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Mark 9

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

What does Mark 9:19 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:19 presents a moment where Jesus expresses exasperation towards the lack of faith among the people, including his own disciples.

This verse contains Jesus's reaction to the inability of His disciples to heal a boy possessed by an evil spirit, which is brought to His attention by the boy's father.

Jesus refers to the people, and possibly the disciples who failed to heal the boy, as a "faithless generation," implying a frustration with their lack of belief and reliance on God's power.

The rhetorical questions, "how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?" reflect Jesus's human side, showing us that He feels a sense of weariness at the continuous doubt and faithlessness He encounters.

Finally, He commands the boy to be brought to Him, indicating His willingness to intervene where His disciples had failed.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The verse in question is located in the Gospel of Mark, which was one of the four canonical gospels and is believed to be the earliest written gospel, dated to around 70 AD.

It reflects the time of Jesus’s ministry in the first century in the region of Galilee and Judea under Roman occupation.

Jesus's words would resonate particularly with the early Christian community who faced disbelief and persecution.

The context involves Jesus responding after He descended from the Mount of Transfiguration where He was revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John.

The disciples who were left at the foot of the mountain were unable to cast out a demon from a boy, which leads to this moment where Jesus expresses His exasperation.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been understood as reflecting the tension between human failure and divine expectation.

From a Christian perspective, it can serve as a demonstration of the necessity for faith in God's power and a relationship with Jesus.

The phrase "O faithless generation" highlights not only the lack of faith among the disciples but also serves as a critique of the broader societal lack of recognition of Jesus's divine authority.

Jesus's questions about how long He must endure such a situation can also be seen as foreshadowing the limited duration of His earthly ministry, hinting at His coming crucifixion and departure from the world.

It underscores the urgency to embrace faith before it's too late.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 9:19 can be seen as a call to self-reflection for believers, asking them to evaluate their own faith and trust in God.

It encourages Christians to seek a deeper and more reliant relationship with God, especially in times of difficulty or when faced with tasks that seem impossible.

It also serves as a reminder of the importance of humility, suggesting that even the closest disciples of Jesus had moments of doubt and were in need of growth.

Jesus's instruction to bring the boy to Him can serve as a metaphor for bringing problems directly to God in prayer and trust.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:17 - "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."
Luke 9:41 - "And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither."
Mark 9:23 - "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
Mark 4:40 - "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse are:

"ἄπιστος" (apistos) - often translated as "faithless," which means lacking faith, trust, and fidelity.

It suggests a clear distance between the individuals and the belief required to recognize Jesus’s authority and to perform miracles.

"γενεά" (genea) - translated to "generation," which in this context refers not just to an age group but to the people of that time who are characterized by a common disposition of unbelief.
"πόσος" (posos) - meaning "how long" that reflects duration or measure and emphasizes Jesus's sense of enduring patience being tested.

Understanding these key Greek terms provides insights into the intensity of Jesus's statements about the collective state of faith around Him.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other religious traditions, figures of authority often express disappointment when their followers or contemporaries fail to live up to expectations.

In the Jewish context, prophets like Jeremiah and Elijah showed frustration at the Israelites' rejection of God's covenant.

In the Bhagavad Gita, within Hinduism, Krishna expresses similar disappointment with Arjuna's reluctance to fulfill his duty.

These moments of reprimand serve as powerful calls to alignment with the divine will and faith within various religious narratives.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific point of view, understanding faith and belief involves studies in psychology and neurology. Researchers have looked into the cognitive processes that underlie belief formation and maintenance, as well as how these affect behavior and community formation.

While science seeks natural explanations for phenomena, the miracles described in the Bible are matters of faith that typically fall outside the realm of scientific inquiry.

However, the emotional exasperation expressed by Jesus can be analyzed by psychology as a natural human response to repeated disappointment or stress.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse and its implications:

Albert Barnes notes that Jesus wasn't as much reprimanding the father of the boy or the afflicted generation, but rather expressing the deep grief that He felt at their unbelief and the sorrow it was causing.
John Gill discusses the duration of time Jesus is referring to as being related to His impending sufferings and death, looking forward to when He would endure no longer, but be glorified with the Father.
Matthew Henry highlights that the discourse is a rebuke of the disciples' lack of faith and spiritual strength, and it is a test to try their faith and patience, and to excite their fervency in prayer.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:19 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 9:19 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?