Mattheüs 17:15

15 Heere! ontferm U over mijn zoon; want hij is maanziek, en is in zwaar lijden; want menigmaal valt hij in het vuur, en menigmaal in het water.

Mattheüs 17:15 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 17:15

Lord, have mercy on my son
He addressed him with great marks of honour and respect, not only by gesture, but by words; he craves mercy, pity, and compassion; for the case he had to present, was a miserable one; and his earnestness and importunity he hoped might be excused, since it was for a child of his own. Luke adds "for he is mine only child"; and therefore his affection for him must be thought to be very strong, and he greatly concerned for its grievous affliction, and earnestly desirous of its health and life.

For he is lunatic:
not a mad man, but troubled with the epileptic disease; upon which, as on madness or lunacy, the changes and full of the moon have an influence: hence the next clause,

and sore vexed,
is rendered in the Arabic version, "and sore vexed at the beginning of full moons"; at which times, he had very grievous and frequent fits of his disorder:

for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water:
which shows it to be the "epilepsy", or "falling sickness", he was afflicted with; which, whenever it seized him, whether by the fireside, or by the side of a river or brook, or any place of water, or in any other dangerous situation, he fell into it, not being able to help himself, or avoid any danger to which he was exposed. A larger account of this child's disorder, and of the circumstances of his cure, are related by ( Mark 9:17 Mark 9:18 ) where this case will be more fully considered. (See Gill on Mark 9:17). (See Gill on Mark 9:18).

Mattheüs 17:15 In-Context

13 Toen verstonden de discipelen dat Hij hun van Johannes de Doper gesproken had.

14 En als zij bij de schare gekomen waren, kwam tot Hem een mens, vallende voor Hem op de knieen, en zeggende:

15 Heere! ontferm U over mijn zoon; want hij is maanziek, en is in zwaar lijden; want menigmaal valt hij in het vuur, en menigmaal in het water.

16 En ik heb hem tot Uw discipelen gebracht, en zij hebben hem niet kunnen genezen.

17 En Jezus, antwoordende, zeide: O, ongelovig en verkeerd geslacht, hoe lang zal Ik nog met ulieden zijn, hoe lang zal Ik u nog verdragen? Brengt hem Mij hier.