Why could we not cast it out?

Why could we not cast it out?

*Reference: Matthew 17:14–23*

A pattern worth noticing: most of us ask questions of Jesus, or of fellow humans, that come from confusion, fear, ambition, or failure—the disciples ask theirs in the middle of not understanding, not from a comfortable distance. Their failure was not a lack of authority but a lack of dependence—faith diluted by self-reliance, prayer left behind. Jesus turns the question into the remedy: bring the failure to Me, and trust the God who does the casting out.

At the bottom of the mountain, Jesus walks into chaos: a crowd, an argument, a father desperate for help. His son has seizures—falling into fire and water—though the text frames it as demonic affliction. The father says he brought the boy to the disciples, "but they could not heal him." This isn't their first attempt; Jesus had already sent them out with explicit authority to cast out demons (Matthew 10:1, 8), and they had done it successfully. It's a breakdown in something that had previously worked.

Jesus attributes the failure directly to their "unbelief" (or "little faith"). They had been given authority over unclean spirits, but on this occasion they relied on past experience or technique rather than active, dependent faith in God. This case required deeper spiritual engagement—prayer (and fasting). Before addressing the boy, Jesus says, "How long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?" (17:17)—language resonating with Moses' complaints about Israel (Deuteronomy 32:5). He then rebukes the demon, and the boy is healed instantly.

The diagnosis falls into three areas:

Qualitative Deficiency: The Greek term *oligopistia* suggests a faith diluted by doubt or self-reliance, rather than a complete absence of belief.

Loss of Dependence: They had cast out demons before (Matthew 10:1), but here acted as if the power were automatic or a matter of technique, rather than flowing from a dependent relationship with Christ.

The Mustard Seed: Jesus clarified that even a tiny amount of genuine, God-directed faith could accomplish what appeared impossible (like moving a mountain), shifting focus from the size of their faith to the power of the God in whom they trusted.

The missing element is prayer and fasting—not magical formulas, but disciplines that realign the believer's heart with God's will and express desperate dependence on His power. Their failure to pray indicated a lack of this reliance.

Heavenly Father, You alone are the Rock—perfect in all Your works, faithful in all Your ways. You shield us, provide for us, and carry us as the apple of Your eye. We will not forget Your goodness nor trade Your strength for our own. Forgive us for ministering out of self-confidence rather than dependence on You—treating Your authority as technique. Teach us that mustard-seed faith, rooted in You, moves mountains, and that this kind goes out only by prayer and fasting. Keep us humble, prayerful, wholly reliant on Your Spirit—never on past victories.  And like the disciples, let every failure drive us back to Jesus, who alone has authority to heal, deliver, and restore. May our lives be a living praise until the day we see Your face. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

In His Grip
Shabbat Shalom from Kent, London
Have a great weekend!