Dependence and Self-Denial in Service (9:14-29)

The Disciples Unable to Cast the Spirit Out (vv.14-20)

14 And when he came to the disciples he saw a great crowd around them, and scribes disputing against them. 15 And immediately all the crowd seeing him were amazed, and running to him, saluted him. 16 And he asked them, What do ye question with them about? 17 And one out of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought to thee my son, who has a dumb spirit; 18 and wheresoever it seizes him it tears him, and he foams and gnashes his teeth, and he is withering away. And I spoke to thy disciples, that they might cast him out, and they could not. 19 But he answering them says, O unbelieving generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him to me. 20 And they brought him to him. And seeing him the spirit immediately tore him; and falling upon the earth he rolled foaming.

The Lord Deals with the Father’s Heart (vv.21-24)

21 And he asked his father, How long a time is it that it has been like this with him? And he said, From childhood; 22 and often it has cast him both into fire and into waters that it might destroy him: but if thou couldst do anything, be moved with pity on us, and help us. 23 And Jesus said to him, The ‘if thou couldst’ is if thou couldst believe: all things are possible to him that believes. 24 And immediately the father of the young child crying out said with tears, I believe, help mine unbelief.

The Lord Casts out the Spirit (vv.25-27)

25 But Jesus, seeing that the crowd was running up together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And having cried out and torn him much, he came out; and he became as if dead, so that the most said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus, having taken hold of him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.

The Reason Why the Disciples Were Unable to Cast Out the Demon (vv.28-29)

28 And when he was entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Wherefore could not “we” cast him out? 29 And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.

Humility in Service (9:30-37)

The Lord’s Death and Resurrection Foretold (2nd Time) (vv.30-32)

30 And going forth from thence they went through Galilee; and he would not that any one knew it; 31 for he taught his disciples and said to them, The Son of man is delivered into men’s hands, and they shall kill him; and having been killed, after three days he shall rise again. 32 But they understood not the saying, and feared to ask him.

Occasion: The Disciples Reasoning Who Was the Greatest (vv.33-34)

33 And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, Of what were ye reasoning by the way? 34 And they remained silent, for by the way they had been reasoning with one another who was greatest.

The Importance of Child-likeness (vv.35-37)

35 And sitting down he called the twelve; and he says to them, If any one would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all. 36 And taking a little child he set it in their midst, and having taken it in his arms he said to them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receives me; and whosoever shall receive me, does not receive me, but him who sent me.

Conscientiousness in Service (9:38-50)

Occasion: The Disciples Forbid Other Disciples Not With Them (v.38)

38 And John answered him saying, Teacher, we saw some one casting out demons in thy name, who does not follow us, and we forbad him, because he does not follow us.

The Importance of Serving “In Christ’s Name” (vv.39-41)

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no one who shall do a miracle in my name, and be able soon after to speak ill of me; 40 for he who is not against us is for us. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

The Importance of Not Being a Snare to Other Believers (v.42)

42 And whosoever shall be a snare to one of the little ones who believe in me, it were better for him if a millstone were hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea.

The Importance of Removing Snares in Our Own Sphere of Service (vv.43-48)

43 And if thy hand serve as a snare to thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having thy two hands to go away into hell, into the fire unquenchable; 44 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot serve as a snare to thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life lame, than having thy two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire unquenchable; 46 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye serve as a snare to thee, cast it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire, 48 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.

The Importance of Having Salt in Ourselves (vv.49-50)

49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt is become saltless, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

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