Mark 9:29

29 He told them, "This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer."

Mark 9:29 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:29

And he said unto them
Matthew, besides the following reason, assigns another, as given by our Lord, why they could not cast out the foul spirit, which was their unbelief; of which they were guilty in some sort, as well as the Jews, and the father of the child; but Mark omits it, and only relates this as the reason;

this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting;
which they had not observed; (See Gill on Matthew 17:21).

Mark 9:29 In-Context

27 Jesus took his hand and helped him to stand up.

28 When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we force the spirit out of the boy?"

29 He told them, "This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer."

30 They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was

31 because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life."