37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. 40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. 41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. 42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. (Luke 9:37-42 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. The person brought to Christ for help and healing; one bodily possessed by Satan, who rent and tore him, but rather to torment than to despatch him. Oh, how does Satan delight to do hurt to the bodies, as well as the souls, of mankind! Lord, abate his power since his malice will not be abated.
Observe, 2. The person who represented his sad condition to our Saviour; his compassionate father, who kneeled down and cried out. Need will make a person both humble and eloquent; everyone has a tongue to speak for himself, happy is he that keeps a tongue for others.
Observe, 3. The physicians which this distressed person is brought unto: first to the disciples, and then to Jesus. We never apply ourselves importunately to the God of power, until we despair of the creature’s help. But what hindered the disciples that they could not cast out this evil spirit? Why, it was their unbelief; O faithless generation.
Learn thence, that the great obstacle and obstruction of all blessings, both spiritual and temporal, coming to us, is our wretched infidelity and unbelief.
Observe, 4. The sovereign power and absolute authority which Christ had when on earth over the devil and his angels: Jesus rebuked him, cast him out, and charged him to return no more into him. This was a proof and demonstration of the Godhead of our Saviour, that, in his own name, that, by his own power and authority, he could and did cast the devils out.
BURKITT | Luke 9:1-6 | Luke 9:7-9 | Luke 9:10-11 | Luke 9:12-17 | Luke 9:18-22 | Luke 9:23-24 | Luke 9:25 | Luke 9:26 | Luke 9:27 | Luke 9:28-36 | Luke 9:37-42 | Luke 9:43-45 | Luke 9:46-48 | Luke 9:49-50 | Luke 9:51 | Luke 9:52-53 | Luke 9:54 | Luke 9:55-56 | Luke 9:57-58 | Luke 9:59-60 | Luke 9:61-62 |