The Life Of Jesus Christ In Its Historical Connexion

By Augustus Neander

Section 188. Christ tells the Disciples the Cause of their Failure.--The Power of Faith.--Prayer and Fasting. (Matt., xvii., 20, 21.)

After this experience, so important in view of the coming independent labours of the disciples, they asked of Christ, "Why could not we cast him out?" and thus gave him occasion to point out to them a twofold ground in their own selves, viz.: (1) a want of perfectly confiding faith, and (2) a want of that complete devotion to God and renunciation of the world which is implied in prayer and fasting. The former presupposes the latter, and the latter reacts upon the former. "Because of your unbelief; [515] for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, [516] ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, [517] and nothing shall be impossible unto you." [518] And then he adds (probably after some intermediate sentences not reported in this brief but substantial account): "Such a power of the Evil Spirit as is in this form of demoniacal disease can only be overcome by prayer and fasting." That is, by that ardent prayer [519] which is offered in humiliation before God, and abstraction from the world, in still collectedness of soul, undisturbed by corporeal feelings. Doubtless, by this whole statement, Christ intended to satisfy the disciples that they were not spiritually prepared fully to discharge the duties of their ministry. [520]