17:14 {2} And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a [certain] man, {f} kneeling down to him, and saying,
(2) Men are unworthy of Christ's goodness, yet nonetheless he pays attention to them.
(f) As men used to do when making supplication.
17:14 When they were come to the multitude. Come down out of the mountain. Compare Mr 9:14-29 Lu 9:37-42. Luke says this miracle occurred the next day (Lu 9:37).
17:14 Mark 9:14; Luke 11:37.
17:14-21 The case of afflicted children should be presented to God by faithful and fervent prayer. Christ cured the child. Though the people were perverse, and Christ was provoked, yet care was taken of the child. When all other helps and succours fail, we are welcome to Christ, may trust in him, and in his power and goodness. See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer. It encourages parents to bring children to Christ, whose souls are under Satan's power; he is able to heal them, and as willing as he is able. Not only bring them to Christ by prayer, but bring them to the word of Christ; to means by which Satan's strong-holds in the soul are beaten down. It is good for us to distrust ourselves and our own strength; but it is displeasing to Christ when we distrust any power derived from him, or granted by him. There was also something in the malady which rendered the cure difficult. The extraordinary power of Satan must not discourage our faith, but quicken us to more earnestness in praying to God for the increase of it. Do we wonder to see Satan's bodily possession of this young man from a child, when we see his spiritual possession of every son of Adam from the fall!
