the forces of sin and death through His death and resurrection. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), and through His finished work, He provides the power for believers to overcome spiritual strongholds, not by their own might, but by relying on His indwelling Spirit ([Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - I Can Do All Things Through Christ")). The disciples' failure in [Matthew 17:16](/matthew/17-16 "Matthew 17:16 - Disciples Unable to Cure") ultimately magnifies Christ as the only one truly capable of delivering humanity from the bondage of sin and evil, offering true freedom and healing to all who believe ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")).

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.

Luke 9:40

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

Acts 3:16

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 19:15

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Acts 19:16

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

2 Kings 4:29

Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.