Based on the story from Matthew 17, this study explores the lessons learned when the disciples encountered a situation they could not overcome: casting a demon out of a boy.
When the boy’s father complained, Jesus responded in verse 17:
“O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.”
After casting out the demon, the disciples privately asked Jesus why they couldn’t do it. His reply in verse 20 was:
“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.”
He also added in verse 21:
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Key Words and Their Meanings
- Perverse (Greek): To turn aside from the right path; to oppose; to plot against the saving purposes of God; to be corrupt morally; to misinterpret.
- Unbelief (Greek): Weakness in faith in the divine mission of Jesus; obstinate.
The definition of obstinate is:
Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion (mind) or chosen course of action despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
Synonyms of obstinate:
Willful, unyielding, perverse, stiff-necked, immovable, unshakeable, persistent, persevering, single-minded, adamant, firm, steadfast, and determined.
From this, we can see that the words perverse (verse 17) and unbelief (verse 20) are interchangeable.
The Importance of Yielding to God
One of the most important things for Christians is to yield their wills to God.
In Exodus 33:3, God said:
“…for thou art a stiffnecked people…”
In Hebrews 3:19, it reads:
“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
God’s children in the Old Testament struggled with this as well. Their stiff-necked nature and unbelief kept them from entering the Promised Land. They stubbornly refused to yield to God’s will, even as He lovingly tried to guide them.
Turning a Negative Trait into a Positive One
God desires to turn our negative traits into positive ones.
In Psalm 16:8, David says:
“I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
God wants to make us:
- Immovable
- Unshakeable
- Persistent
- Persevering
- Single-minded
- Adamant
- Firm
- Steadfast
- Determined
As a friend once said:
“Doubt creates mountains. Faith moves them.”
Faith as a Grain of Mustard Seed
Compare Matthew 17:20:
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed…”
with Matthew 18:3:
“…and become as little children.”
Little children have big faith. They believe without needing proof or miracles, unlike many adults in the New Testament. Children can easily be persuaded to trust in God’s power.
If we become as little children, we will have the faith needed to move mountains.
Conversion: From Obstinate to Yielding
In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said:
“Except ye be converted…”
The word converted (Greek) means:
To turn around; to turn oneself from one’s course of conduct or action; to change one’s mind.
This contrasts sharply with obstinacy, which means to turn away.
- Being perverse/obstinate: Turning away.
- Being converted/childlike: Turning to God.
Prayer, Fasting, and Humility
In Matthew 17:21, Jesus told His disciples:
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
In Acts 1:14, it says:
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…”
In Acts 2:1, it reads:
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
In Matthew 18:4, Jesus said:
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child…”
The Lesson
Compare “prayer and fasting” with humbling ourselves as little children. Jesus taught His disciples:
“In order to have a spirit of humility and see your heart’s true condition, you need to pray and fast. Your mountain is your pride, blocking you from seeing Me. If you persist in this course, nothing will be possible for you. But if you humble yourselves as little children, ‘nothing shall be impossible unto you.’”
Before Jesus’ death, the disciples bickered and fought. After His death, their suffering led them to pray and fast. They became unified, and their obstructive mountain—pride—was removed. Misinterpretation became understanding.