Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
- KJV Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
- BSB Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
- NKJV Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
- NLT Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In private the disciples ask Jesus why they failed to cast out the demon. They seek to understand their powerlessness.
Overview
Their honest, private question shows a teachable desire to learn from failure. Rather than excusing themselves, they bring the problem to Jesus. His answer will redirect them from technique to trust, exposing the heart issue of unbelief behind their inability.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 17:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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