The Healing of a Boy With a Demon!!

[MiamiHeat]

Hey what's up my peoples! Happy Sabbath!! I have a question on Matthew 17 verse 17. When the man tells Jesus that the disciples couldn't of healed his son, Jesus then says, " O unbelieving and perverse generation," "howlong shall I put up with you? Who is Jesus talking about here? Is he talking about his disciples because they showed little faith in healing the boy?

 

[OntheDL]

Hey what's up my peoples! Happy Sabbath!! I have a question on Matthew 17 verse 17. When the man tells Jesus that the disciples couldn't of healed his son, Jesus then says, " O unbelieving and perverse generation," "howlong shall I put up with you? Who is Jesus talking about here? Is he talking about his disciples because they showed little faith in healing the boy?

The scripture answered your question. Just read on to the next few verses.

17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 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.

 

[seangoh]

Hey MiamiHeat, that's a very good question actually because i see another question leading from the first answer. It's strange why Jesus scolded his disciples of having a lack of faith.

I did a short study and these are my results

Look at Mark 9:14-32 on the same story but it gives many hints on what really was going on.

Here's a summary
-The scribes were questioning the disciples and this meant they were obviously hostile because of something..most likely because they couldn't heal the boy.(v18)
-Jesus comes and ask what's going on.
-Jesus identified the reason of them not being able to cast the demon out(v19)

Have a look before v14. The story before this is the transfiguration where Jesus was with 3 disciples, Peter, James and John. In Desire of Ages, it is said that those 9 disciples that were left behind felt jealous because of this and thus, it affected their casting out of the demon. That's why in v29 Jesus says this kind can only come out by prayer. Not momentary prayer but with a life actuated by prayer. The nine disciples had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances, in a spirit of jealousy because of the favor shown their absent companions (see DA 431). Their state of mind and heart made it impossible for God to work through them.

Therefore, Jesus was justified in scolding them.