"However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (matt 17:14-21) What does this mean?

[smartammo]

I would like to know if there is a deeper meaning to this statement from Matthew 17:21. If the disciples can send out any demons, what special demon was this? or is there something else I am not able to see.

 

[complete]

'And when they were come to the multitude,​

there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,​

Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed:​

for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.​

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

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.​

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him:​

and the child was cured from that very hour.​

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart,​

and said, Why could not we cast him out?​

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.​

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'​

(Mat 17:14-21)​

Hello @smartammo,

'This kind', implying different kinds. ( see Matthew 12:45; Acts 16:17; 1 John 4:1):-

'When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, (if it goes of it's own accord it can return, but not when bound and cast out as in v.29)​

he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.​

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out;​

and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.​

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself 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.​

Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.;​

(Mat 12:43-45)​

'And it came to pass, as we went to prayer,​

a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us,​

which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:​

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying,​

These men are the servants of the most high God,​

which shew unto us the way of salvation.​

And this did she many days.​

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit,​

I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.​

And he came out the same hour.'​

(Act 16:16-18)​

​

'Beloved, believe not every spirit,​

but try the spirits whether they are of God:​

because many false prophets are gone out into the world.​

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:​

Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:​

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:​

and this is that spirit of antichrist,​

whereof ye have heard that it should come;​

and even now already is it in the world.'​

(1 John 4:1-3)​

* In Matthew 17:14-21, it was a 'devil' that was cast out. The Strong's No. for this word is [G1140] (Gr. daimonion) meaning a daemonic being,

a devil or supernatural being of a bad nature and occurs 60 times in Scripture.​

* in Matthew 12:43-45, it is an 'unclean' [G169] spirit, meaning, (impure foul and unclean) is cast out.
* In Acts 16:16-18, it is a spirit of divination [G443] (1 occurrence).
* In 1 John 4:1-3, it is the spirit of antichrist (which opposes the Messiah ) [G500] (5 occurrences).

Differing spiritual beings which perform differing functions. Worth looking up other occurrences.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

;And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples,
He gave them power against unclean spirits (G169),
to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease.'
(Mat 10:1)

Hello @@smartammo,

The Lord had empowered the twelve before sending them out to go before Him, and prepare the way, and one form of empowerment was against unclean spirits, but the spiritual being causing the problem in Matthew 17:17-21 was not an unclean spirit (religious or moral), but a demonic being of another kind, which the Lord informs them requires prayer to cast out.

When disputing with the devil about the body of Moses (in Jude 1:8-9), the Archangel Michael himself dare not bring an accusation against him, but instead said, 'The Lord rebuke thee'. He submitted himself to God. Also James says in James 4:7 to:- 'Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' Submission to God comes first, before resistance, then the devil will flee. There is obviously the need for caution in regard to these beings, and therefore the need for prayer, as in chapter 17, bringing the supernatural being to God, Who alone has the power and authority to deal with it.

These are only my thoughts @smartammo, therefore flawed, but I give them to you.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

'In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
And it shall come to pass in that day,
saith the LORD of hosts,
that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land,
and they shall no more be remembered:
and also I will cause the prophets
and the unclean spirit (religious impurity)
to pass out of the land.'
(Zec 13:1-2)

* This was religious impurity and not moral impurity.

 

[complete]

'And when they were come to the multitude,
there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed:
for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
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.​

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him:
and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart,
and said, Why could not we cast him out?
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.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'
(Mat 17:14-21)

Hello again, @smartammo,

It is interesting (at least it is to me) that when the Archangel Michael had his confrontation with the Devil, he dare not rebuke him, but said instead, 'The Lord rebuke thee.' Yet the Lord rebukes the devil (daemonic being) without hesitation in the verses above. How revealing!!

'And Jesus rebuked the devil ( G1140); and he departed out of him:
and the child was cured from that very hour.'
(Mat 17:18)

Praise God!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

'Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?
the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself:
but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me:
or else believe Me for the very works' sake.'
(Joh 14:10-11)