Lack of faith

1. Harsh
Words
Matthew 17:14–23

2. Matthew 17:14-23
When they came to the crowd, a man came up to
Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying,
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic
and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and
often into the water. I brought him to Your
disciples, and they could not cure him.” And Jesus
answered and said, “You unbelieving

3. Matthew 17:14-23
and perverted generation, how long shall I be
with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring
him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked him, and the
demon came out of him, and the boy was cured
at once. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately
and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And
He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your

4. Matthew 17:14-23
faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the
size of a mustard seed, you will say to this
mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will
move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
“But this kind does not go out except by prayer
and fasting.” And while they were gathering
together in Galilee, Jesus said to them,

5. Matthew 17:14-23
“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the
hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will
be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply
grieved.

6. Harsh
Words
Matthew 17:14–23

7. Full View
When they came to the crowd, a man came up to
Jesus, falling on his knees before Him…
Disciples
Scribes
Crowd
Father and demon possed child

8. A father’s plea
Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is
a lunatic and is very ill; for he often
falls into the fire and often into the
water. I brought him to Your disciples,
and they could not cure him.

9. The son’s condition
lunatic
very ill

10. Disciples’ condition
Could not cure him

11. Harsh words
You unbelieving and perverted generation

12. Song of Moses
Deuteronomy 32:5…They have acted corruptly
toward Him, They are not His children, because of
their defect; But are a perverse and crooked
generation.

13. Allusion?
Deuteronomy 32:20…I will hide My face from
them, I will see what their end shall be; For they
are a perverse generation, Sons in whom is no
faithfulness.

14. To whom?
…how long shall I be with you? How long shall I
put up with you?

15. Bring him here to Me
And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out
of him, and the boy was cured at once.

16. Tell me why
Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I
say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard
seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from
here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will
be impossible to you.

17. Not original but…
Mark 9:29…And He said to them, “This kind
cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

18. Yet again
The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the
hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will
be raised on the third day.
Criticize small faith
Building faith

19. Our Take-Away
Jesus speaks to us as we need
It ok to be uncomfortable
Jesus is more concerned with building faith
How’s your faith?

20. Harsh
Words
Matthew 17:14–23