Mark 9:29

29 He replied, "This kind can come 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 But Jesus took him by the hand. He lifted the boy to his feet, and the boy stood up.

28 Jesus went indoors. Then his disciples asked him in private, "Why couldn't we drive out the evil spirit?"

29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were.

31 That was because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. They will kill him. After three days he will rise from the dead."