Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Superior to the Disciples (14-23)

A. Because of the Failure of the Disciples (14-16)

(NASB95) 14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out.

I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you?

How long shall I put up with you?

Bring him to Me!” 20 They brought the boy to Him.

When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood.

22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.

But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’

All things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

28 When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

(NASB95) 14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out.

I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you?

How long shall I put up with you?

Bring him to Me!” 20 They brought the boy to Him.

When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood.

22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.

But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’

All things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

28 When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out.

I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you?

How long shall I put up with you?

Bring him to Me!” 20 They brought the boy to Him.

When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood.

22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.

But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’

All things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

28 When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

(NASB95) 37 On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

38 And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, 39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

40 “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”

41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you?

Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion.

But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

37 On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

38 And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, 39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

40 “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”

41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you?

Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion.

But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 23.169 σεληνιάζομαι

23.169 σεληνιάζομαι: to suffer epileptic seizures (associated in ancient times with the supernatural power of the moon)—‘to suffer epileptic seizures, to be an epileptic.’

σεληνιάζεται καὶ κακῶς πάσχει ‘he is an epileptic and suffers terribly’ .

37 On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

38 And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, 39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

40 “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”

41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you?

Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion.

But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

The disciples couldn’t do it — They must have tried all kinds of variations.

“In the name of Jesus the Nazarene (of Cappernam, of Nazareth?…)”

Straight from the glory of the mountain top, he was met by human suffering.

Straight from hearing the voice of God, he came to hear the persistent demands of human need that cried out to him.

The most Christlike people in the world are those who never find other people a nuisance.

It is easy to feel Christian in the moment of prayer and meditation; it is easy to feel close to God when the world is shut out.

But that is not religion—that is escapism.

Real religion is to rise from our knees before God to meet other people and the problems of the human situation.

Real religion is to draw strength from God in order to give it to others.

Real religion involves meeting both God in the secret place and men and women in the market place.

Real religion means taking our own needs to God, not that we may have peace and quiet and undisturbed comfort, but that we may be enabled graciously, effectively and powerfully to meet the needs of others.

The wings of the dove are not for Christians who would follow their Master in going about doing good.

Matthew 17:13-23

23.169 σεληνιάζομαι: to suffer epileptic seizures (associated in ancient times with the supernatural power of the moon)—‘to suffer epileptic seizures, to be an epileptic.’

σεληνιάζεται καὶ κακῶς πάσχει ‘he is an epileptic and suffers terribly’ Mt 17:15.

B. Because of The Majesty of Jesus (17-18)

“Little faith” not “no” faith.