Topical Bible: Demons: The Epileptic Boy

◄ Demons: The Epileptic Boy ►

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The account of the epileptic boy, often referred to as the healing of the demon-possessed boy, is a significant event in the New Testament, illustrating the power of Jesus over demonic forces and the importance of faith. This narrative is found in the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-43.

Biblical Account

In the Gospel of Matthew, the episode begins as Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, descends from the Mount of Transfiguration. They encounter a crowd, and a man approaches Jesus, kneeling before Him. The man pleads for his son, who suffers from severe seizures, often falling into fire or water. The father explains that he brought the boy to Jesus' disciples, but they were unable to heal him. Jesus responds, "O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me" (Matthew 17:17). Jesus rebukes the demon, and it comes out of the boy, who is healed from that moment.

In Mark's account, the father describes the boy's condition in more detail, noting that a spirit seizes him, throws him to the ground, and causes him to foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth, and become rigid. The father expresses doubt, saying, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (Mark 9:22). Jesus replies, "If You can? All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). The father immediately cries out, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). Jesus commands the unclean spirit to leave and never return, and the boy is restored.

Luke's Gospel provides a concise version, emphasizing the crowd's amazement at the majesty of God following the boy's healing.

Theological Significance

This miracle underscores several key theological themes. First, it highlights Jesus' authority over demonic forces, affirming His divine power and mission. The inability of the disciples to cast out the demon points to the necessity of faith and reliance on God. Jesus' rebuke of the "unbelieving and perverse generation" serves as a call to deeper faith and trust in God's power.

The father's plea, "I do believe; help my unbelief," resonates with many believers, acknowledging the struggle between faith and doubt. Jesus' response demonstrates His compassion and willingness to meet individuals where they are, providing the strength needed to overcome spiritual challenges.

Faith and Prayer

The disciples' question about their inability to drive out the demon leads to an important teaching on faith and prayer. In Matthew, Jesus tells them, "Because you have so little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). Mark adds that this kind of demon can only come out by prayer (Mark 9:29), emphasizing the necessity of spiritual discipline and dependence on God.

Conclusion

The healing of the epileptic boy serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' divine authority and the transformative power of faith. It challenges believers to cultivate a deeper trust in God and to engage in prayer as a means of accessing divine strength and overcoming spiritual obstacles.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 17:14-18
And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
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Mark 9:17-27
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought to you my son, which has a dumb spirit;
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Luke 9:37-42
And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
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Library

His Life
... JESUS STILLS THE STORM. THE LEGION OF DEMONS. THE DYING CHILD AND THE SUFFERING
WOMAN. ... THE TRANSFIGURATION. THE EPILEPTIC BOY. THE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/

Preface.
... 79. 8. A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE LAKE Jesus Stills the Storm. 80 The Legion of Demons.
80 The Dying Child and the Suffering Woman. ... 106 The Epileptic Boy. 108. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/preface.htm

Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
... His child was deaf, dumb, and epileptic, but all these ... demon went out of him: and
the boy was cured ... Demons, like spirits in the flesh, have different degrees ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxx third withdrawal from herods 5.htm

The Casting Out of Devils.
... man when that wild troop of maddening and defiling demons, which had ... was on the mount
of transfiguration, a dumb, epileptic, and lunatic boy was brought by ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/vii the casting out of.htm