The Connection Between Demons and Sickness and Prayer and Fasting? Matthew 17:14-21

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 

Right after the three disciples have the mountaintop experience with Jesus, they get right back into the thick of things.  

“It is easy to feel Christian in the moment of prayer and meditation; it is easy to feel close to God when the world is shut out. But that is not religion – that is escapism. Real religion is to rise from our knees before God to meet men and the problems of the human situation.” (Barclay)

The man expressed respect and humility as he kneels before Jesus. 

15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 

The man likewise addresses Jesus with a term of respect "Lord", which could also mean "sir".  Luke and Mark tell us that this was the man's only son."  

The affliction seems like the combination of a physical malady, the seizures and spiritual affliction through the demon.  This does not mean that anybody who has a seizure has a demon, that would be erroneous assumption.  In other accounts, we see that the boy's condition also caused him to throw himself to the ground, and also into the fire.  The self destructive part of his illness would seem to be more related to the demonic affliction.  

16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

Though the disciples had healed people in other situations, they could not in this case. Many think these were not the "apostles", but some of Jesus' other disciples, or the other nine.  Remember Jesus had before sent 72 disciples out to heal the sick and cast out demons.  They came back excited saying, "Lord even the demons submit to us in Jesus' name." Luke 10:17

"Their failure was in fact good for them. Their failure taught them · It taught them not to get into a rut of mechanical ministry. It taught them the great superiority of Jesus. It taught them to wish for the presence of Jesus. It taught them to come to Jesus with the problem." (Guzik)

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 

Jesus seems disappointed that the disciples could not heal the boy.  Perhaps he was also addressing the larger crowd including the Jewish leaders in his rebuke.  As Jesus nears the cross, he grows more and more frustrated about the rejection he is experiencing.  He doesn't address the disciples but "an unbelieving and perverse generation.", which leads us to believe he is addressing more than just the disciples.  He is near the cross and showing his humanness here.  

In Mark's version, we see the father asking if Jesus can heal him, perhaps even doubting Jesus.  But Jesus says to him that for those who believe all things are possible.  To which the man replies, 

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:23

18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

Jesus addresses the demon directly implying that the demon was more the cause of the destructive manifestations than the disease itself.  We can surmise this because as soon as the demon is cast out the man, he is healed and in his right mind. 

This brings up the question of how much the sickness and disease were connected with the demonic influence. 

"Speaking generally, the language of the New Testament seems to recognise, if not in all diseases, yet at least in all that disturb the moral equilibrium of man’s nature, an infraction of the divine order, and therefore rightly sees in them the work, directly or indirectly, of the great antagonist of that order. All our Lord’s works of mercy are summed up by St. Peter in the words that “He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38), and on this supposition the particular phenomena of each case were logically ascribed to demoniac forces." Ellicott

Pastorally speaking, I think we need to be very careful drawing a conclusion because someone is sick, they are experiencing demonic affliction.  Yet, we must acknowledge that if the devil came to kill, steal and destroy, he certainly can be at work in any affliction. If nothing else he can try and dismantle someone's faith. 

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

Seems like a logical and appropriate question, and shows that they are open to being taught and trained in this type of ministry. 

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

Jesus responds to their inquiry by basically telling them they did not have enough faith to cast out the demon.  

"The faith that we must have has more to do with what kind of faith it is than with how much faith there is. A small amount of faith, as small as a mustard seed (a very small seed), can accomplish great things if that small amount of faith is placed in the great and mighty God." Guzik

21 This kind only comes out by fasting and prayer.  

Not only is having faith important, but also the spiritual disciplines Jesus has given us of prayer and fasting.  Jesus seems to be indicating an intensity of prayer and fasting that the disciples had not yet experienced.  But Jesus definitely points out a qualitative difference in this demon, implying that different demons have different amounts of authority and power.

"Joined with an eminent degree of the faith he had been describing. He intended by this to excite them to intercede with God for his more abundant co-operation; and by such extraordinary devotions to endeavour to prepare their souls for his further influences. What a testimony have we here of the efficacy of fasting, when added to fervent prayer! Some kinds of devils the apostles had east out before this without fasting."  Ellicott

What has been your experience of praying for those who are ill?  Have you seen God's power in healing someone of a disease or sickness in your prayer or in someone else?  Why do you think faith is such an important of our praying for healing in others?  Have you ever confronted or experienced a demon in someone else?  Does even the thought of this create fear for you?  It is highly unlikely the devil is any less involved in the sickness and diseases we see in our society today, than in the story today.  While we need to be careful not to overemphasize the devil's influence, we should remember from stories like these that he can be involved in all sorts of maladies that affect our lives and health.  

As we confront sickness, disease and evil, let's remember the importance of fervent prayer AND fasting. I know I do not fast enough in conjunction with praying for those who are sick. Given Jesus tells the disciples to do it, we should do it too!